Sin can be subjective AND objective. When someone else sins, we know what they did, we do not know why they did it or their intent behind the sin. Did they know it was wrong before they did it? Have they justified it beforehand? Was it an implusive action? Whether someone is actually culpable of the sin shouldn't be in debate. Remember that culpability is a measure of the degree to which an agent, such as a person, can be held morally or legally responsible for their act. I mean, we cannot read minds folks. Just think of the possibilities..if we could only read women's minds...i try all the time but am always so wrong!! We have inferior capabilities in reading minds and hearts, it's a fact.
How can we ever really know why someone acts the way they act? We cannot since we do not know whether their conscience is developed, undeveloped, or numb because of ignorance. All of this can get very confusing, and is why God does not want us to get involved in it. God wants us to accept, forgive and love one another no matter how painful. Imagine how much pain we cause the Lord when we turn our backs and sin against ourselves and Him even when we know better. He forgives us, so we are called to do the same. We shouldn't be judging others because we never know the heart of that person. Remember that God will judge us if we judge others. It's a trade. In accepting, forgiving and loving others without seeing a return of that love, acceptance and forgiveness we move closer to holiness, closer to Jesus. If He can demostrate all of that while hanging on a cross, bleeding and dying, we can do it too.
Judging others is very easy to do, we all do it, and sometimes do it without even thinking. Some judgement is born out of anger, envy, and principle. Some judgment is born out of resentment. All of it leads to more sin and a longing of worldly possession and that is not good. There is an anger some feel justified in having and is very dangerous if not displayed correctly.
Righteous anger.
It is not a justifiable reason to judge another. Case and point Father Jenkins from Notre Dame. In having Obama address the graduates with a commencement address and receive a honorary degree, many feel he has betrayed the primacy of truth and disgraced Church teachings. It may very well look that way, but can we really judge another even with righteous cause? How do we know what is in Father Jenkins heart? We do not. Only our Lord knows this. He needs us to pray for Father and be a voice of truth. Not to tear him down and judge him for his actions. You can apply this endlessly. Its like "the devil gets a two for one special", in the great words of Fr. Mictch Pacwa. Someone has already been tempted and now others will fall to sin in judgement of that person or persons. Righteous anger is healthy to have, but needs to be diciplined. This carries me to my next concept. Catholics can sometimes be righteous to a fault. It drives people away from the Church.
I support EWTN, and I have no guilt in saying so. No, it is not a alternative magisterium, it is merely a supplement to her teachings. I have gained strides in my faith life from the EWTN programming and find it spiritually uplifting and supportive. I have yet to hear anyone that speaks locally or nationally on that station that harbors opposition against church teachings. They syndicate Vatican radio for crying out loud! Oh, but there has been books, multiple forums dedicated to the thrashing of Mother Angelica and EWTN. This is heartbreaking. While Mother and anyone who speaks on the station are human, and not perfect, and have their opinions, none of them are influenced by the evil one like some say. I lose respect for theologins that say things like this, since they do not know the heart of these people. The intent of the programming is very clear. To bring people closer to Christ and to support Catholic issues and the magisterium. How can we evangelize the full truth and invite people to full communion with the Church and it's sacraments when we are fighting amongst oursleves. Scrutinizing others is not the pathway to holiness and sainthood folks. This is silly and needs to stop. I'm not judging those who do it, but i pray for them that they might find a way to cease their judgement. That folks is the eventual and consistent answer. Prayer.
Prayer. It is mightier than anything and compliments everything we could say or do. Through prayer we repent for our judgment of others and can hear the Lord's will for us and when enacted can bring about much joy and love in all that we encounter and all we do. Remember in prayer, to give the Lord a chance to answer back. Don't rush or dominate the conversation. Be patient and listen, He has something to say too!
God Bless
Dennis
