[E. Cartman]

While I oppose abortion and respect a person's right to his opinion, what self-respecting Catholic will continue to tremble in fear when the earth doesn't open up and swallow him after he's "excomunicated"; when he doesn't break out in suppurating pustules when he's declared anathema?

Forgive me: But the "Church" has lately become a lot like Islam in some respects, i.e. turning its back on the modern world.

[Campion]

While I oppose abortion and respect a person's right to his opinion, what self-respecting Catholic will continue to tremble in fear when the earth doesn't open up and swallow him after he's "excomunicated"; when he doesn't break out in suppurating pustules when he's declared anathema?

What do you think the pastor should do? Break the Obama voters on the wheel in the rectory basement, then hold an auto-da-fe in the school parking lot and burn them?

Come on, the maximum discipline possible to a Catholic layperson is to deny them the sacraments. That's just what this pastor did.

If their faith is important to them, they'll understand that it's time to repent. And if it isn't, well, then the Episcopal church down the block can have some new faces on Sunday. With the way the ECUSA is losing members, they'll probably be grateful.

[Natural Law]

"...what self-respecting Catholic will continue to tremble in fear when the earth doesn't open up and swallow him after he's "excommunicated?"

Well, you see the really, really neat thing about being a Catholic is that it is a completely voluntary organization of like minded people. Those who reject Catholic dogma have excluded or "excommunicated" themselves. They are therefore no longer a "self-respecting Catholic".

[Mrs. Don-o]

I'm not sure I understand your objection, so if my response shows that I've completely misconstrued your position, please correct me.

The Church has no secular enforcement mechanism: no fines, no imprisonment, no stout monks at the door either to compel people to come in, or prevent them from going out.

The Church's "medicinal" and "penal" sanctions (that is, penalties intended to bring about necessary repentance, or to make a person aware of the error of their ways) are all spiritual. The worst of these, is separation from the Sacraments.

If people really don't give a flip about separation from the Sacraments, then they are frauds if they call themelves Catholics.

How I admire, by way of contrast, the atheist who does not try to pass himself off as a follower of Christ, who says, with refreshing honesty, "T'hell with that Catholic crap."

[Petronski]

[W]hat self-respecting Catholic will continue to tremble in fear when the earth doesn't open up and swallow him after he's "excomunicated"; when he doesn't break out in suppurating pustules when he's declared anathema?

The consequences of excommunication are not of this life.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

the "Church" has lately become a lot like Islam in some respects, i.e. turning its back on the modern world.

It is the job of the Church to destroy the 'modern world'.