My hope to live more holistically has taught me to discern motivations and biases, and then let evidence guide me. As such, the beatification processes of Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa have caused me deep concern.

With their promotion of antiquated doctrine and texts, these two are responsible for the misery and death of millions. We must realize the powerful consequences our beliefs can have.

Mother Teresa, in her statement for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, said: "Today, abortion is the worst evil, and the greatest enemy of peace."

Forget nuclear and chemical weapons, bombs, guns, inequality, poverty, racism, totalitarianism or religious zealotry. Abortion is somehow responsible for the lack of peace in the world.

We’ll see how true this is. With God’s help, two new Supreme Court Justices have taken their seats, and they look to further degrade women and their rights.

Additionally, as guided by Christopher Hitchens’ The Missionary Position, Mother Teresa, in her ever courageous wisdom, deserves credit for naming her "Home for the Dying" perfectly.

The morgue, which the church prefers to call a hospital, has its courageous message sprawled out across the wall, reading, "I am going to heaven today."

The nurses here do their best to neglect the patients’ physical needs to concentrate on the afterlife. The most successful days are those filled with repentance followed by passing.

The nurses would, and to my understanding still do, rinse the needles under cold water and then reuse them. These women had been taught about sanitation, and are quoted to have replied to objections with comments like, "No time, no need."

In a place packed with people suffering from tuberculosis and AIDS, among other gruesome, communicable diseases, there is no wonder why there are so many prayers for the company of God.

Now with regards to the "beloved" Pope, His Holiness did his best to apologize for many of the atrocities that the church has committed over the centuries, which begs the question: How many millions have to become infected and die from HIV/AIDS before the church apologizes for saying that condom usage is worse than AIDS?

Moreover, the Pope’s compliance with the massacre in Rwanda attests to his true belief in the integrity of human life.

When will we move past the Pope’s belief in sanctification to something liberating and just?

John Paul II officially condemned Liberation Theology, specifically with regards to our campus’ champion, Oscar Romero, in the struggle against injustice in El Salvador.

Worse still, the former Pope seemed to have a fascination with securing injustice in Latin America, a fact substantiated by his multiple visits and public support for the Chilean dictator Pinochet, who is guilty of numerous atrocious acts of torture and abuse.

For the sake of justice, I contend that many church leaders must be brought to an international tribunal and tried as war criminals for their cooperation in, if not direct responsibility for, the acts in Chile, as well as across Latin America. (As a side note, Henry Kissinger and many other U.S. officials should also be tried.)

Why should people support John Paul II when he excused and sheltered those who committed the unpardonable sin of raping and torturing children?

Where exactly is the compassion in this man? How does a person who preaches love, primarily of the agape sort, condemn anyone?

His Holiness believed that two men consummating their love should have their souls tortured throughout eternity, and for that matter, wearing a condom produces the same damnation. If you believe this man was about love, then please hate my entire being.

If people want to talk about the promotion of life, then they must recognize that along with the creation of a zygote there is also the transmission of death, AIDS, Hepatitis, etc.

On campus, a few people, including me, have recently been making condoms available on their own accord. If, with a nod to Sinead O’Conner, you are ready to "fight the real enemy," then support us.

If you are going to drag your feet and close your eyes, however, then I hope you enjoy death, because there is a lot of blood on your hands.