In this blogpost, I said:
The best predictor of future results is past results.
And this law was proven right again.
Last month, Catholic netizens were waiting with bated breath for the Ontario bishops to be scolded.
Being the jaded Orthodox Catholic that I am, I knew nothing would happen.
The pope just met with the Ontario bishops (As per LifeSite.) And it's the same old diplomatic platitudes from the Vatican. Although the Pope's address to the bishops was a little more forthright than usual, it's the same old story: don't spell anything out, and above all, do not tell Bishops they're not doing their job.
The closest the Pope came to a scolding was this little passage:
In your discussions with politicians and civic leaders I encourage you to demonstrate that our Christian faith, far from being an impediment to dialogue, is a bridge, precisely because it brings together reason and culture.
What discussions with politicians? Submitting a brief to a House of Commons Committee is not a discussion. When do Ontario bishops "discuss" with politicians? To be fair, a couple of Ontario politicians have been sanctioned, such as Joe Comartin and Charlie Angus. But that's the tip of the iceberg. And Ottawa Archbishop Marcel Gervais did try to communicate with Paul Martin-- but no sanction was taken against him. I also note the politicians who were taken to task are also opposition MP's with not a whole lot of power. When are the REAL decision-makers going to be denied Communion and/or excommunicated?
What does it take to get disciplined in this Church?
Paul Martin still goes to Church, apparently a Catholic in good standing. Same thing for Jean Chrétien, same thing for Sheila Copps, same thing for a whole bunch of people.
And you know, I don't mind so much if the lapsed Catholics don't get picked on, because they don't pretend to be good Catholics. It's people like Chrétien and Martin who spread the idea that you can be a good Catholic and favour abortion and homosexual marriage that really get my goat.
Now MAYBE Ontario bishops will take a hint. I doubt it. The best predictor of future results is past restults. They always manage to interpret words so that they don't have to hurt anyone's feelings, certainly not those who have any kind of serious decision-making power.
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