SAINTED JOHN PAUL II
What I consider significant matter for prayerful reflection is the fact
that John Paul II was canonized, and in quick time, despite some evidently
objectionable very public actions on his part. On this point I refer
specifically to two: his sheltering of Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, founder
of the Legionaries of Christ, from what were later proven to be truthful
accusations of concubinage and sexual abuse, in particular, sodomy of
seminarians; and second, his plea in defense of Pinochet, whose dictatorial
regime was proven in court guilty of multiple human rights violations. Saint
John Paul II thereby co-opted egregious, grave offenses. Moreover, his actions
were unnecessary for a pope to undertake. Despite what are apparently major
lapses of moral judgment on his part, he was canonized in record time.
The most important ramification of present-day controversial
canonizations is that the title of saint should no longer be considered an
automatic endorsement of the subject's words and actions, which also should no
longer be judged by default exemplary from the mere fact of the halo.
Photo courtesy of James G. Howes
ReplyDeletePhoto link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pope_John_Paul_II.jpg
Gonzalinho
THE REDEMPTION OF SINÉAD O'CONNOR?
ReplyDeleteShe was canceled by pop culture in 1992 after she tore a picture of John Paul II in half on Saturday Night Live. In retrospect her outrage was justifiable and makes sense - John Paul II enabled clerical sexual abuse. She claims she was a victim.
“Amid today’s stan culture, there’s too often a lack of curiosity when it comes to understanding the context around a pop culture phenomenon. Some artists are ’canceled’ without having the full information around their alleged offense, while others are propped up with little regard for their offenses.
“It wasn’t much different years ago. For Sinéad O’Connor, the singer-songwriter who became an icon in the early ’90s, it was a relentless pile-on by media, celebrities and ’fans’ alike after she had the audacity to criticize the Catholic church and Pope John Paul II on live television.
“Some context that people dangerously disregarded at the time was that the church had been enabling and perpetuating the abuse of children across the world, including in O’Connor’s native Ireland. Also: O’Connor herself was a victim.”
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sinead-oconnor-nothing-compares-documentary-interview_n_6335dab4e4b0b7f89f3ef123
—Candice Frederick, “Sinéad O’Connor Documentary ‘Nothing Compares’ Reexamines Her Complicated Story,” HuffPost, September 30, 2022
Gonzalinho