In proclaiming the faith and in administering the sacraments every priest speaks on behalf of Jesus Christ, for Jesus Christ.
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.
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.
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.
In the name of tolerance, tolerance is being abolished; this is a real threat we face.
A man who has no regard for the words of Christ, or the decrees of His Holy Church, obviously will not take anything else seriously. It is in this way we must approach the news that Oscar Romero is going to be canonised.
Distinctions Matter
Distinctions Matter Forward
Missale Romanum
Pre-1951 Calendar