Sad to say, but I aggree. I don't wish death on the man in a malicious sense, but I don't think it is wrong to pray to offer a man rest and the transition into heaven.
The issue isn't about compassion. I think we all want the suffering to meet a peaceful end. But what worse is that the crux of Buckley's argument is that the Pope is no longer useful (wrong on that, anyhow) and therefore, his continued existence is no longer needed.
I have too agree, as well.
I'm in your corner; my father also suffers from advanced Parkinson's Disease, worse than Cardinal Wojtyla's. It is incredibly painful to have to watch him suffer the way he is (he lives at home with me) and I have to confess to praying for the agony for him to end.
I don't disagree with Buckley (or you), but I think this is the type of thing you think -- and perhaps say (to people) privately -- but that you do not write. It is simply bad form to refuse to refuse publicly to pray for any person's restoration to good health.
Kind of like the people who have web sites saying abortion is great, because the babies can go right to heaven? If he was supposed to go, he would go. He certainly isn't complaining about living, so I think it's more than presumptious for anyone else to pray for his death. Should People pray for Jesus' death to come before his suffering?