Pope John Paul II Dies; Times Can't Find Someone Who Liked Him

Powerline ^ | 4/2/05 | John H. Hinderaker

[BCrago66]

Pope John Paul II died this afternoon. The New York Times reports on his papacy in an article that inadvertently tells us more than the Times really wanted us to know. The Times had its criticisms of John Paul's papacy ready to go, but apparently went looking for something good to say about the Pope at the last minute:

Even as his own voice faded away, his views on the sanctity of all human life echoed unambiguously among Catholics and Christian evangelicals in the United States on issues from abortion to the end of life.

need some quote from supporter

John Paul II's admirers were as passionate as his detractors, for whom his long illness served as a symbol for what they said was a decrepit, tradition-bound papacy in need of rejuvenation and a bolder connection with modern life.

"The situation in the Catholic church is serious," Hans Kung, the eminent Swiss theologian, who was barred by from teaching in Catholic schools because of his liberal views, wrote last week. "The pope is gravely ill and deserves every compassion. But the Church has to live. ...

In my opinion, he is not the greatest pope but the most contradictory of the 20th century. A pope of many, great gifts, and of many bad decisions!"

Among liberal Catholics, he was criticized for his strong opposition to abortion, homosexuality and contraception, as well as the ordination of women and married men. Though he was never known as a strong administrator of the dense Vatican bureaucracy, he kept a centralizing hand on the selection of bishops around the world and enforced a rigid adherence to many basic church teachings among the clergy and Catholic theologians.

There you have it. The Times' criticisms are ready to go, a few good words for the Pope are an afterthought.

UPDATE: I got a screen grab of the second page of the Times article, just before they changed it to delete the "need some quote from supporter:"

[FormerACLUmember]

The NY Times staff lives in Deepest Blue Amerika, where there are absolutely no Christians.

[pbear8]

All the news that's fit to make up.

[Texas_Jarhead]

Pope John Paul II died this afternoon. The New York Times reports on his papacy in an article that inadvertently tells us more than the Times really wanted us to know. The Times had its criticisms of John Paul's papacy ready to go, but apparently went looking for something good to say about the Pope at the last minute:

Even as his own voice faded away, his views on the sanctity of all human life echoed unambiguously among Catholics and Christian evangelicals in the United States on issues from abortion to the end of life.

need some quote from supporter

John Paul II's admirers were as passionate as his detractors, for whom his long illness served as a symbol for what they said was a decrepit, tradition-bound papacy in need of rejuvenation and a bolder connection with modern life.

"The situation in the Catholic church is serious," Hans Kung, the eminent Swiss theologian, who was barred by from teaching in Catholic schools because of his liberal views, wrote last week. "The pope is gravely ill and deserves every compassion. But the Church has to live. ...

In my opinion, he is not the greatest pope but the most contradictory of the 20th century. A pope of many, great gifts, and of many bad decisions!"

Among liberal Catholics, he was criticized for his strong opposition to abortion, homosexuality and contraception, as well as the ordination of women and married men. Though he was never known as a strong administrator of the dense Vatican bureaucracy, he kept a centralizing hand on the selection of bishops around the world and enforced a rigid adherence to many basic church teachings among the clergy and Catholic theologians.

 

There you have it. The Times' criticisms are ready to go, a few good words for the Pope are an afterthought.

UPDATE: I got a screen grab of the second page of the Times article, just before they changed it to delete the "need some quote from supporter:"

Click on this graphic for a graphic of the actual article

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

"A homophobe old guy who was scared of condoms." Ah, what love. What honor they give him.

[Tall_Texan]

LOL!!! The Old Senile Grey Liberal Lady strikes again!

[mewzilla]

Among liberal Catholics...

Snort. Nice euphemism.

[An Old Marine]

The NY Times staff lives in Deepest Blue Amerika, where there are absolutely no Christians.

Not true. I live within 50 miles of the NY Times HQ. I will not surrender my home to the Nilists of the Times. Never give up, never surrender.

[South40]

[Bahbah]

need some quote from supporter

I can't believe they didn't call me. What is the matter with those people???

[Petronski]

[Dan from Michigan]

And this is "the paper of record"????

[TASMANIANRED]

bump.

[GenXFreedomFighter]

That's too funny! The 'Rats at the NYT got caught politicizing the death of the pope!

Rest in peace, Holy Father.

[moroque11]

-- insert funny quip from freeper --

[syriacus]

What a great catch!! I enjoyed sharing it with my family. Thank you.

[leadhead]

I interviewed 10 people today that couldn't think of any thing good to say about the NYT. Then they asked if it died yet!

[FlingWingFlyer]

"Liberal Catholics." Isn't that the mob who believes that the Ten Commandments are really only the Ten Suggestions?

[AnnOutragedCitizen]

Great catch.

It saddens me to know that so many think that God must follow the whims of man, as the Pope should change the church to follow the current desires of the population.

Seems to me that that is what got everyone in trouble back in the Old Testament (many times!). (OK, New Testament, too.)

One would think that the New York Times would have had something prepared, as millions will mourn the death of the Pope. I'm sure they will rectify the glaring error in the article, but a sad statement about the Times (and our society, based on the quotes.)