“Finally, the discipline must be applied in order to avoid serious scandal, for example, the erroneous acceptance of procured abortion against the constant teaching of the moral law. No matter how often a Bishop or priest repeats the teaching of the Church regarding procured abortion, if he stands by and does nothing to discipline a Catholic who publicly supports legislation permitting the gravest of injustices and, at the same time, presents himself to receive Holy Communion, then his teaching rings hollow. To remain silent is to permit serious confusion regarding a fundamental truth of the moral law. Confusion, of course, is one of the most insidious fruits of scandalous behavior.”

To remain silent is to permit serious confusion regarding fundamental truth of the moral law.

Do not be afraid, nor too proud, to speak up when these fundamental truths are being abandoned by the proud and fearful who promote and impose this silence. Their “teaching rings hollow”, as the good Cardinal clearly states!

God bless Cardinal Burke!

Ave Maria!

http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/holycom/denial.htm

Catechism of the Catholic Church on scandal:
#2284 “Scandal is an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil. The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor’s tempter. He damages virtue and integrity; he may even draw his brother into spiritual death (I’m underlining ‘spiritual death’ as being ‘spiritual harm’). Scandal is a grave offense if by deed or omission another is deliberately led into a grave offense.”
# 2285 “Scandal takes on a particular gravity by reason of the authority of those who cause it or of the weakness of those who are scandalized. …… ”
# 2287 “Anyone who uses the power at his disposal in such a way that it leads others to do wrong becomes guilty of scandal and responsible for the evil that he has directly or indirectly encouraged. …..”

Disobedience to God’s Will began with Lucifer. The world has been ‘broken’ since the Fall of Adam and Eve. Murder has been with us since Cain and Able. Babies have been sacrificed over the centuries to pagan gods (why do you think Our Lady of Guadalupe came?). There is child slavery, as well as child pornography, throughout the world. And you are ranting over a handful of politicians who label themselves falsely as Catholics and who defiantly receive Christ unworthily? Do you really think that God is unaware of His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity being defiled, and of the punishment these individuals will get if they don’t convert? Do you not have any hope that they, like St Augustine (who spoke against the Faith, and led a perverted life before his conversion), will not change before their deaths? Can you not take the high road and imitate Abraham, St Monica, or Our Lord Himself, who says, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”?

Go back into ‘your cell’ and pray for an increase in charity toward your neighbors. Pray and ask God to give you the ability to begin a world wide campaign to end this horrific sacriledge, if that is His Will for you…otherwise, pray and make reparation for those who are in the wrong.
The scurge of abortion will not end until love enters into the hearts of mankind, not before. Politicians will always dance to the fiddle of the masses. And sadly, Christ will always be defiled by evil doers.

As for an example, (related to your last post)… how about the prelates who have the power to excommunicate (without scandal) but still administer Our Lord weekly to those few politicians who have publicly announced their pro-choice platform? You can look the reference up in the Canon I’m sure.

Any other example that I know of, posted here, or plainly discussed anywhere else, would be a case of detraction. A sin.
CCC #2477 & 2479.

Since it is not in your power, or mine, to effect a radical change in regards to ending sacriledges commited against Our Lord, or ending abortion, I would think forgiving, praying, and making reparation would be our only recourse to please God.

A blessed Thanksgiving to you, RED.

Your analogy between priests causing emotional harm, and the scandal of those “obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin”, does not follow and is in no way relevant to the situation.

Do you have an example of priests “obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin”? The suggestion you make about priests causing emotional/spiritual harm is vague, and there is no mention of actual, objective, manifest grave sin.

There is a need for clarity here. Clouding the issue with vague emotions and feelings, and making these types of subjective analogies is not helpful, nor appropriate.

There are many men and women, public figures within the Catholic Church, who are “obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin” by supporting abortion and promoting the “right to choose ” to kill unborn children. This is open scandal and as the Church teaches, such as these “are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.”

If you could supply an actual example of the actions of any priest or priests, that objectively and clearly shows an “obstinate perseverance in manifest grave sin”, such as the example given here concerning prominent and public Catholic leaders promoting the “right to choose” to kill the unborn, then the Church could give you an answer. Your, or my opinion, as important as it may seem to either one of us, is not the gauge between right action and wrong action concerning who is and who is “not to be admitted to Holy Communion.” Thanks be to God!

Ave Maria! And peace to men of good will.

The topic was an analogy between what you said about scandal over sacrilegious communions and priests who cause emotional/spiritual harm to others.

Each situation requires (demands) forgiveness, prayer, and sacrifices for conversion.

Thank you for your prayers and best wishes. That means a great deal.

Peace.

But I will pray for you and I hope the best for you. I hope you find Christ’s true peace. God bless.

Ave Maria! And peace to men of good will.

What is your opinion on priests causing emotional and spiritual harm to members of the laity? Would it be better that a millstone be fastened around their necks as well?

I don’t think so.

The world, inside and outside of Holy Mother Church, is in great need of forgiveness, prayer, and daily offerings of little sacrafices done with great love (St Therese), for its conversion, which includes mine. It is better to take the high road and humble ourselves realizing that we are weak and in need of God’s assistance.

Looking at the world (people vs. sin) with a condemning spirit is not healthy, breeds a sense of elitism, and it is not what Our Lord or Lady teach us. Our Lord shed His precious blood equally for every person.

Meditate on the intercessory prayers of Abraham.

Be of good will, and live in Christ’s peace.

And then there’s this on how scandal may have a deadly effect on virtue and integrity:

Respect for the souls of others: scandal

2284 Scandal is an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil. The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor’s tempter. He damages virtue and integrity; he may even draw his brother into spiritual death. Scandal is a grave offense if by deed or omission another is deliberately led into a grave offense.

2285 Scandal takes on a particular gravity by reason of the authority of those who cause it or the weakness of those who are scandalized. It prompted our Lord to utter this curse: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Ave Maria! And peace to men of good will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dftZ5K_EA4s&feature=related

1812 The human virtues are rooted in the theological virtues, which adapt man’s faculties for participation in the divine nature:76 for the theological virtues relate directly to God. They dispose Christians to live in a relationship with the Holy Trinity. They have the One and Triune God for their origin, motive, and object.

1813 The theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity; they animate it and give it its special character. They inform and give life to all the moral virtues. THEY ARE INFUSED BY GOD into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life. They are the pledge of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in the faculties of the human being. There are three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity.77