The unforgivable sin

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Sep 25, 2004

Recently I've been thinking: Is there anything that US bishops will not tolerate? The intense bureaucratic response to the "Dallas Charter" has clarified things for me.

As a practical matter: - You can deny the Real Presence - You can be married several times - You can never go to Mass - You can support abortion - You can preach heresy - You can throw condoms at priests. These things might draw mild protests from the hierarchy, but no disciplinary action. You can still pass yourself off as a Catholic. You can still be a member of the KofC. You can still teach theology in a Catholic school.

But if you refuse to be fingerprinted, by golly you're not going to work in a parish. Not even as a volunteer.

I conclude that the failure to fingerprint is the unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit.