[NYTIMES] "Santo subito." The Italian words mean "make him a saint now." This was the cry of the crowds at the funeral of Pope John Paul II -- a demand swiftly acted upon by the church authorities in Rome. The words are echoing around the world again now. This time, the call comes from Catholics shocked at the death of the Rev. Jacques Hamel, the priest whose throat was cut as he officiated at morning prayers on Tuesday in a small French town near Rouen.
The demand to put the slain French priest on the fast track for sainthood was made by a prominent Italian politician, Roberto Maroni, the president of the Lombardy region. It spread swiftly across the globe on social media as Catholics, and others, expressed their shock at the slaying of the priest. "Father Jacques is a martyr of faith," Mr. Maroni proclaimed, and the pope should "immediately proclaim him St. Jacques." The sentiment was echoed by a bigwig in the Vatican press office who hailed the 85-year-old priest as a "modern-day martyr."
Such calls to canonize the murdered priest are ill advised. They will only play into the hands of the Death Eaters. |