My mother and I have been trying to figure out why the media is so in love with the Pope. It's been non-stop Pope coverage since his death (and right before he passed). My mom has seen a few Popes come and go, but she has never seen this much attention towards a Pope before.
Any ideas?
It is interesting, given the fact that so many in the media are godless liberals.
It could be that even though they disagree with JPII's Pro-Life stance, they like the facts that he was such a one-world ecumenist, that he was against both Iraq wars, and that he was an opponent of the death penalty. JPII was also critical of capitalism. The media-ites love that.
I think they see him as a kind of Gandhi-type figure. That and the fact that it takes little courage to jump on the bandwagon and praise a popular departed pope may explain some of what is going on.
Stepanov wrote:It is interesting, given the fact that so many in the media are godless liberals.
It could be that even though they disagree with JPII's Pro-Life stance, they like the facts that he was such a one-world ecumenist, that he was against both Iraq wars, and that he was an opponent of the death penalty. JPII was also critical of capitalism. The media-ites love that.
I think they see him as a kind of Gandhi-type figure. That and the fact that it takes little courage to jump on the bandwagon and praise a popular departed pope may explain some of what is going on.
Good point. The fact that he is a "one-world ecumenist" is the probably the reason.
I have not been participarting in this forum, for numerous reasons. I hope to be recieved into the Orthodox church, and I do not find many webgroups to be very profitable for preparing, in every sense. However, I really feel compelled to say something briefly. Yes, I did email ABC news because I was very disappointed in George Stephanoupolous' coverage, as an Orthodox journalist. However, and this is a BIG however, you don't have to love the institution of the papacy, to view it as valid, or anything else, to appreciate an influential leader who spoke out for life.
I have a Russian friend who was very active in the anti-Communist movement, and she truely feels that a great persecution of Orthodoxy is coming. Who do you think is going to initiate it? The lovers of abortion, euthanaesia, and the rejectors of the holy sacrament of marriage. Look around. I don't hate the supporters of these views, but I do know that they will never know Christ, or see God without changing their hearts. I will greatly miss the Pope's consistent support of pro-life issues. I have BIG health issues, and if one fetal cell could save and cure me, why would I want it, if it meant betraying Christ and all His teachings?
Please don't misunderstand, I am NOT an ecuemenist, far from it, but I really believe the battles of the faith in the near future are going to focus on life issues, and for that reason I do mourn his passing. That is no diminishment of Orthodoxy and its truths, rather I realize how one must be forever vigilent to commit our lives to Christ, and in this world, it ain't easy!! (On a side note, of course the media isn't going to get things right, although the bits I've seen on CNN regarding the ROC have not been all that bad.)
I don't mean anything I've said as a criticism, I'm just saying that a life ethic is, I think, fundamental. Since it is Great Lent, please don't view my words with anger or offense, as I intend none, and please forgive me if I have indeed given offense.
Sue57,
I think I agree with everything you said. I received this today from my Bishop...
"One time a demon was sitting in the form of a man and swinging his legs. One who saw him with his spiritual eyes asked him, “Why aren't you doing anything?” The demon answered: “Nowadays I have nothing to do but swing my legs; people are doing everything better than me.”
---St. Ambrose of Optina (+1891)
I also think there is another angle to the issues you raised. People through the centuries have been alienated from the "church" by the Roman Popes as many have been quite the scoundrels. The Protestants were the first sizable reaction. Then people were further alienated by the Protestants...
I have a dream, that if the popes and all those Billy Grahams and patriarch Bartholomew's out there were actually real Orthodox Bishops, demonstrating the life of Crucifixion, the world would be immensely more enlightened and gentle. But I realize the course the world has chosen will most likely not be significantly altered..
Just some quick thoughts...
