The Pope Still Fighting: For his life and his own War on Terror

The Pope may be knock knock knocking on heaven’s door, but he’s still fighting the good fight and, evidently, with good humour. Nevertheless, the continuing terror of Catholic priests preying on innocents (especially boys) must anger and aggrieve His Holiness to biblical proportions.

Last Friday, the Council of Catholic Bishops reported 1,092 new accusations of sexual abuse by Catholic priests. And no one believes these reported cases represent the full scale of this dirty little secret that the Church has guarded so zealously for ages.

I choose to believe, however, that the Pope has been caught unawares by the ordination of so many perverted priests. Therefore, like Moses – who asked God to smite Israelites who turned their backs on Him – so too, perhaps, the Pope should call the wrath of God upon priests who have betrayed their vows and defiled the sanctity of the Holy Church.

Nevertheless, it’s a shame that such unholy matters have descended like cold black clouds burdening the twilight of John Paul’s pontificate. Yet this Pope may well be remembered more for his daring deeds as a crusading priest – displaying theatrical charm, political brilliance, and enviable athleticism as he outwitted communist authorities in his native Poland – than for his dogmatic edicts as a conservative Pope – insisting on strict adherence to a doctrine that so many Catholics find anachronistic and unsustainable.

In either case, John Paul II seems assured of a place in the pantheon of Great Popes of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. He was a divine leader. But a man, like fellow crusader George W. Bush, no less…

Here’s to your health – Karol Jozef Wojtyla

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