I am appalled by commentators and writers who quickly denounce Pope Francis, often misinterpreting or twisting the meaning of his comments by taking them out of context. These critics are acting like the ‘ the accuser of our brethren… which accused them before our God day and night’. [Revelation 12:7-12] They seem poised, ready to pounce on any hint of his supposed sin against tradition. Pope Francis’ detractors condemn him as a modernist heretic who is selling out to secular opinion by refusing to stand up for traditional Roman Catholic Church teachings. The pope’s critics seem determined to over throw this Spirit-filled man of God. I am truly baffled.
What are these self-proclaimed champions of religious purity doing?
The most important point in this whole issue is that Jesus never commanded his followers to go around pointing out sin, faults, shortcomings or failures of others, never mind tearing down the pope. The only role that pointing out sin plays is to point to Christ’s redemptive act, because sin no longer has any power over us. God’s chosen ones had 5,000 years of pointing out sin under the law of Moses and it didn’t save anyone. It’s awareness of God’s love and salvation for all that saves man. If Pope Francis is in error or sin, the attitude of his critics is completely contrary to basic, Christian values. In contrast to his detractors, Pope Francis humbly lives out the gospel values of mercy and forgiveness, reaching out to those who have been marginalized, just like Jesus did when He lived on earth. Yet, it is these very gestures of reconciliation and bridge building that infuriates those with a self-righteous spirit.
I want to shout from the roof tops to all rigid purists who think Pope Francis is destroying the Roman Catholic Church:
John 8: 6-8
…They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.…
Matthew 7:1
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
Romans 2:1
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
1 Corinthians 13:3-7
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres
As we observe this new pope, I find that it is best to discern what is in the Lord with an open heart, and not with a critical eye that actively strives to unearth any sign of sin. It is interesting to note that Jesus constantly upset the religious experts of His day by seeming to break the letter of the law when in fact, as Love Incarnate, He was the fulfillment of the law. Jesus appeared to contradict Himself for those who judged His words only by their surface meaning. Many of Christ’s words seem difficult to reconcile if they are not read spiritually. I find the same holds true with Pope Francis; many critics point out statements that on the surface seem to contradict each other or go against tradition, but when we delve further, in a spirit of Love, we discover that he is simply restating orthodox Catholic teaching using the language of the average person on the street.
In addition, his open, compassionate, inclusive attitude to “outsiders” does not mean that the pope is rejecting the reality of the Body of Christ, or that he does not believe that the Catholic Church holds the fullness of truth. He is building bridges. No one ever saved a non-believer by throwing stones of condemnation with a self-righteous attitude. Jesus was also accused of rejecting the holy, chosen people of God, who obeyed God’s rules, when he hung out with outsiders and sinners.
To those who judge the pope for looking as if he is neglecting certain issues or concerns, I would remind them that not all the pope’s prayers, thoughts, intentions, actions, words or letters make it to the news. We are not privy to his heart’s intent. We are not privy to what God is telling him to do. We cannot judge; it is impossible to assume that the pope is doing nothing behind the scenes, demanding that the public be informed of all complicated negotiations or correspondence. You can’t assume the worst.
Finally, I would suggest that instead of complaining or pointing out the sins of our pope, it would be more efficacious to pray that he hears, obeys and carries the Will of God for the Church. These accusers of the brethren are acting more like servants of the evil one than servants of God by destroying the Church with their slander.
127 thoughts on “Finger-pointing: The “Sins” of Pope Francis”
It is truly sad that when politically conservative commentators and pundits like Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Stuart Varney, and Rush Limbaugh (two of which are Catholic) attacked our Holy Father as being socialist and marxist, the Catholic League, which says that it defends the church, issued no condemnation on these denunciations. (it should be noted that they go after people like Bill Maher regularly for similar slanders) In fact, Bill Donohue trumpeted an interview that he gave to Rush Limbuagh, on of the Pope’s accusers. At the same time, he, Donohue, condemned a group which calls itself Catholic, that while at times is at odds with the church, nonetheless support Pope Francis. In his condemnation he called them a ‘bogus group’.
