John Paul II: The Millennial Pope

This 2-hour plus video, which recently aired on PBS' Frontline, presents images of Pope John Paul II not often seen by most Americans. Arranged in broad segments devoted to the Pope's philosophies on particular topics (i.e., Jews, solidarity, liberation theology, women, the culture of death, faith, etc.), the program attempts to provide insights into the Pope's accomplishments (positive and/or negative) in each of these areas. Despite the well-regarded Frontline rubric, this video offers up, for the most part, a highly apologetic, exculpatory picture of JP II, particularly concerning social issues of interest to Americans. Described as "a man at war with the 20th century" and "a mass of contradictions," this Pope decries areas of massive social illness and then espouses Church policies which result in comparable social misery; these polarities cannot be, and are not, reconciled or reconcilable. One need only think about the Pope's righteous position concerning "violence against millions of human beings, forced into poverty," and try to reconcile this with his vicious opposition to birth control in Third World nations--which, in fact, casts millions of innocent human beings into poverty. To say nothing of his views on women and their places in the Church and society, homosexuals anywhere (not mentioned in this video), science and technology in modern society, and, astonishingly, intellectualism and rationalism vs. faith. An unbiased view of John Paul II, this is not, and it is therefore recommended only with serious reservations. [Note: The program contains graphic images related to concentration camps and abortion.] Aud: H, C, P. (M. Rechel)