Berrigan, his wife Elizabeth McAlister, his brother Rev. Daniel Berrigan and a full cellblock of other pacifists have been repeatedly imprisoned for their conscientious objection to U.S. militarism. They see Christianity as a religion of nonviolence, based on the love of enemies and resistance to the power of Caesar and pharaohs. One possible reason for John Paul's lack of support for these members of his flock is their refusal to support church leadership. Not conservative in the sense of 'conserving' the Gospel, but in maintaining useless rituals and policies that are designed to protect, and perpetuate, the institution. It would have to resist the violence against our poor, and stop pretending that one political party is more humane than the other.
History supplies the hint of an answer.
We look back at Francis of Assisi of the 13th century, or Teresa of Avila of the 16th. Francis joined the church's Fourth Crusade but after seeing the killing and gore of the first battle, deserted. He returned to his hometown to serve poor people. Once long dead, and their devoutness more remembered than their dissidence, both Francis and Teresa were canonized saints. The churchmen who gave little support to Francis and Teresa must be forgiven, their misdeeds surely included in the general absolution given March 12 by John Paul.