"But why did it take so long for a Pope to announce the new policy?"
Now that John Paul II has passed on, it seems that it has come to be regarded as extremely bad form to criticize, or even question, his decisions. It will probably be years before people can seriously begin to explore your question.
Tend to agree with your answe to Palladin. There is still too much emotion stirred up when Pope John Paul II is discussed. There can be no objectivity at this moment in time.
What would you say? Maybe three years?
Now that John Paul II has passed on, it seems that it has come to be regarded as extremely bad form to criticize, or even question, his decisions. It will probably be years before people can seriously begin to explore your question.
*It has taken me three seconds. There WAS a law against this. In 1961. AmChurch queers ignored it.