A civilization inspired by a consumerist, anti-birth mentality is not and cannot ever be a civilization of love.
Assuredly, the word of truth can be painful and uncomfortable. But it is the way to holiness, to peace, and to inner freedom. A pastoral approach which truly wants to help the people concerned must always be grounded in the truth. In the end, only the truth can be pastoral.
For many people today, practical atheism is the normal rule of life...If this attitude becomes a general existential position, then freedom no longer has any standards, then everyting is possible and permissible.
Certainly, it is difficult to make the demands of the Gospel understandable to secularized people. But this pastoral difficulty must not lead to compromises with the truth.
Celibacy is always, shall we say, an affront to what man normally thinks. It is something that can be done, and is only credible, if there is a God and if celibacy is my doorway into the kingdom of God.
It seems that Pope Francis has now officially joined the ranks of heretics: It might be worth reminding people in case we have one of those "the Pope has not said anything heretical" types. The sad bit though is that he has said many heretical things before, but nowadays seems to have lost the shame of at least doing it in a round-about way.
Canonist Edward Peters attacks the imprecision of the piece Divorced and Remarried are Called to Heroism - to which I had linked yesterday. The criticism sis well-worth reading.
Distinctions Matter
Distinctions Matter Forward
Missale Romanum
Pre-1951 Calendar