A heresy has infected the Catholic Church in the USA, and that is one in which a person is of a particular political leaning, be it left or right, and a Catholic second. Both sides are guilty of this. It is time for us as Catholics to stand up and defend our faith and our Pope before we defend our political parties.
as I Canadian, I find the political right in the States is often venomous in its attacks
As an Australian I agree
Thank you so much for this wonderful article. You sum up perfectly what I feel and believe. I wish you every blessing
Thank you!! Great article!! I happened upon a few groups with this attitude of condemnation just in the last few months. It’s ridiculous to act with such an attitude and I feel that it hurts those who may be longing to reach out for spiritual help/knowledge. They hear all the negativity and hesitate…maybe they don’t know who to believe…that is a shame! New Christians don’t need this. I say this because I am one who has experienced this and, thankfully, I got past their bad judgement
and isn’t this what Church is all about? it is NOT all about US, the churched. but about the unchurched. The great commission is about bringing the Good News to the poor is spirit.
Yes it is:) It’s a life- changing blessing…an spirit that has been uplifted….it’s so wonderful! And sad when negative people get in the way of this.
Bless you, Melanie!!
may His light shine all around you like a beacon of protection and healing, nurturing your life in the Spirit
Thank you!:)
Agreed. The com boxes are full of disrespectful, and unChristian accusations from people who consider themselves more Catholic than the pope. We must trust who God has entrusted with leading his Church!
hilarious but true…”some people who consider themselves more Catholic than the pope”.
more judgment of hearts and motivations – “..people who consider themselves more Catholic than the pope.”
The TRUE CHURCH has only one leader:JESUS The CHRIST.
Yes, of course but His representative on earth is a human, flawed but annointed to lead as was St..Peter.” I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19″I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”
Anointed to lead who? Sorry, but I don’t buy the bogus interpretation put upon Matthew 16:18-19, and neither did many of the early Church”fathers”you catholics claim as your personal property, so to speak. (Obviously I’m Christian. ) It’s conceded that Peter was in the forefront of many of the early church’s actions and activities, but the New Testament does not give him any particular pre-eminence; that distinction goes to the great Apostle Paul, and Peter possessed nothing the other Apostles didn’t have. The true Representative of the TRUE CHURCH is the Holy Spirit, not any given man, particularly not popes who dig up other popes (The infamous Cadaver Synod), popes who bought and sold the so-called papacy (the Renaissance popes), popes who claimed to be the Saviour (Boniface VIII and “Unam Sanctum”), and popes who were kidnappers (Pius IX and Edgardo Mortara).So, no Mrs.Juneau, I’ll take all the “Solas” of the Reformation, and count myself blessed beyond deserving.I have no interest in ANY -“ISMS:catholicism,protestantism,
I was in your position 40 years ago, repulsed by the Catholic Church’s sinful history. So you understand where I came from, I accepted Jesus as my personal Saviour at 16, was bapitized in water with full immersion as an adult and was baptized in the Holy Spirit in the best of pentecostal traditions. I still speak in tongues and I am blessed with many ” charismatic” gifts of the Spirit. I was a bible thumping student reaching out to save the lost. Then I was hit with heavenly lightening at 19, my world turned upside down. Much to the horror of my family , friends and brothers and sister in Christ, I was called into the Catholic Church. I know nothing I can say can change your opinion, not all off us are called to convert but I assure you that many beleifs which I considered to be Catholic heresies are in fact true. Only my life can give witness to these truths by wonderful fruits and miracles God has showered on me. AND once God place a hungar for the Eucharist within me and introduced me to His Mother, no one else wanted me but the Catholic Church.
