Can you verify this for me folks?

[GreenEyedLady]

Hello.
Today our newspaper, the St. Louis Post Dispatch had an article in it stating this.....

After his blessing in 1978, the newly elected John Paul II invited all the cardinals to dine with him back in the conclave. Allen writes:

"John Paul II delighted the cardinals ... by moving around the room, pouring flutes of champagne (he uncorked the first bottle himself). He sang Polish folk songs with Cardinals Stefan Wyszynski of Warsaw and John Krol, another Pole, of Philadelphia. As the festivities unfolded, the new pope found himself pouring champagne for the nuns who had served the conclave meals as he belted out one of the tunes."

It is taken from John L. Allen Jr.'s book "Conclave"

Is this quote ligit and is his book recommended by Catholics?
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/world/story/4331DD94C3055E5486256FE70043492D?OpenDocument

Thanks so much!
and God bless!
GEL

 

[InnerPhyre]

I can neither confirm nor deny. Never heard of the book or the event described, though nuns and priests take no vow not to drink wine, so I'm not gonna say it couldn't have happened.

 

[KC Catholic]

John L. Allen Jr is a lead writer for the National Catholic Reporter - which is a filthy rag. I wouldn't wipe myself with anything written by those writers even if I had a choice between a copy of NCR or poison ivy... I'd take the poison ivy.

I noticed the incredible Larry King had him on as a "CNN Vatican Reporter"...puke.

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

It didn't happen.

 

[BillH]

I can't confirm or deny that this particular story is true, but it sounds consistent with stories that I've heard from people who dined with him back in the earlier days of his pontificate.

John Allen is the best English-language Vatican reporter out there, period. Those who write him off simply by virtue of the fact that he's employed by the National Catholic Reporter are missing out on a lot.

 

[KC Catholic]

I can't confirm or deny that this particular story is true, but it sounds consistent with stories that I've heard from people who dined with him back in the earlier days of his pontificante.

John Allen is the best English-language Vatican reporter out there, period. Those who write him off simply by virtue of the fact that he's employed by the National Catholic Reporter are missing out on a lot.

With all due respect, after Mr. Allen's appearance and "reporting" on Larry King I would reconsider your statements. He definitely does not come across as someone celebrating Pope Benedict XVI - quite the opposite. Larry had the usual dissenter voices on all clanging about this being a setback for changes in the church. Mr. Allen was part of the chorus.

 

[Ave Maria]

I can neither confirm nor deny. Never heard of the book or the event described, though nuns and priests take no vow not to drink wine, so I'm not gonna say it couldn't have happened.

True. Obviously, if they did, they wouldn't be able to drink the blood part of the Eucharist. Just so you know, I don't want to offend anyone by saying that. And also, I might be wrong. Since the wine turns to blood would they still have to abstain from it if they made a vow to abstain from wine?

 

[BillH]

With all due respect, after Mr. Allen's appearance and "reporting" on Larry King I would reconsider your statements. He definitely does not come across as someone celebrating Pope Benedict XVI - quite the opposite. Larry had the usual dissenter voices on all clanging about this being a setback for changes in the church. Mr. Allen was part of the chorus.

I don't have cable, and even if I did, I don't think that I'd watch Larry King. However, I just read the online transcript of the show.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0504/19/lkl.01.html

As far as I could tell, John Allen made three statements. The first was that Pope Benedict brought some "baggage" with him into the Papacy because he was a well-known and polarizing figure. Whether or not you are a Cardinal Ratzinger fan, as a statement of fact, that's true -- note how practically everyone around here had instant opinions about him as soon as the conclave results were announced. He then went on to say that the Pope is a much more friendly and charming in person than the typical media portrayal would have it. His second statement rebuked one of the other commentators for suggesting that Ratzinger joined the Hitler Youth voluntarily and was a Nazi supporter. His third statement gave the details of the inauguration mass. I'm not sure how that constitutes joining in the chorus.

 

[bigsierra]

What are you curious about, GEL?

 

[Cat59]

This is an interesting critque of a book written by John L Allen Jr about our new Pope. The author of the article, Vincent Twomey criticises Allen's research methods, feeling he tends to be selective in the people he chooses to interview, thus sometimes presenting the opinions of a few people as facts, whereas others would disagree. Of course, the author of the article may be making subjective judgements too...

 

[Cosmic Charlie]

Hello.
Today our newspaper, the St. Louis Post Dispatch had an article in it stating this.....


It is taken from John L. Allen Jr.'s book "Conclave"

Is this quote ligit and is his book recommended by Catholics?
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/world/story/4331DD94C3055E5486256FE70043492D?OpenDocument

Thanks so much!
and God bless!
GEL

As someone who actually was around and remembers 1978 (the Yanks took the Dodgers in 6, I learned to hate the Bee Gee's and disco generally) This story sounds awfully familiar and would be in keeping with the young JPII, he was on 58 and kind of a rascal. He was that way until he got shot, that took the a lot of the stream out of him.

Or maybe it was just being Pope, who knows ?

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

So what if it was true?

B16 is known to have a good German beer now and then...

 

[lonnienord]

It would be totally proper and something i think our Beloved Pope John Paul II would do. As a sign of his humility and that he had been chosen to serve JESUS and HIS Church that he would serve others by serving them champaign.

all for JESUS!!
lonnie
Long live our Pope Benedict XVI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[KC Catholic]

So what if it was true?

B16 is known to have a good German beer now and then...

I guess that was my second point...so what if its true? Is there a problem with celebrating a great honor? It's not like it was a drunken houseparty with the Pope chasing the Nuns around the altar....

 

[KC Catholic]

I don't have cable, and even if I did, I don't think that I'd watch Larry King. However, I just read the online transcript of the show.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0504/19/lkl.01.html

As far as I could tell, John Allen made three statements. The first was that Pope Benedict brought some "baggage" with him into the Papacy because he was a well-known and polarizing figure. Whether or not you are a Cardinal Ratzinger fan, as a statement of fact, that's true -- note how practically everyone around here had instant opinions about him as soon as the conclave results were announced. He then went on to say that the Pope is a much more friendly and charming in person than the typical media portrayal would have it. His second statement rebuked one of the other commentators for suggesting that Ratzinger joined the Hitler Youth voluntarily and was a Nazi supporter. His third statement gave the details of the inauguration mass. I'm not sure how that constitutes joining in the chorus.

My apologies if I over reacted and was rude to you. I just caught up in all the negative sludge that is flowing through the media right now. My apologies to you Bill H.

 

[geocajun]

Not saying its true, but if I were elected pope, i'd drink ad naseum, and I think so would most of you

 

[Miss Shelby]

As someone who actually was around and remembers 1978 (the Yanks took the Dodgers in 6, I learned to hate the Bee Gee's and disco generally) This story sounds awfully familiar and would be in keeping with the young JPII, he was on 58 and kind of a rascal. He was that way until he got shot, that took the a lot of the stream out of him.

Or maybe it was just being Pope, who knows ?

Charlie I am shocked. You hate disco???

Michelle

 

[geocajun]

KC, did you know NCR is here in Kansas City? have you been there?

 

[geocajun]

Charlie I am shocked. You hate disco???

Michelle

that right there is the most substantive part of this thread I think

 

[Miss Shelby]

What are you curious about, GEL?

I am guessing that she wants to know if the pope was a drunk and whether or not the Church permits such scandal, such as drinking champagne and nuns dancing on tables and such.

Oh wait the nuns weren't dancing on the tables, that was me.

Michelle