Theologians appeal for critics of late Pope to come forward
-07/12/05
Theologians oppos
Theologians appeal for critics of late Pope to come forward
-07/12/05
Theologians opposed to making the Pope John Paul II ‘a saint’ have issued an appeal urging Catholics critical of the late pope to tell the Vatican why they think he should not be beatified.
In the appeal, which has received wide play in major Italian newspapers, 11 Catholic theologians from Italy, Spain, Austria and Latin America said that those judging the case should also take into account “negative” aspects of the near 27-year papacy papacy.
One of the best-known signatories was Jose Maria Castillo, a Jesuit professor who has taught theology at the University of Granada in Spain. Another was an Italian theologian, Giovanni Franzoni. They invited those who might have criticism of the late Pope “to overcome their shyness and timidity and formally express, with gospel freedom, facts which according to their consciences and convictions should be an obstacle to beatification.”
While the theologians acknowledged John Paul’s papacy had “positive aspects”, their seven-point appeal included criticism of his conservative stance on issues such as contraception, limitations on the role of women and of scandals in the Church.
It included the sexual abuse scandal that swept the United States in 2002, when it was discovered that priests who had molested children were moved from parish to parish instead of being defrocked or turned over to authorities.
The appeal criticised what it called a lack of control over some of the Vatican’s “murky financial manoeuvres”, specifically naming the Holy See’s relations with Italy’s Banco Ambrosiano, which went bankrupt in 1982.
The theologians said the Church’s saint-makers should also consider the “repression and alienation” inflicted on some thinkers by the late pope. This was a reference to his moves to discipline promoters of Latin America’s “Liberation Theology”, which he felt was too close to Marxist social analysis.
The Rev Slawomir Oder, the Vatican official in charge of the beatification case, said the views of those who did not support John Paul’s beatification would be taken into consideration.
“All of the opponents’ voices that are recognised as content-related and essential and not based on resentment or prejudice will be considered in the beatification process,” he said.
Last May, Pope Benedict put his predecessor on the fast-track to possible sainthood by dispensing with Church rules that impose a five-year waiting period after a candidate’s death before the procedure that leads to sainthood can even start.
Theologians appeal for critics of late Pope to come forward
-07/12/05
Theologians opposed to making the Pope John Paul II ‘a saint’ have issued an appeal urging Catholics critical of the late pope to tell the Vatican why they think he should not be beatified.
In the appeal, which has received wide play in major Italian newspapers, 11 Catholic theologians from Italy, Spain, Austria and Latin America said that those judging the case should also take into account “negative” aspects of the near 27-year papacy papacy.
One of the best-known signatories was Jose Maria Castillo, a Jesuit professor who has taught theology at the University of Granada in Spain. Another was an Italian theologian, Giovanni Franzoni. They invited those who might have criticism of the late Pope “to overcome their shyness and timidity and formally express, with gospel freedom, facts which according to their consciences and convictions should be an obstacle to beatification.”
While the theologians acknowledged John Paul’s papacy had “positive aspects”, their seven-point appeal included criticism of his conservative stance on issues such as contraception, limitations on the role of women and of scandals in the Church.
It included the sexual abuse scandal that swept the United States in 2002, when it was discovered that priests who had molested children were moved from parish to parish instead of being defrocked or turned over to authorities.
The appeal criticised what it called a lack of control over some of the Vatican’s “murky financial manoeuvres”, specifically naming the Holy See’s relations with Italy’s Banco Ambrosiano, which went bankrupt in 1982.
The theologians said the Church’s saint-makers should also consider the “repression and alienation” inflicted on some thinkers by the late pope. This was a reference to his moves to discipline promoters of Latin America’s “Liberation Theology”, which he felt was too close to Marxist social analysis.
The Rev Slawomir Oder, the Vatican official in charge of the beatification case, said the views of those who did not support John Paul’s beatification would be taken into consideration.
“All of the opponents’ voices that are recognised as content-related and essential and not based on resentment or prejudice will be considered in the beatification process,” he said.
Last May, Pope Benedict put his predecessor on the fast-track to possible sainthood by dispensing with Church rules that impose a five-year waiting period after a candidate’s death before the procedure that leads to sainthood can even start.