Welcoming Cardinal Kasper's Pastoral Solicitude

I invited a couple of my brothers to comment on Cardinal Kasper's pastoral solicitude.  First, my eldest brother, Mal Trovato:

I have long been saddened at the attitude of the Official Church, which would seek to exclude me. Fortunately, round here in Sicily, their influence is rather less than mine, and the local parish is very accommodating. However, Cardinal Kasper seems to be opening the door to a more welcoming approach from the Institutional Church. 

It was not, after all, my fault that I was born into the Trovato family. And I admit that finishing off my father was wrong: I have long repented that, and have had many Masses said.  But now that I am the head of the family, I have responsibilities; with many people under my protection.  So it is absurd to suggest that I should walk away from my responsibilities.  Not only do I have a wife and children to support, but the wider family, and many other colleagues and collaborators.  

Indeed, I have undertaken solemn promises (eg omertá) which have some similarities to religious vows, which I could not, in good conscience, break. Moreover, were I to do so, it would cause significant harm to many others: not only members of the family, but also politicians, police officials, and countless local businesses. 

So it is good that the Cardinal has seen the practicalities of the situation, and recognises that the best solution is to recognise that, whilst extortion, corruption and murder may, technically, be against the rules of the Church, in fact I am doing the best that can be expected of me in the situation in which I find myself.

Secondly, my other brother,  who prefers simply to be known as Il Dottore:

When I trained as a doctor, it was not with the intention of becoming a specialist in late-term abortions. However, I lost my job at the hospital, and I had a wife and children to support.  So I took a job running a clinic that specialised in abortions, as I had responsibilities to my family.  I accept that I should not have taken the job, and indeed repent of having done so. 

However, that is now the only way I have to make a living, so it is clearly absurd to expect me to give it up.  It is wonderful to learn that Cardinal Kasper is finding ways to bring mercy into this situation, and allow me back into full communion with the Church. I am more than happy to confess that I should not have taken the job, if that is what it takes. 

I was also heartened by the thought that the Cardinal would discern in my work elements of the work of doctors who save lives. That is a truly pastoral perspective that brings me peace of mind and great joy.

--

Sancte Michael Archangele,
defende nos in proelio;
contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium.
Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur:
tuque, Princeps militiae Caelestis,
satanam aliosque spiritus malignos,
qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo,
divina virtute in infernum detrude.Amen.