Without for a moment forgetting the problems with the Catholic church, my disagreements with what he stood for, or the consequences of his mistakes, I do mourn the death of John Paul II.

I saw him once, on Christmas eve, 1992.  Though he was surprisingly small and frail even then, his presence is familiar to me.  And his aging has remained me somehow of the gradual lessening of my own religious faith, which was extant and notable when JPII was himself an active, vital man.

John Paul remained such in mind, but not in body.  Despite the Church’s damaging backwardness on all thing sexual, JPII was a strong advocate for economic and political justice, and an enemy of war.  For these things he has my respect, and for his life of thoughtful advocacy of the right as he saw it.

Rest in Peace JPII.