Well Melanie, I’ll say this and I’ll let it go and wish you well. I was born-again in 1976 at the age of 22, in a jail cell in the state of Mississippi. I began investigating Roman Catholicism in 1985 mainly out of curiosity, and once I read Dr.Norman Geisler’s book ” Roman Catholics and Evangelicals : their agreements and differences”, I was absolutely blown away, and I knew Roman Catholicism had NOTHING to offer me.James G. McCarthy’s book”The Gospel according to Rome”cemented the issue for me; written by a former catholic and based on your cathecism, of all things, catholicism comes off even worse; who better than insider to pull back the covers, as it were, and reveal the truth? I could go on, but what would be the point? As I tried to say earlier (I hit the wrong button and cut myself off!), for me it’s not about any given-“ism”, it’s always and ONLY about our Saviour, who didn’t die to invite us to any”ism”, He invites us to Himself. He did that for me 38 years ago, and I rest in His promise to…”never leave or forsake me”…, and no man-centered, contrived,bogus institution can change that.If being”called”into that satisfies you, Melanie, peace be unto you. I was called into Christ, and I’ll take Him over every invented”ism”known to man.God Bless you, and Peace be unto you.
And also with you. May we meet in heaven and laugh over the divisions on earth, for truly you are a brother in Christ; I too belong to Him, first
AAAAH-MEN, Melanie!
hey. your spelling of amen…”.AHHHH- MEN” , just made me realize that I have to forgive the accussers of the brethern as well..now if we all did that think how powerful that would be
Pope Francis is following Jesus, not just worshiping him. Worshipping Jesus is easy, but following Jesus our good Shepherded like Pope Francis is the tough challenge which these ‘Catholics’ who do not like. They just want to pitch couple of tents at the mount tabor and wish to stay there as St. Peter once wished. And you know what Jesus told him looking at the disciples, ” get behind me satan”
That is all we can tell these people who are critiquing Pope Francis !
Very well said Melanie!
Agreed. Pope Francis is also receiving the same treatment that Jesus did from the professional religious of His day, who felt they were perfect, holy and in the right.Yet the Pharisees lived without mercy or compassion or even a vital, spiritual relationship with the Spirit of God; spiritual intimacy only occurs when man is humble in the presence of the Almighty. Those who judge rather than discern Pope Francis’ words and actions are doing so from a position of pride, as know-it alls.
Pope Francis is the best thing that has happened to the Catholic Church since I was born in the mid-1950s. He’s speaking the truth! He’s leading his life in the true tradition of a Christian, following the example of Jesus. The Catholic Church over the centuries became so big and powerful, it caused great corruption. Now Pope Francis is working to clean it up. He’s up against powerful forces. I fear for his life. I pray he can clean up the Vatican curia, Vatican bank, cut the mafia out, rid the Church of gay pedophile priests and pastors & Bishops who facilitated abuse, allow priests to marry again (like they were up to 1000). Bring the Church back to Jesus!
articulate common sense that is rooted in the Holy Spirit
Not all pedophiles are gay and not all gay priests are evil. Many, many of them are very good men and good priests.
Yeah…Good luck with that.
While I think the current pope will try to get the entrenched cadre of gay cardinals out of the Vatican, he does speak with a loose tongue causing all kinds of misunderstand. I am a faithful Roman Catholic and pray for our Holy Father to always be led by the Holy Ghost. Sometimes it is better to remain silent and choose wisely your words.
now your comment was a word of discernment spoken in love
there’s an entrenched cadre of gay cardinals? I didn’t know that. can you name some?
The people obsessed with the “gay lobby” will be sad to learn that the lobby doesn’t just include evil liberal bishops.
Right on sister!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They did this to Pope St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Who needs Chick Comics when some Catholics are more brutal to the Pope?
YES! I Perhaps fear is at the root of many of the negative reactions to the pope
I think you’re making a big mistake in thinking that the only detractors of Pope Francis are only “rigid purists who think Pope Francis is destroying the Roman Catholic Church.” Surely, there ARE some of those, but I am also seeing and reading murmurings of discontent from those from the opposite camp. Those who advocate for the ordination of women, “marriage equality” and other radical issues are finding no approval from this Son of the Church, either.
