One of the few serious sins admitted in our culture is that of being "judgmental." In our secular humanistic society, to be promiscuous, addicted, lying, greedy, lustful, or proud is to be tolerated, but to be judgmental is nearly the unforgivable sin.

Jesus commands us not to judge others in certain ways, but this is not the same as what the world means by being judgmental. Jesus tells us to judge first our own sins and repent (see Mt 7:5). Then we are to judge the ways in which others have sinned and invite them to repent also (see Mt 7:5). We must not be permissive. Our business is to judge the morality of our own actions and the acts of others.

However, it is not our business to judge the subjective guilt of others (Mt 7:2). Although we can often know whether other people are doing right or wrong, we don't know whether those who sin know what they are doing (cf Lk 23:34). Also, because it is not our business to judge the subjective guilt of others, we obviously shouldn't be sentencing others to various punishments for their sins (see Mt 7:2).

Let's stay out of the business of unforgiveness and vengeance, and stay in the business of speaking the truth in love (Eph 4:15) and being ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18).

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert A. Stricker, December 13, 2003

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 18, 2003