My new book, 'Wisdom Proceeding: A Thomistic Account of Theology,' is now UP ONLINE AND AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD FOR FREE! taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-m…

Indeed, it seems to me highly disrespectful of people's dignity if you treat them as hostages to their beliefs, incapable of responding to the truth when presented graciously and compellingly, and instead not worth the effort of trying to educate or persuade.

If someone thinks we cannot rightfully, morally persuade or bring anyone to become Christian, because this violates their 'sacred humanity,' I think they will find themselves in direct contradiction with Christ's own commission to 'baptize' all, not merely be friendly with them.

Well, another Cardinal has come out with a, shall we say, puzzling take on evangelization. A few years ago, Cardinal Américo Aguiar, at the time auxiliary bishop of Lisbon, said that he and the other organizers of World Youth Day in his hometown had no interest in converting anyone to Christ. Now Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco of Algeria has opined that “the Church is not there to convert” and “Christians should approach other religions through fraternity rather than seeking conversions.” Excuse me, but…what? Last time I checked, the Founder said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Sure sounds like conversion to me. When St. Paul came to Corinth or Athens or Thessalonica, his purpose was not to listen or to form a discussion group but rather to declare an unnerving message: the euangelion (glad tidings) that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. So impassioned is he for this work that he says, “I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:22); and “If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16)! Moreover, the entire thrust of the Second Vatican Council was toward bringing the Light of Christ to the peoples of the world (Lumen Gentium). And this missionary élan has given rise in the last few decades to the idea of a “new evangelization,” which is to say, a fresh declaration of the Lordship of Christ. Quite obviously, no one thinks that this work of evangelization should be done in a brow-beating, overbearing, or disrespectful manner (proselytization), but for God’s sake, let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. If I really thought that the Church does not exist to bring people to Christ, then I would resign and get an honest job.

If you’re ever in the Chicagoland area and have a hopeless of impossible cause, please come and pray for the intercession of St. Jude and venerate a relic of his arm at the Dominican Shrine of St. Jude. the-shrine.org/

Punishment aims at restoring the full community of relationships, even when it does not effect moral repair within the punished offender, making them repent of their offense. Punishment is not simply about balancing an abstract scale of offense to God's honor by imposing pain.

There are the TWO passages claimed to show that Catholics are dogmatically committed to a view that satisfaction requires & consists in nothing more than pain/suffering inflicted solely with the view of balancing the scales of justice. I see nothing about pain/suffering.