The rationale behind the Catholic hierarchy coming out and reaffirming their more primitive traditions always puzzles me. It is usually a bit of cage-rattling intended to smack down those uppity "enlightened, moderate" Catholics with their dangerous notions of metaphorical interpretations and liberal tendencies. I'm not sure it does much good though, if anything it shocks and further alienates the moderates as they are rudely reminded that their fuzzy, rose-tinted view of their faith is completely at odds with the faith preached by the Vatican.

The sad thing is that many of them will try to rationalise this, or just pretend it didn't happen.

What I would love to know is whether he REALLY believes this, or whether this is an act of pure cynicism.