the non-vindictive Gospel

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Apr 21, 2006

Cardinal Sean O'Malley tells the Boston Globe about his goals as the primary voice of Catholic teaching in a society once dominated by Catholicism:

We're hoping that people will come to understand that the Church's teachings are not vindictive or mean-spirited.

A modest ambition, that. A more ambitious preacher might seek to convince his public that the teachings of the Church represent the immutable Word of God, the sole reliable means of ensuring man's happiness and salvation. But sometimes it isn't easy to get that message across.

Take, for example, the recent unpleasantness over same-sex adoptions. Cardinal O'Malley told the Globe that before deciding to drop adoption services, the archdiocese considered a legislative or legal battle, but also "how contentious it would have been to fight this." In conclusion, "we thought it would only cause greater divisions, more controversy, and in the long run, would only cripple the mission of what we're trying to do."

And "what we're trying to do" is?

Oh, right. That "vindictive or mean-spirited" thing again. Can't have that.