Theology today
Sometimes studying theology as a Catholic in America in the 21st century can be frustrating, stressful, confusing, discouraging, and intimidating. Has it always been that way for theologians and students of theology? To some degree, I'm sure that the answer is yes, but I suspect that today is especially bad. Father Steve once told me that
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The phrase "You catch more flies with wine than vinegar" might be appropriate here. Plus, the Catholic Church has never been as rigorous as many Protestant groups (and I think for good reason). Excommunication is always a last resort, and its goal (as is the goal of everything that the Church does), according to St. Paul, is the rehabilitation of the sinner. If you kick out a heretic and he just becomes more obstinate in his error as a result, what good has been done? The situation may be such today--and I think that this is what the bishops think--that lots of excommunications and cesures, though they would expel heretics, wouldn't actually bring about their conversion nor advance their salvation.
On the other hand, I think that it's clear that the toleration of heresy within the Church has had some profound negative impacts upon God's people. So perhaps more harm has been done by toleration than would have been done by excommunication.
It's a judgment call as to which strategy would do the most good and ultimately it is the duty of the bishops to make that call. You very well might be right that this method of toleration is a mistake--even a grave one. As I said, I myself favor a stricter application of the law and defense of the truth, but I'm not a bishop and if I were, I might see things differently. Being a bishop is the hardest job in the world (especially if you're the Bishop of Rome), so I cut them a lot of slack and offer them a lot of prayer.
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