[Dudoight]

William F. Buckley is a devout Catholic. He is abstaining from praying for the Pope. In the Pope's present health, he may be suffering. I don't think Buckley is out of line on this. I would bet Buckley prays that God's will be done.

[kellynla]

Excuse me? How in the world would you know how devout a Catholic Bill Buckley is????
I don't know where you studied Catholicism but any good Catholic worth their weight in salt would NEVER, NEVER, NEVER NOT PRAY FOR SOMEONE!

Buckley was not only "out of line" to "not pray for the Pope's recovery"; Buckley was idiotic to put it in print!

Catholics pray for everyone and we leave the decision making up to God in Heaven! PERIOD!
gezzzzzz

[Bahbah]

I would bet Buckley prays that God's will be done.

I am sure you are right about that.

[Mad Mammoth]

William F. Buckley is a devout Catholic. He is abstaining from praying for the Pope. In the Pope's present health, he may be suffering. I don't think Buckley is out of line on this. I would bet Buckley prays that God's will be done.

Exactly. Buckley has made the most intelligent and reasoned comments on the Pope's recent health troubles.

OK, we all hope the Pope lives as long as God wants him to, right?

But at what point does the declining health of the Pope mandate that all those praying for him, cease praying for 'recovery' and pray for God's Will to be done?

The fact is, Buckley has said that which nobody else has the nerve to say. And while it is easy to call Buckley a 'buffoon' and other epithets, the truth is, Buckley, even in his advanced years can run intellectual circles around most people, including most of us right here on FR. I saw Buckley debate George McGovern at the University of Florida in 1991, and he was no spring chicken then - and he still chewed McG up into little pieces and did it with class and a smile on his face.

I daresay that God will consider Buckley's sincerely offered prayers because they were sent up with logic and compassion, not with some automatic kneejerk reaction of 'oh please, please, please HEAL the Pope...HEAL our 84 year old Pope!'

Pray for God's Will to be done. His Will might be to bring Pope John Paul II on home after a long life spent serving Him.

[ninenot]

If you look closely at Buckley's history (and published works) you will find that he is NOT a "devout" Catholic.

But he shows up at Mass.