Condolences to our Catholic members

Pope John Paul II was a great man and inspirational leader. I'm not Catholic, but I have great admiration for the man, his convictions, leadership, faith, and courage. He has lead the church through troubled times and has done much in healing the rifts between Christianity and other religions.
He may not have pleased everyone, but being a man was not perfect.
The world has had a great loss. I hope the Catholic church has another leader capable of taking John Paul's place, and leading the Church into the new century.

As a Roman Catholic, the death of Pope John Paul II strikes me deeply.

He was the pope during most of my life, and led a remarkable life. Through both the Nazi and Communist regimes of his surroundings, his faith shone brightly like a beacon. His strength and courage forever serve as a model to me. Here was a simple, common man, who never bowed in the face of two of the most powerful and terrifying forces in recent memory. Yet, his beliefs allowed him to never waver. His behavior is something that most of us will never be able to emulate.

One church, and not the only church, the beliefs of Christians are the same.

More important, he was a man of faith, and human kind, no politics here folks, just faith. Not that the Catholic church is non-political, it's a very political entity. But you never saw it with the Pope.

He was a spokesman for Christianity, and was sought out the world round. I can think of no other Christian, as charismatic, or prominent.

This is not a sad day! For anyone of faith, rejoices in the passing on to a better place.

God bless everyone, of all devoted faiths, on this fine Sunday morning. May the church appoint a worthy sucessor.

loon