Fri, Sep 05, 2008

World

Vatican Net site backing sainthood for John Paul

Bloomberg News
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.22.2007
Faithful campaigners for Pope John Paul II's sainthood, get out your credit cards.
The Vatican is inviting devotees of the late pontiff to log on to its Web site and offer money and prayers to help make John Paul a saint. The devout can surf in six languages, send e-mails and even receive fragments of the pope's white cassock.
"The aim of the Web site is to give everyone a chance to take part in the process," says Stefano Chiodo, who is in charge of the site. "It's a way of reaching out. I am overwhelmed with requests. I can't keep up."
John Paul II called the Internet a tool to "promote justice and solidarity." Now it's being used to place him on the fast- track to sainthood that he established, even as some of his flock say the Web site desecrates the campaign for sainthood.
"I love John Paul II but am not sure this is the way to go about making him a saint," says Sergio Bonicelli, 35, a bank clerk from Bologna who stood in line for 17 hours to pay his last respects to the late pope in 2005. "One thing is moving along with the times, another is keeping some things sacred."
During a 26-year papacy, John Paul II oversaw 500 canonizations, exceeding the tally for the past four centuries.
Polish-born Karol Jozef Wojtyla scrapped the so-called devil's advocate, a church-appointed lawyer who challenged candidates for sainthood. He also started the beatification process for Mother Teresa of Calcutta less than two years after her death instead of the usual five.
Following John Paul's death on April 2, 2005, mourners chanted "Santo subito!" or "Sainthood Now!"
The Web site, created in July 2005, was redesigned over the past three months. It now attracts an average of 1,200 donations a day, up from 300 two years ago, Chiodo says.
The money covers costs including salaries for the six people who work on the site, Chiodo says. He declined to say how much has been raised.
Browsers can click to see the late pontiff's tomb via live 24-hour webcam.