is the daily mail infallible

The Daily Mail is reporting allegations that Pope John Paul The Second regularly whipped himself to atone for his sins.

The practice of flagellation exists within the Catholic church but is marginalised and generally frowned upon.

We consider it an insult to God and to the body God gave us.

The Daily Mail report first appeared in the paper's Sunday edition of 22nd November 2009.

The report was given a live action feel by the use of the phrase "a nun claimed yesterday."

The phrase was a lie.

No nun had claimed anything yesterday.

The Daily Mail had simply gained access to documents suppoedly compiled by the Vatican as part of the church's posthumous examination of John Paul's life.

So no nun said anything yesterday.

The phrase was a stylish bit of spin to make the article feel more immediate.

The Vatican is considering the possibility that John Paul is a saint.

The documents, compiled as part of the process of assessing his candidacy for Sainthood, quote one Sister Tobiana Sobodka saying that she heard the Pope whipping himself in remorse for his sins.

The documents also refer to a Bishop named Emery Kabongo, a Bishop with whom I am not familiar.

Emery Kabongo does not claim to have heard the Pope whipping himself.

Emery Kagongo is quoted saying: "He would punish himself in particular before he ordained bishops and priests, before passing on the sacraments. He would prepare himself."

Emery Kabongo adds the fifty billion dollar statement: "I never actually saw it myself but several people told me about it."

Ah yes.

Several people.

Good witnesses were they?

Got names have they?

My analysis is this.

Three immediate possibilities present themselves. I do not mean any of these possibilities to be a sneer towards the people quoted in the Daily Mail.

 

1) The story may be a plant by infiltrators seeking to discredit the life and legacy of John Paul The Great. It is a matter of fact that attempts have been made to infiltrate the church over many centuries. The most recent and egregious known infiltrations occurred during the reign of communism in Russia. A putative Cardinal in Poland was unmasked as a former agent of the Soviets recently on the eve of his nomination as Cardinal. Previous infiltrations have included significant and concerted efforts by those lovable goons the Freemasons. We must also postulate that if Satanic networks are real, they too will have sought to subvert the ancient church. (Hint: I am not referring to any church founded by King Henry The Eighth.) Even if it wasn't an infiltrating faction that planted the story, it may still have been a faction arising organically within the church, say a liberal faction, that wished to discredit John Paul.

 

2) The story may be a plant by a faction within the church that wishes to promote self whipping as a respected method of atoning for wrongdoing. The practice at the moment is rare and held in low regard generally by the faithful. This possibility would not imply that such a faction wished to discredit John Paul. It would merely imply that they wished to gain the cachet of his approval for their devotional (in my view dysfunctional) modes of worship.

 

3) The story may be true. It would not change how I view flagellation. I would still disapprove of it. Nor would it change how I think of John Paul The Great. I believe he may indeed be a saint, a gift from God to all humanity, and a powerful intercessor before the throne of heaven for those who suffer.