[PLK]

The ONLY solution to this problem is for the Pope to announce that Rome is going to begin asserting its authority over the Catholic Church in America. Catholics who publicly support abortion, homosexual behavior, capital punishment, etc. will be ex-communicated (I realize many Conservatives favor the death penalty - however, we cannot be hypocrites here - "cafeteria Catholicism" is one of the problems). Harkin will go, Kennedy will go, lots of them will be ousted. Next, he must purge the seminaries of the homosexuals who have infested them since the 60's. He MUST insist that Catholic colleges and universities espouse Catholic doctrine and abide by it - that means, for example, no more showing of the Vagina Chronicles on Catholic campuses. Period. It's time to clean house!!!

[history_matters]

Have you seen Father Elijah's Action Plan that he posted for Catholic FReepers. He posted it a while ago, and matters have gotten worse since. But it is an excellent guide for what we should do> Father Elijah's Action Plan for Catholic FReepers and other Catholics

[Gophack]

I agree wholeheartedly with your post, but I want to clarify your comments on the death penalty.

The Catholic Church has never opposed the death penalty. According to EWTNs Q&A board which I found has a good summary of the Church's position, it says:

The Church's teaching has not changed, nor has the Pope said that it has. The Catechism and the Pope state that the state has the right to exact the death penalty. Nations have the right to just war and individuals have the right to self-defense. Does that means that any and all uses of force to defend oneself against a criminal, or a criminal nation, are justified? No, and most people understand that.

Here's the link because it's good stuff, but I don't want to reprint it all here on this thread. In summary, there must be no other option to protect the public good for capital punishment to be just. Capital Punishment

God bless.

[nickcarraway]

The Church is neither for nor against capital punishment, as it is a temporal issue. The Pope has encouraged the diminishing use of the death penalty, but he has certainly not suggested the Catholics have to be against it.