Submitted to the St. Petersburg Times, May 15, 2001
Response to George Wills, Washington Post Writers Group
by
James O'Hara
RE: A pope from Chicago? It's possible, St. Petersburg Times, 5/13/01
So, you consider Francis Cardinal George of Chicago to be temperamentally and intellectually
suited to continue the work of Pope John Paul II. You like what the present pope has done.
A proper title for John Paul is the"political pope." Today, Vatican officials have more political
influence in the US than any other religious denomination has ever had. Catholic lay activist, Paul
Weyrich, rightfully is known as the "Godfather of the Christian Coalition." Unless there is a
revolt in the US again the Church, it's probably no legislation will be enacted in the foreseeable
future at the state and federal levels which is contrast to the interests of the Church. Will George
continue to urge the hierarchy and parishioners, including all Catholic lawmakers, to impose papal
teaching on all non-Catholics even if they lose their live in the process - be martyrs?
Have you catechized George to determine whether he believes all the miracles he preaches or
does he preach these because he took a vow to do so? A number of priests who left the Church
have told me they didn't preach what they believed, they preached what they took a vow to
preach. In fact, they report when they went to Rome for some of their training, one of the first
things they were told was the miracles they will take a vow to preach are pure fabrication but this
is what attracts and holds believers - the Church has been at this for a long time. John Paul had
some of this training in Rome so did Cardinal George.
Does George believe when a fetus is aborted, it goes directly to live with the Lord and, when the
mother dies and goes to Heaven, God will enable the mother to ask for forgiveness from the fetus
- in whatever language is appropriate. Does he believe some body part of the fetus goes directly
to Heaven or it is only the fetus' immeasurable soul? This is one of John Paul's latest miracles as
he sought further support from women.
Does George believe Roman Catholicism is the world's only true religion, all others are inferior
and defective, as John Paul said? Does he believe he had a moral obligation to continue John
Paul's effort to make Roman Catholicism the religion of the world?
Does George believe as John Paul believes when he said while defending the deaths brought on by
religious wars, paraphrased, when one is not able to overcome one's enemy, it may be necessary
to take the enemy's life.
Finally, before Carinal Bernardin died he was paying out more than $1.8 million a year to parents
of children and to adults who had been sexually abused by priests. How much is George giving
out each year for this?
I don't know what your religious beliefs are. Over the years, I've thought of you as one of the
elite who doesn't believe in religious miracles but does believe other people need beliefs in
religious miracles so they could be civilized and behave themselves. Am I right?
Respectfully,
James M. O'Hara