medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Many, if not most, saints are controversial. It goes with the territory. However the thesis that John Paul II's choices are "controversial" largely stems from Kenneth Woodward's book on the saint-making process. While the book has many valuable features, it is a journalistic account and, like so many biographies and accounts of the present pope, operates in political categories alone, devoid of theological or philosophical insight. Before making sweeping judgments on the effects of the 1983 change in canonization procedures, one might consider that the fundamental reason for the changes addresses the concern that Prof. Mundy has repeatedly raised: why did it take so long for canonization proceedings in the period from the late Middle Ages to 1983? John Paul II thought the procedure could be shortened without sacrificing theological or historical integrity. The "controversial" canonizations and pending canonizations are a handful--Pius IX, Pius XII, the supposed delaying of Oscar Romero's cause, the supposed politicized basis for Josemaria Escriva. Against that you must, in fairnes and scholarly accuracy range the wide variety of beatifications and canonizations from every ethnic group, the greatly increased number of women, of married people, including now two married couples, the first saints from the Phillippines, from Oceana and a long list of other non-European cultures. Academicians who normally praise "diversity" and "multiculturalism" ought to pause before using terms like "mobs of saints" and expressing horror at one case out of thousands.
Dennis Martin
>>> [log in to unmask] 01/18/02 22:03 PM >>>
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Indeed it is interesting, John. I was hping
someone(s) would add to my terse and off-the-cuff
post. As you may be aware, the current pope has
canonized mobs of new saints, some extremely
controversial. I know many clerics aghast at the
prospect of Santo Pio Nono!
MG
--- [log in to unmask] wrote:
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval
> religion and culture
>
> Dear Marjorie Greene: It takes more than an
> abstract mounting of
> pressure to cause a canonization. There are many
> interests involved,
> just as you have pointed out that Joan of Arc was
> canonized as a
> result of the First WWar. So the subject is
> interesting. Yours,
> John Mundy
>
>
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