Witty Young – 4/10/05

This page was last updated on April 10, 2005.

Pope’s policies will continue; Witty Young; Beaver County Times; April 10, 2005.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“There has been much celebrity about the life and death of Pope John Paul II.

“It has been said the president of the United States is the most powerful man in the world.

“Personally, I don’t believe he is. The pope is arguably the most authoritative person world-wide.”

[RWC] Perhaps I’m being picky, but I believe Ms. Young needs a dictionary. “Powerful” and “authoritative” are not synonyms.

“Although John Paul II deserves respect, as all popes do, I don’t believe he’s done anything to improve Catholicism in America, even if some wish to anoint him to sainthood.

“During his papacy, church attendance has diminished, mainly because of the priesthood’s child molestations, celibacy imposed upon them at ordination and restrictions in regard to women who comprise more than half of Catholic parishioners around the globe.”

[RWC] I believe Ms. Young needs to do better research. During the coverage of the Pope’s death, every outlet I heard indicated worldwide growth in the Catholic Church and that seminaries outside the U.S. were at capacity. The Church in the U.S. has some problems, but I’d like to see the evidence that reduced attendance is caused by “priesthood’s child molestations, celibacy imposed upon them at ordination and restrictions in regard to women.”

“John Paul II refused any changes in Catholic philosophy regarding these disputations.”

[RWC] As did the 100+ popes who preceded Pope John Paul II. Let’s look at Ms. Young’s “disputations.”

Regarding not allowing priests to marry, I believe this is a rule as opposed to dogma. As a result, it’s possible the Church could one day allow priest’s to marry. I’m not a Catholic theologian, however, so don’t hold me to that assessment.

Regarding “restrictions in regard to women,” the only restriction I know of is that women can’t be priests. I believe this falls into the dogma category and can’t be changed. Again, though, I’m not an authority.

“Now, adherents to the Catholic faith are hoping his successor will be more lenient regarding changes. I predict that the politics of the papacy will continue to adhere to the policies of Pope John Paul II.”

[RWC] Ms. Young appears to belong to the group of people that believes religions are little more than social clubs that should change their membership rules to adjust to society. Those people miss the whole point of religions.

If you don’t like a religion, choose another. Religions are not supposed to change to accommodate members; members are supposed to change to accommodate a religion’s teachings.

Did you notice Ms. Young never told us her religion, if she belongs to one?