Reply #22: well, i think whether or not the pope

[melnjones]

had that kind of power is a moot point in some ways, as I believe that the message of abstinence-only, preached in a secular setting, is wrong and dangerous no matter how you slice it...even if people aren't going to listen. Lack of audience doesn't make the message suddenly ok.

However, I do have great respect for John Paul II and think it would be ignorant to throw out all of his good qualities along with the bad...and personally I think the good greatly outweigh the bad IMO.