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In their coverage of the Shanley case, the media have almost exclusively seemed to cite as facts, not the full content of the documents, but the interpretation of a few select passages highlighted by MacLeish -- to the point that many now believe that those interpretations are "facts" extracted from the documents.

With regard to at least this case, I was taken in by the hysteria. As a shepherd whose concern for the faithful should be job one, I still have my doubts about Cardinal Law. However, this article does not implicate him in wrongdoing regarding the Shanley case.

What angers me the most is the following statement from the article regarding the pro homosexual New Ways Ministry :In this case, for instance, it took 22 years for the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith to make a formal condemnation of their teachings -- after many attempts at dialogue and reconciliation.

I sincerely hope that the hundreds of millions of dollars in money damages and a laity that is super pi**ed off at a touchy feely spineless hierarchy, has taught a few people that a new era of "keep your nose clean or you're outta here" is replacing the miserably disastrous era of "dialogue and reconciliation."

Forgiveness does not suggest that malefactors ought not be removed, censured and punished. Indeed, for their own good and the good of the community, we have been taught that that is exactly what is needed.

I Corinthians 5.

9. I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people,
10. not at all referring to the immoral of this world or the greedy and robbers or idolaters; for you would then have to leave the world.
11. But I now write to you not to associate with anyone named a brother, if he is immoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard, or a robber, not even to eat with such a person.
12. For why should I be judging outsiders? Is it not your business to judge those within?
13. God will judge those outside. "Purge the evil person from your midst."

(emphasis added)