Another gem from Cream City Catholic

A fantastic post at Cream City Catholic:

"...Cardinal Burke, the Church’s chief canon lawyer, arguing from Saint Paul, Canon Law and tradition, argues in favor of denying the Sacrament to public officials who are known to be complicit in grave sin. The integrity of the Sacrament should be protected from sacrilege, and the individual himself should be prevented from having that mortal blight on his soul. For his part, Cardinal Wuerl, apparently more concerned with being nice and liked by everyone (in other words “pastoral”) strongly disagrees with Burke, positing that Communion should not be withheld from politicians involved in scandal. It’s just mean, you see. All arewelcome at the table of plenty. To clue in those in the dark, “pastoral” is one of the many bastardized words in our vocabulary. There is nothing wrong with being truly pastoral, but now, “pastoral” is simply code among many bishops for neversaying or doing anything that might upset some easily offended special interest group living in Swaziland. If the interest group is left-of-center, that means never, ever offending it. If it’s a traditional group, then it’s open season. Fire away.
And if Burke’s departure wasn’t bad enough, also dropped from the Congregation was Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, another stellar protege of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. The decision to deep-six two outstanding prelates and genuine liturgists in favor of someone like Cardinal Wuerl is a hard one-two punch to the gut. I pride myself on being able to read silver linings in bad news, but this development is bleak, all around. And I’m far from the only one expressing dismay.
There’s no other way to interpret this move, folks. I don’t know who was responsible for advising the Holy Father on this one, but it’s a huge mistake, in my opinion. Cardinal Burke represents a vision of the Church which has inspired large swaths of young men to enter seminaries and traditional religious orders. Liberals hate him, and even mild mannered conservatives find him unpalatable because he is unambiguous and fearless. Jealousy no doubt plays a role too...."

Read the rest, its good stuff

Trent the Pastoral

The heirarchy has many responsibilities, but its primary one is to see to it that souls are adequately shepherded back to heaven.  To this end the Council of Trent stated the following:

source

"Bishops and other Ordinaries should remember that they are shepherds and not slave drivers, and that they must so rule over their subjects as not a domineer over them but to love them as sons and brothers; they should endeavor by exhortation and admonition to deter them from wrong doing lest they be obliged to administer due punishment after faults have been committed. Yet if through human frailty their subjects do wrong they must observe the precept of the Apostles, and reprove, entreat, rebuke them in all patience and doctrine; for sympathy is often more effective for correction than severity, exhortation better than threats of punishment, kindness better than insistence on authority. If in view of the seriousness of a crime there be need of punishment, then they must combine authority with leniency, judgement with mercy, severity with moderation, to the end that discipline, so salutary and essential to public order, be maintained without asperity, and that those who have been punished may amend their ways, or, if they refuse to do so, that others may be deterred from wrongdoing by salutary example of their punishment."

just thought it was interesting when I came across this part of the council

2214 §2 (1917 Code)
Citation from I Am With you Always by Michael Davies