September 3, 2013    Martin Mallon  (Ireland)     Martin's previous articles          

(Comments welcome here)

In an article for Vatican Insider Andrea Tornielli writes that John Paul II is to be canonised this year, an "instant saint", but also to be canonized at the same time is John XXIII, the "Good Pope". Read the article here: 

Many people have questioned the unseemly rush by the establishment to canonize John Paul II, especially in light of his refusal to have Fr Marcial Maciel, the founder and head of the Legionaries of Christ, investigated. This was despite many complaints to the Vatican about the child abuse by Maciel of his own children, abuse of young seminarians and the fact that he had a number of wives.

However, as there is no longer a Devil’s Advocate it is much easier to overlook any failings when attempting to canonize someone. What was the devil’s Advocate?

For almost 400 years the Church employed an advocatus diaboli to scrutinise candidates for canonisation. The Devil's Advocate was a canon lawyer appointed to pick Causes apart. It was his duty to investigate scurrilous rumours, expose character flaws, debunk miracles and explain why the candidate was generally unworthy of the halo. This office, established by Sixtus V in 1587, was abolished in 1983 by John Paul II.  See this article

The question has to be asked, and answered, why was the position of Devil’s Advocate dispensed with? One article, which can be read here , points to Opus Dei as the reason:

In 2002, Opus Dei’s founder, Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, was canonized in Rome, Italy on October 6 after having been beatified amidst substantial controversy in 1992. There were many irregularities involved in Escriva’s swift canonization (he died in 1975), including the refusal to accept the testimonies of almost a dozen people who opposed the canonization and knew Escriva personally, including Maria del Carmen Tapia, Father Vladimir Feltzman and John Roche; the elimination of the Devil’s Advocate from the canonization process, a change effected with the participation of Opus Dei’s first prelate, Alvaro del Portillo; and the authentification of miracles by Opus Dei doctors, along with other conflict of interest issues.

So why did Opus Dei wish to do away with the Devil’s Advocate? To ensure Escriva would be canonized. Why did John Paul II agree to this? The answer appears to be money:

 In 1982 John Paul II created this group as a "personal prelature."  
Suspiciously, this act occurred in the same year that the wealthy sect allegedly had transferred almost $1,000,000,000 into the Vatican Bank, bailing it out of an embarrassing bankruptcy.  In a second maneuver that raised eyebrows, the pope placed the founder of Opus Dei on the "fast track" for New Order sainthood, accelerating an often centuries-long waiting-period for canonization to a mere twenty years. See here

No other logical reason has been given for changing a five hundred year old tradition of the church.

Currently, not having a Devil’s Advocate is working in John Paul II’s favour; he can be canonised while serious questions, such as those concerning Maciel, will not have to be answered. In addition, to sweeten the sour taste this leaves Good Pope John, who few dispute is a saint and most love, will be canonised at the same time. This same methodology was used when Pius IX and John XXIII were beatified at the same time

There is a simple means of correcting this position, bring back the position of Devil’s Advocate.

At least we can be thankful that Pope John XXIII is, at last, being canonized. We also pray that the canonisation of Pope John Paul II will help many people.

We must remember that every saint was also a sinner, including Padre Pio, Mother Teresa and The Little Flower, as were John XXIII and John Paul II, so if their good advice and example help bring us closer to God, perhaps it is Christian to ignore their faults. Judging is a dangerous game to play.

Let us pray that Pope Francis listens to the Holy Spirit as he makes decisions in this and other areas.

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