Reply #65: Not to mention that he oversaw a Church so riddled with

[Tansy_Gold]

sexual corruption that it defies belief.

There were rumors -- believable rumors -- that JP2 would grant what amounted to political asylum to Boston's Cardinal Law and others who were responsible for covering up for and conveniently transfering pedophile priests. The Church can officially condemn gays but protect child rapists because they're ordained?

Here in Phoenix, Catholics had to witness the utter collapse of Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien's authority when he was convicted of hit-and-run manslaughter while in the midst of one of many pedophile priest scandals. And even after conviction, O'Brien tried to wheedle his way out of any kind of punishment or compensation or even community service.

In Tucson, the Church is going out of its way to protect assets that would otherwise be liquidated to pay claims to the victims of priestly sexual abuse.

That was the kind of Church JP2 presided over.

When all the scandals were hot news, no one defended the pope; he was routined excoriated here on DU for his lack of decisive action. But now, we are supposed to be respectful?

While the faithful are mourning his passing, a Bishop in Spain is accused of squandering parish funds playing the stock market.

JP2 was a human being, fallible and mortal. He did not embrace the full humanity of those who are not straight and/or celibate males. He felt for the poor but he lived in obscene wealth. He prescribed sexual behavior while condemning it.

Unlike the Jesus he worshipped, the pope did not walk daily among the people. He lived in both a figurative and literal bubble, protected and isolated.

I once asked a Catholic friend how it was possible that a priest who had vowed to live a life of chastity and poverty could then live the life of an oriental potentate as pope. She said it was okay, because he didn't actually OWN anything; it all belonged to the Church and so he was just kind of borrowing it.

That struck me as just a tiny bit hypocritical.

I'm sure that there are many liberal Catholics who are very sincere in their faith and their grief.

I'm not Catholic, I'm not Christian, I'm not even a believer, and I'm sure as hell not grieving.