And as to this whole “judging” issue…. I think the word is being used wrongly. I think that nowadays, when we disagree with someone, we are immediately accused of “judging them”. I believe that we are, in fact, called to judge and use our judgement – to discern, to choose right from wrong. What we are not called to do is condemn. Only God knows what is in the hearts of men and only He can do that.
well said
I guess the early apostles and followers of Christ were really in error then when they went about correcting unbelievers and those living sinful lifestyles. the entire New Testament is about fraternal correction. Going around and endorsing pagan religions and saying who am i too judge is condoning error and sin in people……..but too be politically correct is all the shepherds wants……everybody to do as they want and each live in their own tower of babel..
It is not about being politically correct. I hate that term because it is so superficially prejudicial.
agreed.. I am not speaking about a wordly attitude like being politically correct but about living in the Father’s love which you describe so perfectly as an eternal, all encompassing love “which contradicts our fear based linear thinking.”
Of course you are correct. I am refrring to hateful slurs and negative, narrow reactions against our pope which are based in fear not discernment and correction done in love
Melanie…much damage has been done by Pope Francis and his Who am I to Judge comment…..you cannot post comments online when you go about correcting same sex depravity and abortion and birth control without being attacked by comments which use Pope Francis and his who am I to judge comment thrown back at you..the Shepherds haven’t the courage to stand up to the homosexuals or the feminists and the Church is reaping the fruits of evil. Is the Vatican that clueless not to see the effects around the world by careless comments by those in Authority? The Vatican should come out and strongly condemn homosexual activity and abortion and any evil that goes against Church Teaching EVERYDAY to let the media and the wayward know that Sin IS STILL A SIN, whether it likes it or not.
Melanie jean Juneau: how do you now what the reactions are based on? You, too, are judging hearts and motivations. Stop.
yes,I slip into judging in anger, too
Melanie if you are right about Pope Francis, then explain to me why he would condone the sacrilegious event that took place in Cordoba, Argentina?
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/lesbian-my-childs-catholic-baptism-shows-the-acceptance-weve-won-in-legaliz
http://popeleo13.com/pope/2014/06/02/category-archive-message-board-51/#more-429
So, you consider baptizing a baby sacrilegious?
Performing lewd homosexual acts in God’s sanctuary is sacrilegious. And the infant girl was a hostage of the “Gay Agenda”
So you think baptizing a baby is sacrilegious?
Of course they do.
What are the chances that they would admit that they are wrong?
None. The traditionalists want the baby to remain unbaptized and to punish the baby for the parents’ actions.
Kag1982: classic example of judging “traditionalists” hearts and motivations. Stop it.
Considering the whining I’ve heard, I definitely think that the “sins” of the parents are being visited on the children. And generally the “sexual sins” are the only ones that count. There are lots of straight couples who were married in the right form who aren’t great Christians. For instance, some of them are just uncaring, self-absorbed people. I’d be more concerned with the Christian formation of a child whose parents don’t understand the Golden rule than I am a lesbian couple.
“Ex opere operato”is the very definition of sacrilegious.
Do you think Latin proves you correct?
I will read these articles but I also know that as Catholic Christians, we must trust more in the power of God to bring about His will than in the power of the evil one to deceive. The Church has always understood that God can even bring good out of sin..just like Adam’s sin is called a happy fault
What the…?? Where in Scripture is Adam’s sin called”a happy fault”? That’s the silliest thing I’ve read today!!
At the Easter Vigil, there is an especially poignant moment during the singing of the Easter Proclamation, or the Exsultet, when the deacon or priest sings: “O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer.” (Roman Missal II translation)
bergoglio condoned that kiss?
and another apropos comment/post from Fr. Hunwicke:
http://liturgicalnotes.blogspot.com/2014/07/swiss-clocks-as-well-as-swiss-guards.html
thank-you..will read this one, too
This very website is actively leading people to their damnation, and it is my utmost duty to denounce the fact.
Everyone here is anathema
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Its all well and good to say we are being to hard on Francis but St Paul resisted Peter to his face on a certain matter. Its is not just Conservatives many Vatican Officials are wondering why he keeps giving these interviews. Apart from that we try not to be uncharitable. However the Pope himself is not very charitable much less merciful to Traditional Catholics like the FFI and the throwing of Raymond Burke under the Bus. I don’t agree with the name calling either by the Pope or the Conservatives but they know he does not care for them. Benedict was and still is being criticized just for retiring. Why the double standard? This is why Catholics who question much less criticize Francis are losing their jobs.
discernment is different than slander
Well, Francis did say ” God forgive you for what you have done.” when they elected him.
