Sir, – Breda O’Brien gives us an unusual perspective on sainthood (Opinion & Analysis. April 26th). John Paul ll “was a man of prayer”, who “achieved greatness not through personal ambition or ability but through being able to let go and be guided by a power greater than himself”, she says.
But what is “a man of prayer”? , and what does it mean to “let go” and be “guided by a power greater than himself”? Benedict XVl is also considered to be a man of prayer, yet both of these men allowed appalling sexual abuse to continue under their prayerful watch. It would seem that prayer is not always enough to make a man do the right thing. Certainly with these two men it wasn’t. Prayer often renders a man pious only.
Could it be that Ms O’Brien, and the Vatican, have mistaken piety for saintliness?
Yours, etc,
DECLAN KELLY,
9 Whitechurch Rd,
Dublin 14