Jesus' mercy, compassion and love certainly apply.  But, remember, we're not living in 1st Century Palestine.  Catholics are not members of the ancient Jewish faith, and we were not raised in its observances.  The world, society, and our Catholic faith expresses itself differently.

The pontificates of JP II and Benedict marked, if not a wholesale repudiation of Vatican II documents such as Gaudium et spes---it marked a retreat from the vision enunciated in it---that the laity could share the responsibility for the development of ecclesial and social life; 

 In Veritatis splendor, however, John Paul II----almost in abstraction from the rest of the faith community---writes, "it is my intention to state the principles [so ta we can give] a reply that possesses a light and power capable of answering even the most controversial and complex questions" [VS 30].  He elevated the role and competence of the hierarchy and debased the proper contribution of the lay faithful.