He knew the controversy he was going to create, and why. He is dragging the church –
most notably the clergy – outside the church and saying, look, this is where the sheep are
and the only way you are going to get them back inside is to rationalize the gospels to
reflect a new age, a new understanding of Jesus who in this age might well multiply the
number of jobs available, the number of doctors and hospitals, the number of churches
who would take in children dumped on our shores. He might have said, blessed are the
enviromentalists for they shall inherit a clean earth, blessed are they who do not know
God because they will always be enticed to do so, blessed are the peacemakers for
the time is at hand when humanity is righteously outraged by war. Blessed are the
conservatives because without their right rudder these sheep would turn in aimless circles, blessed are the progressives for they understand that a little left rudder is
how God writes straight with crooked lines.
I agree with you. Frankly, I cannot understand all the misinterpretations (I guess that’s what we should count them as) from these ‘interviews’. We have to count all the interviews from other sources as well as from the famous atheist. Just read today on the interview with one of the sex abuse victims, and she said Pope Francis made her feel soooo much better. (which is a good thing!) but she went on to say she would never step foot in a Catholic Church again, or go to a Catholic Mass again. He told her (supposedly) that it was all ok. She didn’t have to in order to be a member of the body of Christ in the Catholic Church. If this is true, (and who really knows) then why do any of us have to go to Mass again. We should all be ‘ok’ without. All so very upsetting…..don’t know how you all can dismiss all this as ‘Christ in action.’ Christ would say that??? And…..You mean to tell me ALL OF THESE JOURNALISTS ARE LYING??? Hmm….ok, I guess that’s what we need to hang onto. By this time there are tons of them that are not up front about it……whatever.
FYI: Sunday is a Holy Day of Obligation. Missing mass on Sunday or any other Holy Day of Obligation is GRAVE MATTER. Check the Catechism. That means it can easily fall in to the mortal sin trap if all the conditions are met. Your deacon was misleading, at best.
There is a lot we do not know about God’s Love. One thing for sure is that His Love has no limits and works in ways which contradicts our fear based linear thinking.
agreed. I think that your attitude is the foundation of Pope Francis’ thinking and spirituality .”His Love has no limits and works in ways which contradicts our fear based linear thinking.”
Yes.. Why would a woman who was repeatedly raped over the course of a couple of years by a priest as a minor not want to go to Mass.. Perhaps because she was repeatedly raped by a priest as a teenager. For many victims of clerical sexual abuse, going inside a church is a trigger; they cannot even attend family weddings and funerals. Perhaps, it upsets Marie Kane (the lady’s name) so much that she truly cannot go to Mass without being in great pain. In that case, I think that the priest who raped her will have to answer for his actions, not her.
And I hope that you go to Mass because you receive great spiritual fruits from it, not because you have to.
You are remarkably astute to the feelings of a woman who suffers post traumatic stress just like Christ understands. This is not some lame excuse to skip Mass. Jesus knows her heart, her intentions and came to heal the broken, the sick, the sinner not torment her and definetly He came to bring salvation to her baby. When the wounds heal, then hungar for the Eucharist will bring her back .
Of course you go to Mass to receive JESUS in word and in body and blood, to be filled with the living God, but the Church (which is the Bride of Christ) in her wisdom requires that we do our part, that we keep turning toward God in the most efficacious way possible. By going to ‘The Heavenly Banquet’ to be filled with the living God. There are times in the life of all of us that, no indeed, we do not ‘feel’ like going to Mass, but we go anyway. We go and lay our heartaches on the Altar for the living God to deal with, and to give us the grace to continue on. There are times when I myself have gone to Mass and cried almost through the entire Mass, but I received GRACE to carry on, even though it didn’t particularly ‘feel’ like I received it, I indeed did.
