Fr. McBrien: Benedict, slow down

Fr. Richard McBrien makes a case against John Paul’s canonization fast track. To argue that it is prudent to wait a period of time before starting the process is a valid argument. I am pleased that the process of John Paul II’s canonization has already begun, but had the Holy Father thought it best to wait the now standard 5 years, I would have been okay with that too.

What strikes me about McBrien’s article is that he seems to have taken pains to come across reasonable and thoughtful, yet the smell of vindictiveness still permeates his words.

Mad dash to make John Paul II a saint should give way to a stroll

In one of his first official acts, the newly elected Pope Benedict XVI announced that he was initiating a formal process leading to the beatification and eventual canonization of his predecessor, John Paul II. In doing so, the new Pope dispensed with the required five-year wait, which John Paul II himself had mandated when he revised the rules in 1983. Before that, the normal wait had been 50 years, later reduced to 10.
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He occupied the papacy for 26-1/2 years. The church needs time and distance to allow the dust to settle, and the enthusiasm and emotion of the moment to subside. John Paul may have been an inspiration to millions of people around the globe, but not even his greatest admirers can say that he was perfect in virtue. Catholics younger than 40 have no practical memory of Paul VI (1963-1978), much less of John XXIII (1958-1963).

It is ironic that the same Catholics who are pleased with the speeding up of the process often are the first to remind others that the church thinks in terms of centuries, not years.

Those disappointed by Benedict's decision were not expecting centuries to pass, just the required five years - the very time line that John Paul himself had decreed.

So McBrien gets in his “safe” little jab, observing that JPII was not perfect in virtue. That someone (other than the Blessed Virgin Mary) is not “perfect in virtue” is as unremarkable as it is obvious. Then he remarks that Catholics under 40 have no practical memory of Paul VI and John XXIII. What is the relevance there? There is no meaningful relevance, but for McBrien it is an ideological statement. He obviously views the rather liberal Paul VI and John XXIII as more worthy of consideration that John Paul II. Why do you suppose McBrien didn’t find it fitting to point out Paul and John’s imperfection?

Fr. McBrien really shows his hand when he remarks, “It is ironic that the same Catholics who are pleased with the speeding up of the process often are the first to remind others that the church thinks in terms of centuries, not years.” Note that that does absolutely nothing to validate his position, it merely serves as an attempt to personally discredit those who look forward to JPII’s canonization. However, his argument falls flat. It is a fair characterization of many of us JPII supporters, we do recognize that the Church moves slow. There is nothing ironic or contradictory in us wanting a speedy canonization. I would like to see some speedy liturgical reform. Who wouldn’t have liked to see a more timely response to the abuse scandal? We can easily turn the finger of hypocrisy and point it at Fr. McBrien. --- “It is ironic that those who would like to see the Church move faster, want John Paul’s canonization process delayed.”

I find his last sentence quite telling: “Those disappointed by Benedict's decision…” Disappointed? It is one thing to hold fast to a valid principle; in this case, that it is wise to wait a given period of time before starting a canonization process, but to be disappointed that the time period was waived? The only reason one could be “disappointed” about this is if they don’t care for JP II or what he stood for. The height of hypocrisy comes when he appeals to the time line that John Paul set. Why does Fr. McBrien not appeal to John Paul II’s infallible teaching regarding the all male priesthood? After all, that is a matter of faith, an eternal and unchangeable truth; the time line for the canonization process is a discipline, which as we have seen is quite changeable.

Bottom line is that those who oppose the Church’s teaching and despise John Paul II fear his canonization. Once JPII is canonized and proclaimed Saint John Paul the Great, the dissenters will loose even more wiggle room and they will have a much more difficult time finding any takers of their poison.

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