[TennesseeGirl]

Let me begin by saying right off the bat, I'm not Catholic. However, when I heard the Pope's remarks about the Church shouldn't trifle over "small-minded" doctrine, I immediately thought of Matthew 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate (through Christ); for the gate is wide and the way is broad (man's way) that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it."

Of course Christians have a different worldview from non-Christians! It's disturbing that a man in his position holds a "whatever" point of view. I sincerely hope he was taken out of context.

[Tax-chick]

I was surprised by his example, that something so picayune would be specified in Canon Law.

However, in addition to such cases in which it could said with complete accuracy that “the Church” has small-minded rules, there are rules at various levels in the Church that can be an impediment to the real mission. I’m thinking particularly of rules for “gatekeeping” the Sacraments which emphasize “inputs” such as classroom time rather than the “product”: a person who knows and believes the Catholic Faith.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Perhaps some are small minded. The prohibition against outdoor weddings as not being a “sacred space” for example. The outdoors were created by God...what’s not sacred about them?

Other rules are taken directly from the teachings of the Gospel and must be held rock firm.