This all being said, of course God understands completely when this poor and terribly traumatized woman could not go to Mass without sending her into a complete panic attack. The Priest who caused this has the entire culpability of her situation. What bothers me is the lack of follow up in our Holy Father’s statement to her. She needed healing direction from qualified Catholic resources. NOW……..MAYBE HE DID DIRECT HER and we just don’t know it. Is it the journalism? Who really knows? What we KNOW is that these interviews are causing confusion and division. Confusion and division are NOT good for the Church. I would hope that someone at the Vatican could see this and take the steps to correct what is happening. These unplanned interviews and impromptu statements by journalists that ‘quote’ The Holy Father, who may have an agenda, must stop. Pope Francis has himself stated that he wants people to ‘Cause a Mess’, but indeed this kind of a ‘Mess’ is damaging. How are we the faithful to understand the true meaning of what he is trying to teach us? His messages the way they are coming across are anything but clear.
We normal folks appreciate Pope Francis’ interviews and off the cuff statements. It is who the man is, and it would be sad if he ever became a properly handled, stage-managed, and formal pope. No doubt he has an agenda- bringing people closer to Christ and is going through with that agenda. I find this crystal clear and not “confusing” or “damaging” in the least. The only people who find these statements “confusing” and “damaging” are the neo-conservative Catholics who have spent 30+ years projecting a sour and scolding version of Catholicism and driving as many people away from the Church as possible. Perhaps self-reflection what you have done to drive people away from the Church would be time better spent than whining about Pope Francis’ media strategy.
And a clerical sexual abuse victim doesn’t want to engage with “qualified Catholic resources.” These victims became victims because of their trust in “qualified Catholic authorities” and probably have disgust and contempt for such “resources.”
Here’s a thought, “standtall909”:the person in question could always jettison the so-called roman catholic church with its man-centered dogmas and bogus lnterpretations and, oh, I don’t know…ask our Saviour Himself for peace and healing.He’s been known to do that you know, so…it’s just a thought, ALWAYS works for me WITHOUT FAIL.By the way…what IS your pope talking about?
Without saying with what parts of the post I agree (or disagree), I would point out a very pertinent and scholarly comment by Fr. John Hunwicke of the Anglican Ordinariate. Fr. Hunwicke is a scholar, and orthodox to the nth degree. Here is the link”
http://liturgicalnotes.blogspot.com/2014/07/non-magisterial.html
thank-you; this was an excellent, insightful article
You recognize Anglical heretics’ orders as valid perchance?
Idjit (Is that a misspelling?), it’s clear you know nothing of the Anglican Usage of the Roman Rite, instituted by St. John Paul II and promoted by Pope Benedict XVI. All priests in the Anglican Usage Ordinariate have been re-ordained by a Bishop of the Catholic Church. Here’s a web site for you to learn something to do away with your prejudices.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglican_Use
Thank you for the link and the clarification.
I was not aware “Anglican Ordinariate” referred to ex-Anglicans re-ordained in the Vatican II Church.
Why do you speak of “prejudices” if I may ask? I was mistaken about the Anglican Ordinariate being actually Anglican, that’s all.
Thanks again, and no, Idjit is not a misspelling.
When Pope Francis says, Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” It means something TOTALLY different than how the world understands it!
What does Matthew 7 :1, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” , really mean?
Wow, this thread has some interesting post. You asked me, “What does Matthew 7 :1, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” , really mean?” Well, “I agree with your article. I was just trying to point out the the “world” has taken Pope Francis out of context. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” is in the top ten scriptures the Non-judgemental-judgementalist use to silence obedient Catholics. They also use Scriptures like, “Take the Beam out of your own Eye, the first will be last and the last will be first, The woman caught in adultery, ETC. ETC.
agreed- you explain the difference between judging and discernment perfectly
Thanks! Have you ever written and article on moral relativism?
no but you have just given me an idea for my next article
Good, go for it, and take of the gloves! The world is dying for lack of the truth.
oh my…that is exactly what the editor told me I did with this article ! ( which is a real switch for me)
God Bless You Melanie. God has provided you a wonder forum here. I look forward to more of your articles!
