A living saint whom I loved and admired

I WAS astounded to read in your paper that Karol Jozef Wojtyla, alias John Paul II, is being beatified by Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, alias, Benedict XVI.

It is somewhat ironic that the church is very slow to act on matters, such as its myriad trail of abuse from its then absolute power, which corrupted absolutely. Karol Wojtyla was a great man in his own right, not least in his alliance with Ronald Reagan in accelerating the demise of the Soviet Union.The only saint we need is St Paddy and beatify Fr Ted Crilly and Bishop Len Brennan.

My father Jerry died suddenly on my 44th birthday last October 24. Whatever about the merits of Karol Wojtyla, I can say with certainty that Jerry Connolly was a living saint who just got on with things selflessly for the benefit of others without any profit, motive, nor any need or desire of pontificating piety from vested interests.