There are millions of American Catholics that have beliefs just like Kerry. This may alienate them from the Church. The situation did not get like this overnight. The church let them slip into heresy gradually and did little or nothing to stop it. I think that iron fist tactics like this will cause great harm for the church. It would be better to to guide them back from heresy with a loving spirit.
And should the church choose this type of tactic, then I think it should start with the heretical priests and Bishops that started and propagated these heresies in the first place.
I couldn't disagree with you more. The Church needs to stand up for the truth and trust in God for the congregation's reaction. I think the reality is that we would find far more converts through an unswerving devotion than through a watered-down, touchy-feely philosophy.
This has been shown numerous times in recent decades. The churches which have taken the hardest lines have been the fastest growing... the faithful aren't looking for validation, they're looking for someone to stand up for the truth.
They already are alienated from the Church. Acceptance of abortion is the profession of heresy. Its not just some mere sin, but a renunciation of part of the Faith handed down from the Apostles.
Heretics are automatically excommunicated. We want the Church to formally denounce those who publicly hold these views (i.e. pro-abortion "Catholic" politicians) by name with a formal declaration of excommunication so that the position is spelled out in black and white. You cannot be a Catholic a pro-abortion politician - you must choose abortion or Catholicism.