[Desdemona]

This oath is called a "coronation" oath? Oh, my.

Okay, keep in mind that when the last two popes were installed, I was a kid and I don't think we even watched it on TV.

As I read this, the one who seriously seemed to violate it, at least in the last 50 or so years, was John XXIII. PAul VI didn't have the cajones one way or the other. People walked all over him. But, as for JPII, leaving liturgy out of the argument, yes, there have been changes. Obviously. Did he explain himself re Evangelization to the Jews, purpose of war and the death penalty? I'm still not going to criticize him over it, but it is puzzling.

As far as liturgy is concerned, JPII was the one who reinstituted the indult. It's not as wide-spread as it should be, IMO, but it's there. The descent into abuse has been worse, but so has the lying and half-truths regarding liturgy because nobody planning "liturgies" bothers to actually read the documents. Or they take what they want to hear and forget the rest. But, we all do that.

[Zviadist]

As far as liturgy is concerned, JPII was the one who reinstituted the indult.

But don't you get it? No one -- no pope -- had the authority to suspend the Latin Mass. Even the new Mass promulgated in 1970 or whatever expressly did not supplant the Traditional Mass. So it was an empty gesture. There is no need for a special "indult" (permission) to do something that you have been guaranteed to do for all eternity. To be grateful for something that is already yours is bizarre.

I'm still not going to criticize him over it, but it is puzzling.

What about kissing the Koran? What about praying Jewish prayers calling for a different messiah? What about saying Mass in the company of half-naked women? What about the travesty of Assisi? Pagan priests and pervert bishops who are not disciplined, much less not excommunicated? Does the pope ever in your mind deserve criticism? Or do you look around at the state of the Church and say to yourself "gosh, that pope is doing a great job"?

[Zviadist]

This oath is called a "coronation" oath? Oh, my.

The Roman Catholic Church is a monarchy. You know, Christ the King and all that...

[ultima ratio]

Reread the oath. The pope is not only obliged not to attack Tradition, but he must also take up the cause against those who do. This Pope has not done this. Can any sane person doubt that Catholic Tradition is being attacked with impunity when all the Church's traditional sacramental rites and its traditional liturgies and its traditional devotions and its traditional theology and definitions as well as its traditional expression in architecture and music have been radically changed or sacked?

[ninenot]

the death penalty?

The short explanation: JPII established a 'preferential option' for life-in-prison rather than State-sponsored killing, especially for those countries (read: most of the West) which can afford such imprisonment.

He did NOT change the Church's position which is, briefly, that the State has the right to execute felons (given the usual fair trial, nature of the crime, etc.)