RIP JPII
Lauren just reminded me that April is National Poetry Month. The first poem I ever wrote was as a 3rd grader at Huntington Park's St. Matthias Elementary School. Here's the first bit, which is the only part I remember:
In the Vatican City, in Rome
Pope Paul the VI makes his home
Yeah, that was some time ago. And, no. I'm retired... which means that I can mock the Church, but you can't.
Update: Yep, I was a little snarky there and now the Pope is gone. Two years ago, when I saw JPII give the blessing in St. Peter's Square, I sobbed uncontrollably. Same thing now. Why? I have no idea.
As one of those,"gasp", lapsed Catholics, I've felt a few tears down my cheek. Another day we can discuss his mistakes. Today I remember his attempts to unite the world's religions against the many evils of the world.
Posted by: Babba | 02 April 2005 at 16:27
Would it make you feel better if I made a Simpsons analogy, to be used as a caption for one of the millions of inevitable obituary cartoons? Just imagine St. Peter as restaurant owner Luigi:
"You come-a with me, come-a with St. Peter. You don't want to share a cloud in heaven with the rest of these scum. (people grumble) Hey! I only consider you scum compared to the Pope! (people understandingly murmur) Yeah, you see how you scum!"
Posted by: norbizness | 02 April 2005 at 18:53
Baptized, confirmed, revolted and resigned so yes, we would GLADLY publish the following ad, if submitted.
Vatican City -- Help wanted; pope, pontiff, poo-bah; anal, medieval flagellant preferred; must be certified in excommunication, castration, infibulation, exorcism, BDSM; must have experience supervising crusades, inquisitions, genocide, xenocide, spin the bottle, charades, dungeons and dragons; must be proficient at jigs, high fives, high kicks, high steps, goosesteps, two step, line dancing, chorus lines; should be comfortable in satin, lace, latex, leather, petticoats, girdles, bridles, garters, harnesses, hoods, masks & oversized millinery; should be unremorseful reveling in baroque opulence despite indigent world constituency; subscriptions to Fredericks of Bastille, Vogue Domme, Master Claire, Elle Bondage, Mademoiselle de Sade will be favorably viewed & renewed if hired.
Posted by: F. Rabelais | 02 April 2005 at 19:49
For all who feel loss on this occasion, whether the loss of a spiritual leader, the loss of their own faith, or the loss caused by the sense that their religious institutions have abandoned them, I extend my deepest sympathies.
Posted by: lornix | 02 April 2005 at 21:22
I remember the time the Pope was coming to dinner, but I got wine all over my nice, white suit.
Hey! It'sa da pope-a!
Posted by: ChrisV82 | 02 April 2005 at 22:57
Good riddance. FT's obit is fair and unsparing. Yes, JPII loved theater, loved crowds; and was himself, unquestionably, a master showman. But whipping crowds into frenzied adoration while condemning them to death through rigid, pernicious policy hardly deserves sympathy or mourning.
His lifelong, dogmatic opposition to contraceptives, for example, including condoms -- even in developing countries, may have killed millions (AIDS) given the weight of his "word" on such matters. A minor character flaw?
Not quite. Ideologically, JPII deliberately eschewed rationalism (Jesuits) for extremism (Opus Dei). John Allen (NCR), in an upcoming book, may diminish certain "sinister" aspects of OD; but OD's ultraconservatism is not disputed, nor can its pervasiveness be overstated. Remember the "Wafer Watch" launched against John Kerry last summer? The Denver faction was led by Archbishop Charles Caput, prodded & supported by his assistant, Auxiliary Bishop Jose Gomez. Gomez is grade A Opus Dei. Antonin Scalia is a cherished Opus Dei "cooperator." Getting the picture? Oh, and last December , who BUT kindly, benign JPII promoted Gomez to Archbishop of San Antonio, TX?
A unifier? Please. While JPII made headlines (what else?) with his temple visit, he was pushing sainthood for Nazi sympathizer Piux XII. You're right. Sainthood IS no big deal. Because JPII doled out sainthood (480) like faith healers dispense miracles, especially among the poor, where belief = $$$.
Am I saying what some suspect I'm saying? YES. JPII was a p-r-e-d-a-t-o-r, no more, no less; someone who absolutely believed in "His Church" ABOVE all else; a zealot who preyed upon the destitute to advance canon, not compassion; a "man of god" who could promote, say, someone like Bernard Law to a Vatican position after Law resigned in disgrace, after Law REPEATEDLY aided and abetted sexual predators within his diocese.
Mourn JPII? I mourn JPII didn't suffer like millions of the world's AIDS-infected poor, Catholic or non-Catholic, who died without the best pain management Vatican money could buy.
May the FUCKER rot in hell. God knows I need the company.
Posted by: Torquemada | 02 April 2005 at 23:52
Here's to all us lapsed - insert religion here -.
Posted by: Kat | 03 April 2005 at 00:01
He was a real Holy man that blessed the world.
Posted by: bryan | 03 April 2005 at 00:34
Maggot No. 1: Hmmmm. Tastes like chicken.
Maggot No. 2: Bleeah. His toes don't.
Posted by: Josie Drosie | 03 April 2005 at 15:12
Maggot No. 1: Hmmmm. Tastes like chicken.
Maggot No. 2: His toes don't. Bleeah.
Posted by: Josie Drosie | 03 April 2005 at 15:13
His vision knocked down the Berlin Wall and opened the floodgates of freedom in Eastern Europe.
Posted by: The Heretik | 03 April 2005 at 17:22