reader survey reader reader survey reader William Petersen If I were pope . Although none of them got the call from Rome, U.S. CATHOLIC readers have some definite ideas about how the church should be run. EING THE SPIRITUAL LEADER Thomasina Ciofalo Burns of Peters- tries,” said Ciesla, “but cultures are dif- of the world’s 1.1 billion burg, New Jersey would like to use the ferent. Pretending that the whole world Catholics is not a job for the role for radical peacemaking. “I’d invite is culturally Caucasian and European fainthearted. The demands all world leaders and religious leaders has created enormous problems—and are endless, the responsi- to the Vatican and lock the doors. When a total loss of credibility among most bilities are huge, the travel they agreed to cease all killing and to people.” schedule is nonstop, and nearly every peace on Earth, then white smoke would One Mobile, Alabama reader said Bweekend and holiday is eaten up by be seen from the roof and only then she would sell off the Vatican and all its work. But when we asked U.S. CATHOLIC would they be released!” treasures. “One doesn’t need things to readers what they would do if they were Helen Ciesla of Aberdeen, Maryland be Christlike. Museums can preserve pope, some were downright brimming said she would completely restructure art. The church needs to preserve bodies with enthusiasm and new ideas to bring the Catholic Church, placing responsi- and souls.” to the position. bility for determining anything that’s Originally we heard from 238 sub- not a doctrine of faith on the national scribers in 2002 when we mailed a U.S. By HEATHER GRENNAN GARY, associate bishops’ conferences. “Yes, the church CATHOLIC Reader Survey on the papacy, editor of U.S. CATHOLIC. would look different in different coun- Pope John Paul II, and the tasks that 24 U.S. CATHOLIC—JUNE 2005 U.S. CATHOLIC—JUNE 2005 25 reader survey reader would face the next pope when the time Paul II had many successes—as well as came. We posted the same survey on his share of disappointments. He also our website shortly after John Paul II’s had plenty of charisma, a valuable trait death in April, and another 51 people for any leader. A few readers recalled responded. The combined opinions and their own encounters with John Paul II ideas of all 289 respondents covered a as a breath of fresh air. “His presence wide spectrum, but most agreed on two at World Youth Days spoke volumes things: The papacy fulfills an important to me,” said Sister Mary Kay Moran, role in the church, and the job is a tough S.S.C.M. of Rockford, Illinois. “When I one. attended his liturgy in Washington D.C., Craig Gordon of Kingwood, Texas he was vibrant and spoke to the youth of said the most important function of our church. We need a leader who does reader survey reader the papacy is to have someone serve as that.” shepherd for the Catholic flock. Many AND THE “The greatest impression John Paul survey respondents said the pope’s SURVEY SAYS... II made on me was when he donned main job is to promote unity within sneakers, slacks, and a jacket and hiked the church. “Too many voices speaking 1. I think the papacy fulfills a with the youth in the U.S. many years confuse people and shred unity,” said a crucial role in the church. ago,” wrote Regina T. Thomann of Vir- reader from New Kensington, Pennsyl- ginia Beach, Virginia. vania. agree 83% The accomplishments U.S. CATHOLIC Rebecca Hamilton of Oklahoma City disagree 10% readers most frequently lauded John said the pope’s primary role is “clarify- Paul for included his outspokenness other 7% ing core Christian beliefs as found in the against communism, his defense of life creeds.” at all stages, his outreach to other reli- Ann Danby from Quincy, Massachu- 2. My opinion about Pope John gions and to youth, and his advocacy for setts said the pope’s job is “to speak to Paul II is: peace. But other things he did also com- non-Christians and be a symbol of love Readers surveyed in 2002: manded notice and respect. to the world.” “Vatican II was like going to Dis- But 10 percent of respondents didn’t 23% Strongly positive. neyland for the first time,” said Nancy see the papacy as crucial to the church. Ullrey of Woodland, California. “As “The papacy is similar to the monar- 34% Somewhat positive. children we wanted to run forward, and chy in England,” said Sara Moslener of he was the father who grabbed us by the 24% Somewhat negative. LaVerne, California. “It exists only to collar and said, ‘Slow down, we’ll get remind us of the importance of tradi- 10% Strongly negative. there soon enough. I don’t want you to tion.” get lost.’ ” Alicia Masterson of St. Petersburg, 9% Other. Judith Hansen of St. Joseph, Min- Florida said the pope’s role is not crucial nesota admired John Paul II because “he because “most of what affects the aver- Web visitors in April 2005: protected the church from radical liber- age Catholic happens at the parish or als and ultraconservatives who tried to diocesan level.” 47% Strongly positive. take it over.” Another 7 percent weren’t enthusias- A Carmichael, California reader cited 35% Somewhat positive. tic about the role of the papacy but saw his outspokenness against “the material its purpose. “Every enterprise needs a 10% Somewhat negative. excesses of capitalism,” and Mark Yosick manager,” said Jim Hamill of Midland, of Johnson City, Tennessee credited John Michigan. 4% Strongly negative. Paul for using the media and travel as opportunities “to be an ambassador of 4% Other. Christ to the church and beyond.” Appreciating John Paul II Marian LeBlanc of Marion, Massa- According to our readers, as the last Continued on page 26. chusetts said she appreciated how John “manager of the enterprise” Pope John Paul canonized so many new saints, 24 U.S. CATHOLIC—JUNE 2005 U.S. CATHOLIC—JUNE 2005 25 reader survey reader and a reader from Island Lake, Illinois in 2002. “I have my doubts as to whether was grateful for the development of the he really is made aware of all the tur- luminous mysteries of the rosary. 3. In my opinion, the pope and moil in our church, or whether he is Nathan Nelson of Bridgeport, Ohio the Vatican have been too being ‘protected’ by his staff. I think he heavy-handed in disciplining said one of John Paul’s most important and censuring theologians should resign gracefully.” accomplishments was “showing us by and others. “Although I respect the pope and his his example the value of the disabled position, I am concerned about his abil- and the elderly, and the meaning of suf- agree 71% ity to make good decisions . his many reader survey reader fering and death.” disagree 19% health issues are a great distraction,” “I will greatly miss Pope John Paul Elsie Scruggs of Massena, New York other 10% II,” said Mimi Arima of Bellevue, Wash- wrote in 2002. “Unwell people are not ington. “He had such a wonderful per- able to make solid decisions all of the sonalism that made me feel as if he were time.” addressing me personally—whether I One issue that was mentioned repeat- was reading his work or listening to him edly in the answers from 2002—and in person with a million other people! I much less frequently from April’s web- really felt that he wanted to know me as site respondents—was John Paul II’s much as I wanted to know him. And in slow reply to the clergy sex abuse crisis. knowing each other we were coming to a “I lost a lot of my respect for the deeper knowledge of Christ himself.” pope in light of his lack of a meaningful response to the recent scandal about sex- 4. I think the pope should: (May ual abuse by some priests,” said Marie check more than one.) Some disappointments Griffo of Rutherford, New Jersey. “He Perhaps not surprisingly, people who seems more concerned with protecting 89% Influence peace, justice, responded to the survey when it was and political issues the mystique and power structure of the posted on the U.S. CATHOLIC website throughout the world. priesthood and the hierarchy than he is shortly after John Paul’s death had a about the sinful cover-up on the part of Be a respected moral more favorable opinion of him than did 88% the bishops and cardinals involved. The leader. those who responded when we surveyed pope has spent a lot of time and effort on readers three years earlier. 88% Reach out toward emphasizing the sinfulness of birth con- Twenty-three percent of the 2002 people of other faiths. trol and the evil of abortion, but he can’t respondents said they had a “strongly seem to declare abuse of the vulnerable positive” opinion of John Paul II com- 22% Concentrate primar- and conspiracy to cover-up as equally, if ily on strengthening pared with 47 percent of the 2005 Catholic identity and not more, sinful.” respondents. Twenty-four percent of the orthodoxy. Other respondents had criticisms of 2002 respondents reported a “somewhat the previous pope, too. “While I held negative” opinion compared to just 10 15% Other. John Paul in the highest regard in mat- percent of 2005 respondents, and 10 ters of peace and justice, I was really percent of the 2002 respondents said 5.