Paul KeenanDear Editor, It was a great weekend for the Catholic Church as two of our Popes were elevated to the position of sainthood, but I have two questions.
One: why is it mostly religious who are honoured in this way, and also why is it necessary at all? If I manage to get to Heaven I think I will be so happy to have made it into this holy place that I will not be too concerned about what position I hold there.
Is it not part of our belief that everyone who goes to Heaven is a saint anyway? Or do we refer to the words of Jesus, “In my Father’s house there are many rooms”; is there some kind of a class system attached to this statement?
Two: With regard to St John Paul II; I read Fr Brian D’Arcy’s article in a Sunday paper and his concern as to how quickly John Paul became a saint. While he acknowledged his holiness, and his great stand against world injustice, he also pointed out his links to Fr Maccial Maciel, and his inability to deal with the whole child abuse scandal which left us all bewildered. Is this canonisation a further blow to those who suffered at the hands of these men, only to have their complaints apparently ignored by the Pope of the day? Would a canonisation in 20 years’ time make it any different? I thought he was a great Pope and brought new life into our Church in his time, and was somewhat disappointed by Fr D’Arcy’s article.
Maybe leave the judging to God would be the best way forward.
Yours etc.,
Syl Doyne,
Rathcoole,
Co. Dublin.