Treat Him Like a Gentile or a Tax Collector
Posted by: tony on 09/09/2008 02:20 PM
Updated by: tony on 09/09/2008 02:20 PM
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Expires: 10/10/2008 12:00 AM
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As I was listening to this weeks Gospel reading, Mt 18:15-20, I began to think about all the people coming to the defense of U.S. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and Vice Presidential nominee, Joe Biden.
These two have been in the news attempting to justify their public support of abortion by prooftexting Augustine. They have also been corrected by numerous Bishops ordained by God to instruct the faithful.
There has been talk about denying communion to these and other wayward politicians, but some come to their defense with the "I don't believe Jesus would do that" argument.
Jesus begs to differ.
Jesus said to his disciples:
"If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you,
so that 'every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.'
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church.
If he refuses to listen even to the church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector."
Step one: The politician's ordinary calls the politician in privately for a chat about the scandal they are causing to the faithful.
Step two: The ordinary again calls in the politician, possibly with the politician's parish priest present.
Step three: The ordinary involves the whole church, by publicly chastizing the politician and entreating them to repent, confess and return to the fold.
Step four: Treat them like a gentile or tex collector, or in other words, like an outsider. Excommunication.
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