dave82

One of the news stories is that Pope Benedict has "fast-tracked" Pope John Paul II for sainthood. Usually there is a five-year period after an individual dies until they can be nominated for sainthood. In the last couple years, Mother Theresa was also "fast-tracked". Now I am not questioning the greatness or the legacy of the two most important figures of the Roman Catholic in the 20th century. What I am questioning is why the Pope's have decided that the rules of a 5-year waiting period do not apply anymore. Are they afraid that their legacies will be diminished or they will be forgotten if they cannot be nominated for sainthood for five years after their death. Our church is almost 2000 years old. These are two individuals in the last one hundred years of our history both of which have died in the last ten years. They are great individuals in the church, but do they merit skirting Catholic law to make them saints five years early. A thousand years from now, are people gonna say, "Oh wow, he died in 2005 and became a saint in 2006. He must have been a super Pope." This all is linked to the theory by society that this is the greatest time in the history of the world. That people are the smartest, greatest and awesomest ever! People do it in sports all the time ... "He's the greatest defensive player in the last history of the sport." ... "He's the best new prospect out of West Virginia in months." "If he continues like he has, he'll be the most dominant player ever." It's all about people wanting to agrandize and leave a legacy for themselves and others. Was Pope John Paul II a great pope? Yes. Is he the greatest ever? No. -Dave