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I don't buy the excuse that JPII is letting these orders die a natural death; he intervened recently and forcefully against the FSSP, an Indult fraternity of priests who were neither heterodox nor immoral--on the issue of allowing priests to concelebrate in another rite. He fired the duly elected superior general as well as several teaching theologians. At the same time he ignores the Jesuits--while they continue to negatively influence thousands of young Catholics in colleges and universities. I know of a lay Philosophy professor, for instance, who was given tenure in a Jebbie school despite his openly declared atheism. He is widely admired, though he should never have been hired in the first place. This is par for the course, though.

I have close contacts with Jesuits, my father having been in the Order back in the fifties and sixties before things hit the fan. He left during his scholasticate, but still has some orthodox Jebbie friends who have become my own. It is true they "keep their heads down." The scene is bleak. Before I entered the seminary in the mid 80s, I stayed at a Jesuit house to discern my vocation. I was there three months--and witnessed gay relations that scandalized me at the time--once I even witnessed two lovers quarreling in the chapel right before the Blessed Sacrament. (I was in the back of the chapel trying to pray and went unnoticed.) It's a bad scene--but no worse than most seminaries. JPII has been derelict in my opinion--action was called for long ago. These men influence young intellectuals tremendously.

Are you ordained as a priest?

I do agree with much of what you write. I do like JPII and believe he has many gifts and a brilliant mind. BUT, the way he runs the church is open to criticism. I have argued here many times that by not excommunicating and using discipline his ways may endanger souls. Every time I get the same story. He can't act to forcefully because of schism, or scandal, or whatever. Just wait and things are changing. If I live to be 98 I will still be hearing the same song.