Beatification of Pope Pius IX

Whoever felt repelled by the magic of the "third secret of Fatima" in May could enjoy the happy, enlightened spirituality of the masses on World Youth Day in August -- or vice versa.

Pope John Paul II embodies the contradictions of his (Roman) Catholic Church, on which he impresses fundamentalism of belief. On the other hand, he argues credibly for social equality, debt relief for Third World countries, reconciliation -- particularly with Jews -- and against the death penalty.

It's outrageous that John Paul II is raising up for praise the zealous anti-Semite and pious power seeker Pius IX, who allowed the death penalty in the church state.

John XXIII does not deserve to be yoked to this terrible distorted picture of holiness. The Catholic Church can beatify or sanctify whoever it wants, and deal with its internal contradictions for another 2,000 years.

But if it wants to get involved with society and politics, and maintain or justify its influence, it must tell the lay world outside whose side it is on -- Pius IX or John XXIII?

-- Basler Zeitung, Basel, Switzerland