Leftwing Catholics Spew Hatred of Fallen Pope
A leftwing Catholic group in France has issued a statement denouncing the late John Paul II as a bloodthirsty reactionary, according to Agence France-Presse. The group, whose French name "Nous Sommes Aussi l'Église" (NSAE) means, "We Are Also The Church," accused the deceased Pope of a "total rejection of democracy," of "supporting, even giving his blessing to, Latin American dictatorships" and of involving the Vatican in "powerful – even Mafia-like – financial systems, and in financial and economic oppression." (via FreeRepublic)
NSAE was founded by Jacques Jean Edmond Georges Gaillot, who was formerly bishop of Evreux in Normandy. John Paul II stripped Gaillot of his bishopric in 1995 after the rebel cleric repeatedly refused to cease his public denunciations of the Church, of which the above quotations provide characteristic examples.
Nicknamed the "red cleric" for his communist sympathies, Gaillot has delighted the left with such antics as chaining himself to a tenement to protest homelessness, and shipping out with a Greenpeace vessel to harass French naval forces engaged in nuclear testing in the Pacific. Needless to say, Gaillot is an impassioned apologist for Palestinian violence.
Following his demotion, Jacques Gaillot took to the Internet, with a Web site called Partenia.org. His group NSAE claims 400 members.
Despite the venom gushing forth from Gaillot's 400 acolytes, John Paul II was a true friend of the poor, both in word and deed. As John Zmirak notes in the FrontPage article, "Why the Left Hates the Church" – the same article, by the way, which Steven Plaut cites below:
"One of the most surprising aspects of the contemporary Left is its inveterate hostility to the Catholic Church around the world. You’d think that a political tendency whose ostensible purpose is the betterment of the poor would look with favor on the single largest provider on earth of private charity, health care, free education and housing for the needy. … Instead, the Left has focused on issues which really appeal to its privileged constituency—namely, preserving and extending the sexual libertinism that became respectable in the 1960s."John Paul II is widely known for his role in toppling the Soviet empire. Less well-known are the warnings he issued against an "unbridled capitalism," unrestrained by charity, humility, justice and compassion.
20 Comments:
This sounds like leftovers from the school of Liberaion Theology.
Liberation theology increased the violence in Central America. There
is irony in that the Pope himself
knew about Communism first hand as he lived under it. This was opposed to the Liberation Theology
advocates who did not.
And don't forget Christopher Hitchens:
http://slate.msn.com/id/2116085/
Ah, but he is a Frontpage Friend so obviously you will never speak ill of him.
Patrick, are you honestly trying to equate Gaillot and Hitchens? Interesting way to take a pot shot at this website, but not very accurate, given the huge gulf separating the two.
Frankly, there is much merit in the Hitchens piece you referenced. His timing is a bit unpleasant; the specifics might at least wait until a new Pope is elected. This is a time to eulogize, not to criticize. There will be plenty of time to address the shortcomings of the Roman Catholic church in later days.
In the meantime, it seems more appropriate to focus on the great good the late Pope accomplished.
Patric
The Hitchens article is mostly about the sex abuse scandals. Most people of all political affiliations recognize the failing
of the Church . The Church forgot that it exists to serve the spiritual needs of the congregants.
The problem is being adressed and lets not forget all the good work
done by the church.
Your post had zero to do with the
original post. The issue was the adherents of Liberation theology
wasted no time in measuring their words.
FYI would you tell Raimondo to open up a forum. This way he would
not have to visit FPM.
Hitchens isn't the only one. Check Auster's blog. Frontpage is shameless.
Let's remember too that the social circumstances in which the Roman Church finds itself can change drastically, over some decades. In America, founded to be free of Romanism, considered Rome the antithesis of everything it believed in, in terms of ecclesiology and civil government.
In the beginning, the American Catholic church was associated with the hordes of homeless riff-raff coming over in shiploads from Europe. The RCC was associated with LEFT wing labor movement, socialism, and radicalism of all sorts, for many years.
But there's been a major turn around. This history has been greatly trumped by the Church's conservative positions on the moral matters, not the socio-economic matters.
The RCC is now associated very much with the heart of conservatism, I do believe.
And no one declared him an "enabler of evil," in spite of his strong opposition to our declaring war on Saddam Hussein's Iraq, either.
Someone might have been fearing a thunderbolt.
J
J. Edward, I don't actually recall the late Pope drawing little Hitler moustaches on pictures of George Bush as did the demented left, nor do I recal him acting like a disingenuous weasel as did Old Europe.
