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Jul. 1st, 2005 04:57 pmVatican is investigating Martyrdom for JPII.
On the one hand, I know this is probably being fueled by a need to beatify him as soon as possible to satisfy a lot of the 3rd world nations.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S RIGHT.
He died in bed. He died a tired old man in bed. He did some good things, he did some terrible things, and he survived everything the world could throw at him. I have great respect for what he did in Poland during WWII and the 50s, and he didn't die when shot. Good for him.
Should he be canonized? I don't know. I think that really is a question for history to ponder, and I think we need at least 20-30 years of hindsight before anyone starts calling him St. Karol. I certainly don't think that calling him a martyr's appropriate, because that would imply he gave his life up for the faith by his own free will, or that he died at the hands of the wicked.
Given that he was in a coma when he died, I think the former's sketchy, at best, especially with how tenaciously he fought to cling to life, and while I know we occasionally enjoy a spirited game of "Bash the Ratzinger", I think calling him "The Wicked" and implying he helped to kill JPII might be a bit much.
Gaaah...
On the one hand, I know this is probably being fueled by a need to beatify him as soon as possible to satisfy a lot of the 3rd world nations.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S RIGHT.
He died in bed. He died a tired old man in bed. He did some good things, he did some terrible things, and he survived everything the world could throw at him. I have great respect for what he did in Poland during WWII and the 50s, and he didn't die when shot. Good for him.
Should he be canonized? I don't know. I think that really is a question for history to ponder, and I think we need at least 20-30 years of hindsight before anyone starts calling him St. Karol. I certainly don't think that calling him a martyr's appropriate, because that would imply he gave his life up for the faith by his own free will, or that he died at the hands of the wicked.
Given that he was in a coma when he died, I think the former's sketchy, at best, especially with how tenaciously he fought to cling to life, and while I know we occasionally enjoy a spirited game of "Bash the Ratzinger", I think calling him "The Wicked" and implying he helped to kill JPII might be a bit much.
Gaaah...
