[wideawake]

He should have just said “no comment on private matters,” regardless of being “attacked” or not.

When Church teaching is publicly attacked, it must be publicly defended.

Mt 10:27

It was no longer a private matter the moment the complainer went to the press.

[TheThirdRuffian]

The verse cited does not support your proposition of defending the roman regulation.

This is the message at issue in that verse is this:

7As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[b]drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=47&chapter=10&version=31

Please again note, I have zero against the RCC or RCs.

It’s a fine denomination.

I do respectfully think that the RCC, like all denominations are wont to do (Baptists with their dunking and no drinking comes to mind), add well-meaning, but ultimately misquided, rules and regulations to the Gospel.