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Burke is trying to tell these people that their stiff-necked resistance to the rule of Canon Law will (WILL!!!) endanger their salvation.

But so will his heavy handedness. This type of thing is the sort of thing that really went away after Vatican II and I for one am glad we don't see it anymore. Don't we all know plenty of people who left the Church in the 50's and 60's because of some tyrannical act or comment by a priest?

Let me say I like Burke. I admire the way he's dealt with the baby killing politicians. However, I think he's acting like a petulant child in this instance. Where has he been when it comes time to read the homosexual clergy or his brother bishops the riot act? Why isn't he concerning himself with the huge plank in his own Church's eye before trying to remove the speck from a small parish?

This sort of heavy handed micro management will preclude him from consideration of a Cardinal's hat.

... This type of thing is the sort of thing that really went away after Vatican II and I for one am glad we don't see it anymore. Don't we all know plenty of people who left the Church in the 50's and 60's because of some tyrannical act or comment by a priest?

Interesting. I am a former catholic and have commented here on how this is bad PR for the church and pretty much have voiced against what the Bishop is doing. However my opposition is more based on the 'topic' that the church has chosen to be 'heavy handed in' being a non-spiritual one, i.e. property ownership.

I would counter to your comment that 'heavy handedness' is a bad thing, however. I truly think that the church is just applying it in the wrong place with this issue. Being 'heavy handed' on real estate matters, with interdicts and the like is especially rediculous when it is NOT heavy handed on truly spiritual and moral issues such as pro-abortion catholics reseaving the sacraments, coverups of pedophilia, etc.

The RCC has an important role for all Christians and as a former Catholic and quite active Christian I applaud the RCC in its leadership role (at least spoken from the Vatican) on marital values, homosexuality, abortion, etc. It is the non-consistant application of these values in the individual dioceses (especially in the US) that hurts the church the most. This particular heavy handed-ness on a money issue and lack of same on moral and spirtual issues (where it is really needed) are both hurting the church.