text: No, it is not punishment by definition, since it does not meet the definition. I will not respond to additional repetitions of this erroneous assertion.
  
  Life is tough, Christians are called to hardship and sacrifice, and God demands that we obey His commandments. Jesus was obedient to the point of death.
  
  If these facts create faith problems for you, you have bigger issues to address than the cardinals' letter.