Good Pope piece

Much is now being written and recycled about John Paul II’s supposed “failure to understand” the nature of western liberal society. In reality he understood the dynamics of society in western Europe or north America quite well, but disliked much of what he saw there. In return, he was disliked – sometimes detested – by reformers within or outwith the Church, who were also shocked by the materialism of their own societies but who could only understand his refusal to liberalise the church as brutal, reactionary authoritarianism.

On his first visit to the United States, John Paul II was confronted by an impressive, widespread campaign which begged him to reconsider the ordination of women. The campaign produced evidence (how solid I do not know) to suggest that the majority of American Catholics favoured the change. The pope was completely unimpressed by this reasoning. Afterwards, a columnist suggested that he had been the first world figure to tell the American public that wanting something in a majority did not mean they ought to have it.

Neal Ascherson, writing on OpenDemocracy.net. The site is currently being edited by Isabel Hilton, Mrs Ascherson in civilian life, which probably explains why they got such a very good piece. Anyway, it’s thoughtful, elegant and profound, as you’d expect, and probably won’t be noticed as much as it deserves. Hence this link.