As a dedicated reader of The Eagle, I was shocked and disturbed to read the April 11 editorial titled "Pope's Death Reveals Hypocrisy." I feel the views expressed in this opinion are hurtful and do not show any appreciation or empathy for the incredibly complex world in which we all live.
Mr. Allen begins by suggesting that those affected by the pope's death should "get a grip." Religion and politics aside, this is a startlingly blunt suggestion that lacks any deep understanding of religion. For Roman Catholics like myself, the pope is the father and the protector of God's mission on Earth; whatever that mission may be, he and his office must be respected for the sheer power he holds. The more than 1 billion Catholics worldwide look to the pope for guidance and leadership, and it is certainly ignorant to suggest these revered qualities can be simply brushed off in favor of righteous moral narcissity.
Cynicism, as suggested by Mr. Allen, is a compelling reason to discount proven leadership and its effects. I submit that his so-called "posturing" of the pope's spiritual leadership is actually an understatement of it; the fact that his followers do not always march in lockstep, I think, is most definitely a good thing. The last time such obedience was observed on a world scale was in the 1940s in Germany, and the results, of course, were disastrous. Catholics worldwide can make up their own minds with their own set of beliefs, and the pope can be loved and revered in spite of any ideological or moral differences the two parties may have.
The allegation that American liberal Catholics "look the other way" on discrepancies like homosexuality and other sexual practices is unfounded and untrue. Roman Catholics in the United States do not shy from their beliefs; in fact, in a recent CNN poll, 78 percent said the next pope should allow Catholics to use birth control, 63 percent said he should let priests marry, and 59 percent said the next pope should have a less strict policy on stem cell research. Disagreeing with the pontiff's official stance is not a reason to be disowned from any feeling for him, as Mr. Allen asserts.
Pope John Paul II has brought world leaders together, fostered human rights and done remarkably good things for the world while creating a community of faith that transcends national and religious identity. The fact that several Latin American and African Catholics are frequently mentioned as possible successors shows that the church can and does change. John Paul II, as the first non-Italian pope in 450 years, demonstrated the globalizing world in which we live, where a former factory worker ascended to the papacy through only a deep commitment to his faith. The current mourning in hundreds of cities worldwide, including in Pyongyang, North Korea, has shown the extent to which barriers have been broken between hostile governments as a result of the pope's leadership. Religion can be a uniting force in the world; the pope lived by this view, and his support from all creeds, including Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs, shows how well both he and it were received.
Mr. Allen, in my view, does not recognize the enormous impact of the pope on billions of people around the world. The direction of his opinion that suggests hypocrisy of those who mourn the pope yet hold conflicting views is simply wrong. The worldwide demonstrations of respect and mourning from Catholics and non-Catholics alike show only the extent to which the pope exuded leadership and compassion. One does not need to agree with a great man to acknowledge his greatness. One certainly can "have it both ways," and mourning John Paul's death is not so much a "devil's bargain," as Mr. Allen suggests, but an acknowledgment of a good and decent man of faith who used his life to try to improve the world.
David Klasen is a sophomore in the School of International Service.
