I think so. I was a big fan of JP II myself, and I think he did a wonderful job. And actually, I think the Catholic Church is one of the best things in the world (for the most part; like anything made or touched by man, IMHO, it still has flaws). The reason why, IMO, the Catholic Church is singled out for so much PC revision is because its so powerful, and so effective as a force for order and morality in the world.
I like how Christians of all sorts and Jews get along these days. And I think its important that we all continue to, because with the hideous assault on religious precepts that the godless left is launching (hey, if we're the religious right, than they are definitely the godless left) we all need to stand together and fight them back, side by side. We have important differences, but we all believe in morality, decency, truth, justice and G-d. And that, in the end, is enough to bring us all together.
You are absolutely right! My children are ethnically half-Jewish, although their father is not religous, and I have always told them that they could go either way-- same God, different holidays, their choice. ;)