That Christianity gives joy and breadth is also a thread that runs through my whole life. Ultimately someone who is always only in opposition could not endure life at all.
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.
No one is forced to be a Christian. But no one should be forced to live according to the "new religion" as though it alone were definitive and obligatory for all mankind.
“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.
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.
Distinctions Matter
Distinctions Matter Forward
Missale Romanum
Pre-1951 Calendar