I'm furious

Seriously furious.

Non Catholic probably don't know there's a Synod on the Family coming up in October.  Catholics (mostly) don't know or don't care.  The few idiots like me who actually read all the crap that comes out of Catholic websites, both Trad and Liberal, may have come across this gem this morning.

"Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, and a member of the Pope's G-9 advisory group, in a foreword to a book entitled "The Gospel of the Family," to be released by Ignatius Press on Oct 1, has written, "The sooner the wounded, the lukewarm, and the outsiders realize that substantial doctrinal and pastoral changes are impossible, the more the hostile disappointment (which must follow the reassertion of doctrine) will be anticipated and dissipated." (hat tip to Fr James Martin SJ on Facebook).

Now allowing for the fact that this particular Cardinal has not entirely covered himself in glory over Australia's child sex abuse scandals, and that the Internet is full of his less well advised sayings, this one to me hits a new low.  Lump together the segments of the People of God that he just wishes would go away and shut up, and say that the sooner they get over their collective whinging the sooner we can get back to the status quo simply beggars belief.  No, that's wrong.  I wish it did beggar belief.  The fact that I've almost come to expect this sort of crap off certain segments of the hierarchy speaks volumes, because the huge lack of compassion in those words resounds in my head.

Ironically, I've barely ranted about the Church since Papa Francis came in, because so much of the crasser outpourings from Cardinals old enough (but not wise enough) to know better has been toned down.  But it's still there.

Lay aside whether or not anything can change, will change, or should change.  The lack of compassion by someone who considers himself a shepherd of men should have Cardinal Pell on his knees by his personal confessor tonight.  Sadly, I doubt it.

I need a drink.