They must remember they are elected and when it comes time for re-election, we, the people of Aransas County, will have the last word. Mr. Simmons incorrectly stated that no pope may apologize for a pope who preceded him, that to do so would destroy the Catholic Church's doctrine of infallibility. Many people misunderstand the doctrine of papal infallibility, perceiving it to be anything or everything the pope says or does. Outside of that framework, the pope operates as any of us, hopefully making the right decisions, but without certitude. Pope John Paul was attempting to address the wrongs committed by the bureaucracy and institution of the Catholic Church, which is not to be confused with the community of the church.
All institutions are self-serving, and can commit serious wrongs against people.
The pope was choosing to acknowledge that wrong so as to protect against its repetition in the future. Infallibility is a non-issue with regard to the admission. It was finally time to admit that people-driven institutions are capable of serious injustice, and the church institution is no exception. It makes the pope essentially human to admit such errors, and an inspiration to those of us who sometimes feel that we ourselves are infallible. The women on the board appear to be honest and caring individuals.