[Aliska]

I don't know what went wrong with my keyboard. Yes I understand the reasons for the rules. I don't understand sweeping human pain under the rug in the name of rules though.

I don't mean this in a mean-spirited manner, but some of you hardliners come across as steely and cold, as if rules are everything and people are robots. Good robots obey all the rules to the last jot and tit and bad robots get their hardwiring scrambled by all the conformity and repression and plasticity, just like my keyboard.

There must be a happy medium somewhere in all this. Don't you think that is the reason some of these priests go haywire in the first place? Growing up in such a rule-laden atmosphere takes all the spontaneity and fun out of life. Can't you see? Or do you want to sweep everything that doesn't fit under the rug?

[pax_et_bonum]

Interesting article and discussion

[saradippity]

Aliska,you have often written of your disappointments with Catholicism and offered meek,seemingly loving little suggestions but I have never read one of your posts where you brought any idea to a conclusion.In fact the more I read your 'maybe,yes and maybe,no','six of one,half dozen of the other','on one hand this and on the other hand that' posts,the more sure I am that you are a bishop that is busy trying to go along to get along. You come to these threads to figure out where you should be going in order to get along.Come on Aliska,'fess up whats the name of your diocese?

[Antoninus]

I don't mean this in a mean-spirited manner, but some of you hardliners come across as steely and cold, as if rules are everything and people are robots.

Please. Rules forbidding abortion and birth control are not meant to stifle "fun". Such a simple-minded, Hollywood-esque understanding of Catholic teaching requires more instruction than I can give in this forum. I urge you to pick up a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and find out WHY the Church takes the positions it does.

There must be a happy medium somewhere in all this.

No, one can not compromise with error without adopting some of that error.

Don't you think that is the reason some of these priests go haywire in the first place?

Sure. Just like everyone else, they are steeped in sin. And just like anyone else, when a priest commits a sin that's so egregious, though he be forgiven in the next life, he must be expected to bear the consequences of that sin in this life.

Growing up in such a rule-laden atmosphere takes all the spontaneity and fun out of life.

Give me a break. As if it's not possible to have a "spontaneous and fun" life within the rules set down by the Catholic Church. Some of the most pious priests I know are extremely humorous, good-natured people. I'm sorry that in your mind, it seems that "fun" can only be equated with various kinds of consequenceless sex outside of marriage.