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1. JP II might well be a saint, but the Church's declarations of sainthood should always reflect exemplary and model lives.
   Is this canonisation driven by a Vatican agenda to close off questioning of serious leadership failures of that period, and now continued?
   These involve centralisation of power, defiance of Vatican II, and the arguably criminal exposure of vulnerable children to paedophile priests by transferring them to new parishes - what Fr Hans Kung has described as “the worldwide system of covering up cases of sexual crimes committed by clerics... engineered by the Roman Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under Cardinal Ratzinger”.
   Benedict’s role in JP II’s canonisation is a clear conflict of interest.
   Benedict was involved in the leadership of JPII and is therefore conflicted in support for his canonisation.

   Posted By: Peter Johnstone

2. How wonderful is this news.
   Please God, this second miracle will be confirmed sooner rather than later, as this holy Pope must be honored for his dedication in spreading God's love throughout the world, not only during his Papacy, but ever since God called him to share in the priesthood of His Son, Jesus.

   Posted By: John Spora

3. Peter Johnstone: The canonisation of a pope is not a declaration that their were no leadership failures during his papacy.
   For example St Celestine V was a hopeless failure at papal leadership.
   Whilst Blessed John Paul could arguably have done more, as Pope Benedict has done both as pope and as Prefect of the CDF (after the CDF was given this power in 2002) to vigorously clamp down on the practice in some places of covering up pedophilia, one could not fault Blessed John Paul's dedication to combatting those who were defying Vatican II.
   

   Posted By: Peter G

4. By the way Peter J, the pope who beatified and canonised St Celestine V, had previously served under him as a senior cardinal in his Papal Curia.

   Posted By: Peter G

5. The obvious conflict of interests at play in this push for canonisation threatens to put into question the entire validity of canonisation (and there are many other ramifications that flow from this).
   Whether or not Pope John Paul II is a saint, surely what should be upper-most in the minds of those working so strenuously for this process is that such an elevation not be widely perceived as simply pushing a narrow agenda, as a mere weapon in the battle that now rages within the Church.
   Since when was haste the litmus test for procedural integrity?
   Canonisation should not be a mere tool, or seen to be such, so to in fact elevate political agenda to sanctity for all to venerate.
   Or is this begging the question?

   Posted By: Mark Johnson

6. I have no idea if JP11 is a saint or not. What I find troubling is the haste and not following due process.
   'VATICAN CITY, SEP 12, 1997 (VIS) - Today the Holy See Press Office made public the following note on canonical procedure for causes of beatification and canonization.
   To begin a cause it is necessary for at least 5 years to have passed since the death of the candidate. This is to allow greater balance and objectivity in evaluating the case and to let the emotions of the moment dissipate.'
   The canonization of JPII was started with in 12 months of his death.
   One must ask why the haste?

   Posted By: Chis P

7. Chris P and Mark J: Blessed John Paul has not been (and may never be) given “canonization”.
   He has only been beatified.
   The reason for the haste is simple –because the people acclaimed his obvious sanctity and demanded that pope Benedict waive the usual waiting period, as he is perfectly entitled to do.
   There have been quite a few who have been not only beatified but even canonised, in a shorter time than 6 years.
   “Political considerations” do not enter into the processing of saints’ causes, or if they do it is only to delay them to avoid anyone making political capital out of them.

   Posted By: Peter G

8. I'm inclined to agree with Mark and Chris here.
   I don't see anything that would be lost by a slower process.
   And I don't see why the Church must meet the hectic timetable of modernity.
   I am very sure that the late Pope wouldn't mind either way.

   Posted By: David Kennedy

9. God forbid such should happen!
   I cannot understand this 'unholy' haste in having JP II declared a saint when so many questions still remained unanswered.
   Five years are supposed to elapse before introduction of a cause but this was waived in this case.
   It makes me sick when you consider Oscar Romero, the murdered Archbishop of San Salvador who spoke out against injustice and oppression, has been ignored.
   I fear the management of our church has a lot to answer for; thankfully the Church, the People of Christ are in good health!

   Posted By: John Welsby

10. Peter G: It's now that popular responses have credibility, is it?

    Posted By: Mark Johnson

11. There have been saints throughout history who were demanded to be canonized by the acclamation of the people.
    St Anthony of Padua, after just one year, is one of them. Perhaps we should leave room for the Holy Spirit here. Perhaps we need somebody to look up to.
    I am personally inspired by JP II's life, work, and personal challenge to me.
    Humans want to 'slow things down', but things are different with those born of the Spirit... this wind blows where it wills... and so are those born of it. (Jn 3)

    Posted By: Jack

12. Mark: Not only now but always, popular responses have credibility.
    Just beware of those self-appointed spokesmen for the people and minorities who make a lot of noise and try to claim that this proves that their way-out opinions are popular.
    In this case, it's evident that right around the world, there really are a majority of Catholics (and even non-Catholics and non-Christians) who acclaim the obvious sanctity of Blessed John Paul.

    Posted By: Peter G

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