(AP) — Pope John Paul II inspired American Catholics with his globe-trotting, charismatic leadership, perseverance in the face of debilitating illness, and deep spirituality. But his tight grip on church leadership and unwillingness to change some unpopular teachings clashed with the more democratic approach that many of the 65 million U.S. Catholics favor. At the end of his pontificate, John Paul leaves behind an American church uplifted by his personal piety, yet struggling with several of the same problems that preceded him: a dramatically shrinking U.S. priesthood, disagreement over the proper role for lay leaders, and a growing conservative-liberal divide over sexuality, women's ordination and celibacy for clergy.
"He was seen as an extraordinarily prayerful pope. There was a kindness to him that seemed to come through," said James Davidson, a Purdue University sociologist who specializes in Catholicism. "But there were moments at which the pope and American lay people seemed to be on different pages on how decision-making in the church takes place. He tended to be more top down and they tend to be more bottom up."
The cry for greater lay influence grew loudest after the clergy sex abuse crisis erupted in 2002 with revelations that many American bishops had moved predatory clergy among parishes without notifying the public or police. Some Catholics responded by demanding the Vatican give them a greater say in choosing church leaders. Officials in Rome, not surprisingly, didn't budge...
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