It's the other way around, Mark!

Mark Sullivan of Ad Orientem appears to endorse the judgement of Rod Dreher, in quoting from his piece in the Wall Street Journal:

"It is hard to judge John Paul, because we don't know what he's had to fight behind the scenes. Still, I find it impossible any longer to give him the benefit of every doubt, as is the custom of many papal loyalists. John Paul must bear partial responsibility for the catastrophe that has befallen us."

Mr Dreher should be advised (to say nothing of Mark), that there are only 99 Swiss Guards. Even if there were more, it is unlikely that they could go jackbooting all over the world, knocking down chancery doors, just to get every errant bishop to listen to the Holy Father. As it is, he has been overheard to say that they do not, despite his pleas. And it has long been conventional wisdom, among some within the halls of the Vatican, that the church in North America is at least partially in a state of schism.

Personally, I'd like to see about two-thirds of the USA bishops turn in their mitres, those who have either committed or enabled the recently disclosed scandals. Then again, what would I do next? Beats the hell outa me!

To look into Church history of the last century, is to learn of those who did not believe that even Pius X himself did enough to quiet the Modernist heresy.

Mr Dreher comes off as a good guy, so I think a total stranger like myself could at least reason with him.

The Church doesn't need a bunch of armchair pundits. The Church needs us.

Viva il Papa! JP2, you da man, you da man!!!