He was on the wrong side of the Iraq issue, dead wrong in my opinion, but he still carried himself with honor. That distinguished him from a very large part of the opposition.
He was on the wrong side of the Iraq issue, dead wrong in my opinion, but he still carried himself with honor. That distinguished him from a very large part of the opposition.
I agree. But some might still argue that an enabler of evil is still an enabler of evil, no matter how maturely they dissent, or how well they carry themselves in the act.
One thing I respected about the Pontiff was his consistency. You didn't have to worry about him waffling. A pity that cannot be said of many world leaders, their cheerleaders or detractors.
J
Waffle? Good point. But what about just not following through? What about the hordes of sex perverts apparently dominating the priesthood here in America (to say nothing of the convents)? Those men should have all been publicly catrated, then hung. This is an unspeakable evil.
They remain in office because of the Council of Nicea (325 AD), which sanctified the office of priest, regardless of the man filling it. Infalibility of priesthood.
So, then, maybe there wasn't much John Paul II could do after all...
Dr Yeagley
As I wrote above the problem with the pedophelia was inexcusible. However, the real trouble is with the way the Church defines itself.
This problem is not limited to the Catholic Church either.
Any Church exists to meet the spiritual needs of the congregants.
Clergymen are public servants who serve the congregation. They have a fiduciary responsability to the safety and to act in the intrests of the congregation.
The larger problem was the church arrogantly forgot this. The attitude of the church was arrogance and the priests were rotated. The Church has learned its lesson and is hopefully going ahead with its mission .
The Catholic Church does alot of good work. It made a inexcusable error but lets not forget the schools, hospitals and social programs.
David Yeagley says,
"hordes of sex perverts apparently dominating the priesthood here in America (to say nothing of the convents)?"
GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF CHIEF, OR SOBER UP AND STOP WATCHING SO MUCH TV, AND ACTUALLY BELIEVING IT!
With respect to the number of Judas's in the Catholic Church!
In percentage statistics give or take a few years:
- In Jesus' Time: 1 out of 12... 8.3% bad... the rest, 91.7% holy priests.
- Today in USA: Priests accused: 800 out of 50.000... 1.6% accused... the rest, 98.4%, honest, fine priests.
Frankly, I want them to start reporting on the number of Ministers, and Rabbis accused of sexual crimes--It may just shock you Priest bigots.
AND I REALLY WANT TO START GETTING 24/7 REPORTING, WITH RESPECT TO CHILD ABUSE ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS--MAN THAT WOULD CURL YOUR HAIR!
The larger problem was the church arrogantly forgot this. The attitude of the church was arrogance and the priests were rotated. The Church has learned its lesson and is hopefully going ahead with its mission
Agreed. And while it's going to sound funny, coming from a Pagan, I wish them good luck (and Goddesspeed?) in that.
I still want to see those guilty of the crimes of obstruction and sweeping the abuse under the rug called into account, though.
J
But you've been an accuser of the Pope yourself. You accused him of being an anti-Semite terrorist supporter because he opposes wars of agression.
But you've been an accuser of the Pope yourself. You accused him of being an anti-Semite terrorist supporter because he opposes wars of agression.
No I didn't. I merely wondered why no one did, given the fine traditon of "if you're not with us, you're against us" that goes around far too many parts these days.
J
The Pope, J.E.T., is not a hypocrite like your leaders!
He is against all war.
You, and your people are only against wars that they perceive strengthens a Republican President.
Bill Clinton's, Monica War, was just hunky-dory with the lot of you..
I'm afraid you're wrong there, grandpa. I was in favor of going into Iraq, at the time, and thought Billdo's various High Adventures were foolish and ill-considered.
But you're right - the Pontiff was/is/will be against all war.
J
ps: I started calling you grandpa after a few 'youngins' comments you made my way, but it's meant as more of a gentle teasing than an insult.
Does my calling you 'grandpa' offend you? If so, I will stop.
J.E.T. writes,
"Does my calling you 'grandpa' offend you? If so, I will stop."
Not at all, but I would prefer being called, Grand-Exalted-Mystic-Ruler-of all things big and small, medium, and extra-large!
Grand-Exalted-Mystic-Ruler-of all things big and small, medium, and extra-large!
Well, the acronym for that comes out to GEMROATBASMAEL, which sounds like one of the minor angels you never hear much about (trash collection? orange traffic cones?)
How about we stick with 'grandpa' and have the understanding that you're the Grand-Exalted-Mystic-Ruler-of all things big and small, medium, and extra-large? : D
J
I would have to agree!
Until are next indited argy-bargy!
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