Here’s someone even better to live like, John 654:JESUS The CHRIST-(1John 2:6)
OK?
I think that judging someone means having the ability to take executive action. All else
is opinion. If it is within someones power to inflict penalty and they elect to do so that would constitute judgment.
Perhaps that is what Jesus meant but common usage has a wider definiton. I think what Jesus meant was a hypocritical, self-righteous judgments of others. What he means by “judging” is being unmerciful, uncompassionate, and unforgiving.
It means we are not to judge another’s heart, her motivations.
On the other hand, we are absolutely called to “judge” behaviors – that is what the ten commandments are all about, what a good parent does 100x per day and what a true and loving friend does when he is concerned about the direction of another’s soul (allowing himself to be led by a properly formed conscience using the catechism of theCatholic Church, etc).
I see the problem of judgment (the wrong kind) going in both directions, here.
exactly because loving guidance and concerned direction is completly different than.judging without mercy, forgiveness or compassion. In this context, what Jesus means by “judging” is the opposite of doing those things—being unmerciful, uncompassionate, and unforgiving.
Good, Melanie, but we must not lose sight of one fact, which is that Francis’ Catholic critics are a tiny minority. Yes, they are vocal, and we should never ignore them because they are our brethren and we should listen with open hearts. But, according to the March Pew Poll, only 2% of Catholics think Francis is a change for the worse. That month, another poll showed that only 1% of Catholics view Francis unfavorably. I repeat: I do not mean to belittle these Catholic voices, but we must put them in perspective that they do not represent a major current in the Church (though they would undoubtedly argue that they count for more because they represent more faithful Catholics, the ones who go to church more regularly, etc.–I am only speaking about the cold hard numbers).
Really? What wonderful news! this is very heartening; I had no idea. Thank-you. Looks like I might write another article relaying those stastics with less fear of being stoned
I feel compelled to add a sobering statistic postscript: which is that 1% of 1 billion (the estimated Catholic population worldwide) is 10 million (!), so 1% in a Church as vast and worldwide as ours is still a sizeable demographic.
gulp
Maybe the people who come back to the church or have a tug in their hearts toward Catholicism due to the warmth and humility shown by Pope Francis, his kind and loving spirit, his open arms, will cancel out the 1%! 🙂
What a wonderful thought. I pray that , in time, even Pope Francis’ detractors will admit the witness of his day to day life for “by your fruit you shall know them”. The joy of the Lord is his strength.
That is because there’s very few Catholics left, and you are all heretics
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A great, well articulated post and I am not a Catholic….but I would venture to say Amen!
probably because you live a real life of compassion and mercy birthed in love and commitment, the kind of life espoused by Pope Francis
I totally with you, Melanie. Phil is an inspiration.
Amen Melanie! Pope Francis is the right person for the times we live in. As he has told us, we can no longer leave the 99 to go after the lost sheep, in today’s times we must leave the 1 and go after the 99. It’s that critical! The Holy Spirit has done a great job in giving us just the right inclusive, humble, shepherd to lead the Catholic Church. Faithful Catholics would do well by following his pastoral lead and not get hung up on the rule book. Thank you for your insightful and important post. God bless you, Melanie. Tony
” As he has told us, we can no longer leave the 99 to go after the lost sheep, in today’s times we must leave the 1 and go after the 99″. ….this is a powerful, insightful quote
I stand with Pope Francis and you!
I have been waiting for comments with fear and trepidation but commentators like yourself are restoring my faith in the Body of Christ.
You are a bucket of cold water poured over my head. If that seems a strange thing to say, consider that I’m in Texas in late July. 🙂
is this a good thing? sounds a bit drastic
A very good thing! And even better in August. 🙂
Amen sister! You nailed it! You really did. I could not agree more. Some Catholics are so critical of Pope Francis they sound like some Protestants I know. I still say Pope Francis is being led by the Holy Spirit and he is a man of tremendous compassion. I thank God for him! I believe he will win many to the faith, and I believe I am one of them. God bless.
You are a concrete example of how the compassion of Pope Francis has drawn a convert to the bosom of the Church
Convert to heresy and damn to Hell