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Judge Not!
"Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you." (Mt. 7:1-2) From the looks of all the messages, alerts, and questions I have been getting these past two weeks, a lot of people have been judging unwisely! To judge others is always unwise, for we see in one another the image of the Lord, so if we judge (a task which is only God's), it is always unwise. This is how it goes, one person or organization hears of something unscrupulous going on in the church, particularly in our church, and this generates all sorts of inuendo. Most of the time, this loose talk is not based on fact, and then the rumors begin. In a smaller (than global) sense, the same can happen to any of us. We can easily become the victim of inuendo made up out of whole cloth (in other words, a lie.) and this lie becomes a rumor, especially among neighbors in a small town or subdivision. And the rumor goes around, and pretty soon the 12th person who gets hold of this story repeats it as if it were a proven fact. Beware of people who begin their story, with "I heard...," or, "This is a secret but I'll tell you because you are my friend..." - it usually means spreading gossip and most gossip is untrue! Then we come to global gossip. That's dangerous! That's when a well-known news organization spreads rumors that sound like facts, but which in fact, are not true. This can be devastating to the person being gossipped about! And it usually is. In this example, I am thinking of the Holy Father and the recent reports that somehow he is directly involved with clergy sex abuse. It is not true. Do not believe it! It is, on the other hand, well known, that Church leaders, and Monastery Superiors and especially Founders, are getting a mega-dose of Satan's antics. Satan doesn't want the Catholic Church to succeed ... and unfortunately, he finds plenty of people willing to help him. Put Satan in his place, and tell him where to go. Bind him and all evil spirits, princes and principalities, to the netherworld and away from any of us. In the Name of Jesus! I am not saying nor denying that there are some very bad priests in our Church, but it is not up to me to judge them. They have superiors, their Bishops or Archbishops, and these, in turn, have the advice of Canonical counsel, so I hope that they use this to keep priests who are alledged to have molested anyone, especially children, far away from ministry to other children. I personally know people who have been abused, 40-60 years ago, and these folks have suffered terribly for a long time. When something like that happens to you, it will affect you all of your life. So this is, indeed, very serious business, and if the Church hasn't been proactive in going after such molesters and getting them help as well as away from more potential victims, then there is something wrong. As Catholics we have every right to be indignant about such matters. But on the other hand, let us be sure of our facts before allegations are made. Unless you know of such cases first hand, you know nothing at all. And even if you think you know, do not blast this news all over the world before it has been presented legally. Sure, we Americans have the right of free speech, but let us not misuse this privelege to the detriment of other people. Let us be sure of our facts, and act accordingly. Judge not, lest you be judged! As for local gossip, if all your friends talk about is gossip, then they are not friends, but they are detractors... who knows, the subject of their gossip and inuendo, next time, could be you! May the Lord forgive those who gossip and cause ill will and lies. This reflection was written by Fred Schaeffer, SFO 4/1/2010 [and even though it is April 1st, this is definitely not a joke!] Return to Menu

"Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you." (Mt. 7:1-2)

From the looks of all the messages, alerts, and questions I have been getting these past two weeks, a lot of people have been judging unwisely! To judge others is always unwise, for we see in one another the image of the Lord, so if we judge (a task which is only God's), it is always unwise. This is how it goes, one person or organization hears of something unscrupulous going on in the church, particularly in our church, and this generates all sorts of inuendo. Most of the time, this loose talk is not based on fact, and then the rumors begin.

In a smaller (than global) sense, the same can happen to any of us. We can easily become the victim of inuendo made up out of whole cloth (in other words, a lie.) and this lie becomes a rumor, especially among neighbors in a small town or subdivision. And the rumor goes around, and pretty soon the 12th person who gets hold of this story repeats it as if it were a proven fact. Beware of people who begin their story, with "I heard...," or, "This is a secret but I'll tell you because you are my friend..." - it usually means spreading gossip and most gossip is untrue!

Then we come to global gossip. That's dangerous! That's when a well-known news organization spreads rumors that sound like facts, but which in fact, are not true. This can be devastating to the person being gossipped about! And it usually is. In this example, I am thinking of the Holy Father and the recent reports that somehow he is directly involved with clergy sex abuse. It is not true. Do not believe it! It is, on the other hand, well known, that Church leaders, and Monastery Superiors and especially Founders, are getting a mega-dose of Satan's antics. Satan doesn't want the Catholic Church to succeed ... and unfortunately, he finds plenty of people willing to help him. Put Satan in his place, and tell him where to go. Bind him and all evil spirits, princes and principalities, to the netherworld and away from any of us. In the Name of Jesus!

I am not saying nor denying that there are some very bad priests in our Church, but it is not up to me to judge them. They have superiors, their Bishops or Archbishops, and these, in turn, have the advice of Canonical counsel, so I hope that they use this to keep priests who are alledged to have molested anyone, especially children, far away from ministry to other children. I personally know people who have been abused, 40-60 years ago, and these folks have suffered terribly for a long time. When something like that happens to you, it will affect you all of your life. So this is, indeed, very serious business, and if the Church hasn't been proactive in going after such molesters and getting them help as well as away from more potential victims, then there is something wrong. As Catholics we have every right to be indignant about such matters. But on the other hand, let us be sure of our facts before allegations are made. Unless you know of such cases first hand, you know nothing at all. And even if you think you know, do not blast this news all over the world before it has been presented legally. Sure, we Americans have the right of free speech, but let us not misuse this privelege to the detriment of other people. Let us be sure of our facts, and act accordingly. Judge not, lest you be judged!

As for local gossip, if all your friends talk about is gossip, then they are not friends, but they are detractors... who knows, the subject of their gossip and inuendo, next time, could be you!

May the Lord forgive those who gossip and cause ill will and lies.

This reflection was written by Fred Schaeffer, SFO
4/1/2010 [and even though it is April 1st, this is definitely not a joke!]

Return to Menu

Judge Not!