- Missing Mass without a truly pressing and valid reason is a mortal sin against the Third Commandment and one of the Six Precepts of the Church. Being a hypcrite and "hating others" are not valid reasons for absenting oneself from Mass.
- Whatever happened to the Church being a "hospital for sinners"? Was that lovely phrase meant only for some sinners?
Let's assume for discussion's sake that there are those who do indeed go to Mass while gossiping about others. In counseling them to stay away from Mass, he is counseling them to commit mortal sin. Such counseling, being on of the nine ways to cooperate with the mortal sins of others, is its own mortal sin.
Will we soon hear the pope give this less-than-sage advice to those living in fornication or those embroiled in the gay lifestyle? Somehow I doubt it. That's quite a double standard.
