John Paul II on the fast track to sainthood

[Nikki Stone 1]

It looks like the popularity of J2P2 is going to lead to a rush to sainthood. Usually there are three steps, starting with beatification, and then there are required miracles that have to be checked out. This process usually takes years, often centuries. The article below mentions "canonization by acclamation"--which sounds like a scary process--or lack of process-- to me. Any other Catholics out there familiar with it?

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1503&ncid=1503&e=8&u=/afp/20050412/ts_afp/vaticanpope

Cardinals discuss sainthood for John Paul II

1 hour, 3 minutes ago
Add to My Yahoo! Top Stories - AFP

VATICAN CITY (AFP) - Cardinals meeting daily in Rome to discuss the main issues facing the Roman Catholic Church ahead of a conclave next week to elect a pope have signed a petition asking a future pope to "accelerate" the beatification of John Paul II, a report said.

The petition was signed by "many" but not all of the 134 cardinals present at Monday's meeting, according to the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

The prelates have clearly caught the popular mood following the funeral mass for the late pope on Friday, when some in the massive crowd began chanting "santo, santo", demanding that the Polish-born pontiff be declared a saint.

The letter had been left on a table for cardinals to sign and at the end of the meeting was handed to the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Germany's Joseph Ratzinger, who will have the task of delivering it to the next pope, the newspaper said..."

snip

"...Ordinarily, Church rules decree that five years must pass after death before the question of sainthood is tackled, to allow for cooler assessment of the subject's life, although at least one cardinal is believed to have revived talk of an ancient custom of allowing canonisation by acclamation.

The rush to sainthood gathered pace within days of John Paul II's death on April 2, with a stream of reports of purported miracles carried out during his lifetime reaching Rome. However, only those occurring after his death would count toward his sainthood..."

[blackcat77]

1. That's just wrong

Sainthood is not a popularity contest. I'd remind these folks who are so anxious that it was a mob who convinced Pilate to have Jesus killed.

It's never a good idea to assume that a mob is thinking straight.

[Nikki Stone 1]

5. Yes, mobs can go either way. Excellent point.

nt

[Malva Zebrina]

2. The building of a myth

Interesting to observe from an anthropological view.

[ps1074]

3. Flame me all you want

But John Paul II was not a saint.

Someone had to say it :)

[Mass]

4. I like your symbol

Wished there was a Socialist Party in this country.

For the rest, I really dont care what the Catholic Church do. I have given up on them a long time ago.

[Nikki Stone 1]

7. No flames. But the Church might consider J2P2 a saint according to its

own rules.

Our own rules for sainthood may differ. (I personally would nominate Paul Krugman if the Democrats take back the House anytime soon. That would be enough of a miracle for me. :))

[stopbush]

6. Patron Saint & Protector of Pedophile-Enabling Cardinals.

I can live with that.