From LifeSite.net, Phil Lawler, the editor and founder of Catholic World News, says the reason the Catholic church is losing the marriage battle is the failure to discipline errant Catholic politicians:
Lawler said at the time, "It's clear that the archdiocese is not serious about this issue." He added, "There is no real penalty being exacted on people who are in support of same sex marriage."
This is also true in the area of abortion. Having an opinion contrary to biblical doctrine is one thing; it probably warrants better education on what the Scriptures say. But actively working against what the Bible says--that's another thing altogether.
If, after biblical steps are taken (witnesses, confrontation, call to repentance, refusal to repent), someone in the church continues to defend and promote things contrary to the Bible, then they should be put out of the church.
This goes not only for Catholics, but anyone and any church that associates themselves with Christ. If someone refuses to change after being shown their error and given an opportunity to change, then further association between that church and that individual only brings discredit on that church.
I've seen church discipline (disfellowship, or as Catholics call it, excommunication) administered a couple of times in recent years. It's unpleasant, but necessary both for the good of the individual and the good of the church.
Need an example? Look at the harm the pedophile priests, and especially the church's failure to deal with the problem, have done to the Catholic Church's credibility.
When churches don't discipline their members who are publicly behaving in ways contrary to the Bible, they give the impression that the church condones that behavior. This confuses the public and brings discredit on that church, on the Bible, and ultimately on God himself.
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