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	St. Louis Catholics Celebrate Beatification of John Paul II By Talia Kaplan KSDK May 2, 2011 http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=257202 [with video] Pope John Paul II is one step closer to sainthood. Catholics around the world and St. Louis are celebrating. A special mass was held at The Cathedral Basilica in honor of Pope John Paul II. "It's a big day because of the beatification of John Paul who deserves it because he was a really good man," said Dave Augsburger of Kirkwood. The Catholic Church declared Pope John Paul II blessed in front of a crowd of about one and a half million people, which is a major milestone on the path to becoming a saint. "He lived what he preached. He personified the gospel," said Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia. The beatification of John Paul II was in record time leaving him one miracle away from sainthood. In St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson honored the memory of John Paul during his homily at The Cathedral Basilica. "He was talking about how he (John Paul II) had performed a miracle with a nun in France and how they are using that to help bring him to sainthood," said Paul Kohler of Herculaneum. "I think it was interesting to actually listen to the homily knowing or having the experience I have had in the past," said Gretchen Kohler of Herculaneum. She was talking about January 1999 when she and her husband Paul got to see John Paul II in person when he made history as the first ever visit by a pope to St Louis. "It was kind of like a sporting event, people cheering and going crazy," said Paul Kohler. "It was exciting to see the pope coming to St. Louis. It was probably one of the most exciting moments as a Catholic," said Gretchen Kohler. Not everyone was thrilled about the beatification. Members of The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests were protesting in front of the Cathedral Basilica on Sunday. "We think it should be thoroughly investigated. Yes he did do good things. We are not denying that. But, to have played such a huge part in the cover up of child sexual abuse to me says there needs to be a more thorough investigation and we need to slow down...It definitely is a PR move that is trying to spin his reign into something good to play down the sexual abuse of children," said Barbara Dorris, SNAP outreach director.
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