There is neither appeal nor recourse against a decision or decree of the Roman Pontiff.
-- Canon 333.3, Code of Canon Law
It is no secret that John Paul II is a man of strong -- and staunchly conservative -- convictions. Nor is it surprising that he has sought to fill the Roman Catholic hierarchy with clerics who insist on strict obedience to church teachings. In recent months, however, many of the faithful have been alarmed by the Pope's determination to override the sentiments of local clergy in order to get his way. Angry liberals in Vienna and Chur, Switzerland, have...