Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the reaction to the beatification of Pope John Paul II on May 1:
The worldwide reaction to the beatification of John Paul II, from all quarters, is overwhelmingly enthusiastic. But one would never know this if one’s bible were the New York Times. Today, it reported that the beatification “has become intensely polarizing.” With good reason, it offers no survey data: polls show 90 percent of Catholics approve and so do most non-Catholics. So on what basis does it make such an extraordinary statement? Amazingly, it doesn’t even quote a single individual or organization! All it does is fall back on the proverbial, “critics say” line of journalism.
John Allen, normally reliable, isn’t much better. He says, “I am aware that there’s some ambivalence” about the process. Sure he is aware of some consternation—he obviously reads the newspaper he writes for, namely, the National Catholic Reporter (it has become so violently critical of the Catholic Church that it has undermined its own credibility as a serious Catholic organ). As evidence to support the “ambivalence” thesis, Allen cites an angry ex-nun. So what else is new?
So who else thinks John Paul unworthy? Well, we have the ultra-leftist Nation magazine, the near-defunct Time magazine and the ever-critical Huffington Post. Then there is the usual stable of carping Catholics: Maureen Dowd, James Carroll and Rev. Richard McBrien (the pope had “a terrible record”).
One final note. In making his case against John Paul II, author Jason Berry says that when accusations were made against the disgraced late priest, Father Maciel (who admittedly hoodwinked the pope), I “responded immediately with a letter to the Courant, scoffing at the allegations.” Berry knows this is a lie, and that’s because I previously gave him the evidence. What I contested was whether, as alleged, Pope Pius XII not only gave Maciel the green light to have sex with seminarians, he recommended doing so for the purpose of relieving “physical pain.” Now if Berry believes that, he needs to see a shrink.
