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Letters from 21 May to 3 June 2007

Like all letters to the editor everywhere, these letters are the opinions of the writers and not Anglicans Online. We publish letters that we think will be of interest to our readers, whether we agree with them or not. If you'd like to write a letter of your own, click here.

You be the judge

David Yallop, one of the most widely recognized investigative journalists in the world, has written a book which I would highly recomend to any Anglican who thinks Anglicanism is too democratic or too decentralized.

The Power And The Glory chronicles the reign of Pope John Paul II, the first 'media Pope', a former actor famous for his ability to appeal to the masses as a symbol of hope, while also currying political influence with presidents and world leaders. Now on the fast track to sainthood, nominated by his sucessor who essentially functioned as his co-adjutor, is the official story accurate?

Yallop explores the realities of John Paul II's long reign and asks some difficult questions such as the true role of the Vatican in the momentous events of 1989 and the fall of Communism, their continued mismanagement of Vatican finances which allowed the Vatican banks to be used for money laundering, the failure to address the child abuse crisis that came to light in the 1980s, the rise of Opus Dei, and the failure to respond to the murder of Cardinal Romero.

Among the other myths Yallop exposes, in detail and with photographs are: the "heroic wartime years" of the Pope's life including his "brave and courageous activities during which he continuously put his own life at risk to save countless Jews"; his wartime work as a "slave labourer"; the decades in which he "confronted the Communist regime in Poland"; his "vital contribution to the creation of the Solidarity movement" his "incorruptibility" and his "role in the overthrow of European Communism." There is much more. Read the book and make your own judgement.

Anglicans of course are free to draw their own conclusions, but then isn't that a vital part of what it means to be an Anglican?

The Rev. Peter Christiansen
South San Francisco, California, USA
smi2le@sbcglobal.net
30 May 2007

Don't change a word

I just wanted to say that your introductory letter this week was absolutely perfect. Thank you for it.

I seem to recall something in the Bible about a wedding feast with a large number of people in attendance. Of course.

Julian Windsor
St Margaret
Dayton, Ohio, USA
4 June 2007

Earlier letters

We launched our 'Letters to AO' section on 11 May 2003. All published letters are in our archives.