Sunday's Beatification of John Paul Draws Criticism From Some

Today's New York Times reports on the political controversy surrounding Sunday's planned beatification of Pope John Paul II. A beatification Mass will move the popular former Pope a step further toward formal sainthood. Some critics question Pope Benedict XVI's waiver of the usual requirement that beatification cannot take place until five year's after a person's death. Others say the sex abuse crisis that surfaced during John Paul's reign should disqualify him from beatification.  John Paul's ties to Rev. Marcial Maciel Degollado, founder of the controversial Legionaries of Christ, have also been raised by those opposing his sainthood.  (See prior related posting.) However, particularly residents of John Paul's native Poland, revere him and admire his role in helping to bring down Communism. Andrea Riccardi, a biographer of John Paul, says: "for many Catholics he's already a saint."