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Commentary
John Paul II and Bush led differently
By Derek Sullivan
Published:
Thursday, April 7, 2005
In a world of focus groups, speechwriters, approval ratings and sound-bites, Pope John Paul II lived by one simple rule: practice what you preach.
It was evident from the beginning that Karol Jozef Wojtyla was not going to be your average Bishop of Rome. He was from Poland - the first non-Italian pope in 455 years - and was only 58 years young, making him the youngest pope in 132 years.
Pope John Paul II decided early on that he would travel the world to spread his message. He let Catholics know that he would visit more than just huge cathedrals and basilicas. In October 1979, after visiting President Jimmy Carter at the White House, Pope John Paul II visited a quaint little church in Cumming, Iowa (pop. 189).
The incident was provoked by a lady who wrote the pope a letter in hopes of getting the newly-elected leader to visit her church. He walked through the Iowa countryside to the small church. He delivered a small mass, before appearing in front of 250,000 later that day in Des Moines.
The quarter-million people in the crowd heard a familiar message. The pope attacked commercialism and told the crowd not to live so materialistic and to cherish life from conception to death.
Pope John Paul II respected all forms of life and never gave in to public sentiment regarding abortion, birth control, stem-cell research and the death penalty.
In an age where being pro-life simply means anti-abortion, the pope knew the issue went deeper. He believed that everyone's life should be saved, even the harshest criminals. He knew that no one lived without sin.
Pope John Paul II - shot in the stomach in 1981 - not only decided against the execution of his attempted assassin, he also visited Mehmet Ali Agca in prison to forgive him.
President George W. Bush campaigns under a pro-life banner and makes DVDs proclaiming the importance of life and faith. That didn't stop him from sending 1,500 Americans to their death in Iraq, or to call for the use of embryos for stem-cell research. Before becoming president in January 2001, he executed so many death row inmates in Texas that the Lone Star State is now the ruler by which all death-row states are measured.
The pope believed every life is worth saving. Most pro-life politicians pick and choose.
Some may call him stubborn and many may call him out of touch, but no one can call him a hypocrite.
I didn't agree with the pope on many issues. I support the death penalty, stem-cell research and even believe euthanasia was the most humane way for Terri Schiavo to die. In fact, I have to admit that I agree with President Bush on most social issues.
But, I don't consider myself pro-life and don't say that I am. I'll never understand why politicians aren't ridiculed for calling themselves pro-life when they don't walk the walk.
Why do I align myself with the pope and not the president. Because, while the pope spoke against commercialism, the president has called the wealthy and elite his base.
From the beginning of his papacy, John Paul II fought against communism and when Eastern Europe earned their freedom, he didn't stand on the Berlin wall or an aircraft carrier with a sign claiming "Mission Accom-plished." The pope knew the reward wasn't a cheering crowd, but peace and freedom throughout the world.
Every parent at one time or another tells her child, "Do as I say, not as I do." Pope John Paul II never asked his flock to live without sin, but never let us think that living in the 20th century was an excuse for debauchery.
I still remember the day the pope was shot. My second grade class at Immaculate Conception was taken to our church to pray for the pope's speedy recovery. And for the first time in my life, I prayed. I sat in the pew and asked God for a favor. Twenty-four years later, I sat in front of my T.V. until 3 a.m. Saturday waiting for the moment when my favor ran out.
At 1:37 on Saturday afternoon, when I was watching "Beauty Shop," Pope John Paul II died. In two weeks, another leader of more than a billion Catholics will be chosen. In an age of focus groups, speechwriters and sound-bites, I worry about the direction of the church.
I hope the new pope continues to not just work with world leaders, but also with the people that need him the most.
