“If you believe what you like in the Gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.”
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.
One can readily admit that the Magisterium's manner of expression does not seem very easy to understand at times. It needs to be translated by preachers and catechists into a language which relates to people and to their respective cultural environments. The essential content of the Church's teaching, however, must be upheld in this process. It must not be watered down on allegedly pastoral grounds, because it communicates the revealed truth.
A civilization inspired by a consumerist, anti-birth mentality is not and cannot ever be a civilization of love.
“What is perfection in love? Love your enemies in such a way that you would desire to make them your brothers … For so did He love, Who hanging on the Cross, said ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’” (Luke 23:34)
Not unsurprisingly, VoxCantoris takes on Bergoglio's decision to change the catechism and claim that the death penalty is "inadmissible". He brings up all of the main points and I can only agree with his conclusion:
We are alone against the cowards. Half of our shepherds are cowards and the others are wolves. May they repent, lest they are damned.
Distinctions Matter
Distinctions Matter Forward
Missale Romanum
Pre-1951 Calendar