Well, seems like everywhere I turn lately its news about the Pope. It's kinda weird, having something like that come to an end after so long. As an athiest I don't have any particular affinity for the man, so I can only imagine how this affects many Catholics.
Since I don't pay much attention to the Church and its activities, nor much to political activities or recent European history, I didn't really have much of an idea of how Pope John Paul II had affected the world. Obviously any pope is important and in a powerful position, but in order to expand my horizons I watched a few of the specials that are playing on the cable channels. Turns out this guy was pretty remarkable. Regardless of what one thinks of his beliefs (obviously at odds with my own), he certainly had a large impact on the political world. Who knows where Poland and Germany would be if he'd hidden away in the Vatican like some other Popes.
Sure, he made some dumb mistakes (birth control, woman priests, poor handling of abuse issues, etc), but I guess when you work big, sometimes ya gotta fail big too.
Maybe the next guy is will be more of an organizer. Evidently John Paul II was a performer, knew how to play the political games and how to get people to react. But he wasn't so good at managing a large organization, and the Church has suffered for it. Thirty percent fewer men are entering the priesthood, causing availability problems, and yet women are still denied access. On the other hand, they money is still pouring in, so I guess they're still doing something right.
It would be great if the church would reverse its stance on birth control and women priests. Both because those things are right for todays society IMO, and because I hope that major changes in church position like that might encourage believers to see that its not a god thats handing down the rules, but a man. Sure, it can be explained away just like anything else (God will make the policy changes that are right for His Plan when it is time to do so, regardless of wether or not we mere men can understand), but maybe the more cynical of them will see it as a clue.
Not that I think my path of rationality is the only way; how boring would the world be if there were only one belief system? But it sure would be nice if more people would adhere to a more social beneficial ethical system (not to mention more environmentally friendly ).
I'm rambling, its late, and I don't think I'm making sense anymore. Presuming I started out making sense. Eh. Thats all I got.
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