John Paul’s age and record show that it’s time for a fresh face in Rome
Argument: The obvious reason that Pope John Paul II should retire is his rapidly declining health. The octogenarian, who is already suffering from Parkinson’s disease, has just returned to the Vatican after more than a week in a hospital. The pope is the most visible representative of Catholicism on the planet. That’s something that requires health and vigor, two things a young Karol Wojtyla brought to the papacy. After an assassination attempt in the early 80s and a few decades on the job, John Paul has clearly lost a step. A: The pope’s main goal should be to keep the pews stocked. While this may sound callous, if accepting Jesus is the only road to salvation, then the pope wants as many people as possible in church. John Paul II has done a horrible job at this. Even though the trend began long before his election, he has done little to reverse the drop in attendance. By maintaining tradition, more liberal-minded people have strayed from the flock. A: The times have changed, but the Catholic Church has not. While customs are critical to any religious doctrine, Catholicism, like any biological or social group, must continue to adapt to the world around it to survive. Instead, John Paul II has continued to enforce some rules that many Catholics would deem outdated. Birth control is still opposed by the Vatican, he has strongly opposed the ordination of women and he has also been adamant about not allowing current priests to marry. – Steven M. Andrews
Rebuttal: Certainly John Paul II brought health and vigor during his early years as the pope, but it’s false to assume that his leadership is meaningless now that he’s older and sick. Our culture devalues age, but a leader who can pray for healing at Lourdes because he suffers the same as the people he is praying for is a powerful and neglected aspect of leadership. R: It’s no news to anyone that the Catholic Church is a relatively complex institution. To blame low attendance on one factor or the actions of one man is too simplistic an analysis for this particular problem. R: The accusation that the Catholic Church hasn’t changed with the times is obviously false. The Second Vatican Council is testament to that. The issues of birth control, female priests and married priests are all contentious, but when John Paul dealt with them in his papacy, although there was dissent, there were no calls to resign. These issues will not be solved by the pope’s retirement. – Eileen Arnold
Argumnt: The Catholic Church is nothing if not traditional. Each tradition that it has adopted in its existence has deep meaning associated with it. For instance, the tradition that a pope reign for the entirety of his life is not Canon Law, but it’s a tradition that has not been broken since Gregory XII in 1415. The meaning behind this tradition is that the pope is chosen and appointed by God through the College of Cardinals. If God appointed the pope, then it is not for the pope, or anyone else, to retire. A: The reason the last pope retired was because the potential damage to the Church, should he not retire, was great. This is not the case with John Paul II. Although his body is frail, his mind is still capable. Moreover, the Curia, which is the central administration that governs the Church, was largely appointed by John Paul, so it is more than able to carry out his orders if he were unable. A: John Paul has remained dedicated throughout his papacy to the sacredness and dignity of life in all conditions. That is why this pope, in his Parkinson’s riddled body, should remain pope. He is his own living proof of his convictions. The message that this action sends to people in similar conditions is a strong one and one that a true leader is obliged to send, even at his own expense. I have no doubt he is aware of this. – Eileen Arnold
Rebuttal: Tradition for tradition’s sake is great for static organizations that don’t wish to advance towards the future, but the Catholic Church should really aspire to better things. Other medieval traditions of the church include selling cardinalships for money and naming your illegitimate children to high positions in the church. Should those come back, too? R: John Paul II is doing more harm by staying in office than stepping down. He’s old, infirm and incapable of performing the job to its proper potential. Even though he may still have his mental faculties, the rest of his weaknesses make it clear the time to step down is now. R: Symbols are great when they show a figure excelling despite all odds. Watching the pope try and read a short prayer from his hospital bed (with the obvious help of a recording, despite the Vatican’s claim) only reinforced that this man is struggling to survive, as well as run an organization of a billion people. – Steven M. Andrews
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