[Steelfish]

There is also room John 2:15

“And when he had made, as it were, a scourge of little cords, he drove them all out of the temple, the sheep also and the oxen, and the money of the changers he poured out, and the tables he overthrew.”

[Secret Agent Man]

With respect he is wrong.

It must be both. It requires both.

Law and Gospel. Can’t back down on either. Law defines sin. Our whole mess today stems around those that are redefining sin as not sin.

No sin, no need to repent, or even need for the Gospel.

[Straight Vermonter]

The spiritual works of mercy are:

To instruct the ignorant;
To counsel the doubtful;
To admonish sinners;
To bear wrongs patiently;
To forgive offences willingly;
To comfort the afflicted;
To pray for the living and the dead

It's never merciful to allow someone to go to hell.

[LibFreeUSA]

I’m amazed at all who know more than the Pope enough to admonish him on his instructions.

[montanajoe]

I find it curious that many doubt the Pope based on their political point of view.

It seems elementary that if you believe ...then the hand of God chose this man as Pope and what he says might just be more authoritative than any political leaning.

I think for some the political game has become far more important in their lives than their faith, upon reflection I found that I fell into that worldly trap in the past

Personally, I’ve come to the conclusion that being a Conservative is far less important than being a practicing man of faith.

[piusv]

Francis said the Vatican's modernizing reforms of the 1960s reflected "the need to talk about God ...in a more accessible way" and tear down "walls which too long had made the Church a kind of fortress," he said.

Translation: Thank God Vatican II saved the Catholic Church! Where would it be without it!

[ravenwolf]

Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

If some one is thirsty or hungry give them something to eat or drink.

It does not mean to make them your teacher, not even a member of your Church.

[LadyDoc]

As a doc, I know many sinners who long for God’s forgiveness and welcome this.

the bad news? Sociopaths will interpret this as approval of their selfish actions that harm others. Destroy the rules, and then turn on those who caution against ignoring rules and call them bigots.

I was just befriended on facebook for cautioning a young relative to avoid socializing with her grandfather, who had molested his daughter as a preteen...I am a bigot for judging him and advising her not to let her young daughter alone with him. How dare I say such things about this sweet old man!

And how many priests got away with abuse because they were nice guys, and the psychologists urged the bishops to forgive their lapse?