Listen to Bishop Vasa!

Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker, Oregon has recently offered an excellent synopsys of the medicinal remedy of excommunication.  He did so in a column in his diocese's official newspaper, the Catholic Sentinel.  He states two reasons for excommunication: "It is intended primarily as a means of getting the person who is in grave error to recognize the depth of his error and repent. A second reason, while somewhat secondary but no less important, is to assure the faithful who truly are faithful that what they believe to be the teaching of the Church is true and correct." Furthermore, he states, "Allowing their faith to be shaken or allowing them to be confused when Catholics publicly affirm something contrary to faith or morals, seemingly without consequences, scandalizes and confuses the faithful." 

Take a close look at that last sentence.  He isn't so much saying that dissident Catholics are causing scandal as much as he's saying that the refusal to discipline dissident Catholics is itself a cause for scandal.

I urge all to study it closely.  Moreover, I urge all bishops to heed Bishop Vasa's wise words.  I urge them strongly to put aside all considerations of politics, money and power that are only temporal and to do their duties as Shepherds.