On Being Judgemental

Recently I was having a conversation with a friend who was questioning my belief in moral absolutes. I quickly realized that he was confusing the judgment of a person with the judgment of an action. Upon further reaction, I thought of the many times I’ve been accused of being judgmental for my moral beliefs. However, people often fail to realize that a person can view certain actions to be wrong while still having compassion for people who choose these actions. As a canon lawyer, I frequently take calls from people angry about the Church because they feel the Church has no right to make moral judgments.

For example, the Church’s position against abortion is well known. What is unknown is the Church’s compassion and care for women who have undergone abortion. Think about it: Abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood do not offer support services for women who are struggling with the often devastating after effects of an abortion, which are extremely common (see this recent study: http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/199/3/180.abstract). Yet the Catholic Church offers caring and compassionate services to women who have had abortions such as counseling, retreats, and the Project Rachel program, not to mention the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Why? Because the Church recognizes the difference between the objective wrong that is abortion and the women who undergo abortions, and realizes the need to help women who have been through such an ordeal. Instead of punishing people who have taken an action we judge as wrong, the Church strives to help these women heal.

The same is true for another controversial issue: same-sex marriage. Recently Governor Cuomo of New York said that the only argument opponents of same-sex marriage have is “I want to discriminate against gay people,” and called opponents “anti-American.” This represents the same line of thinking: people who are opposed to same-sex marriage must judge and hate people who are gay. It completely overlooks the repeated message of the Catholic Church (along with many other faiths) that all people are made in the image of God, and as such, have an inestimable worth and dignity.

We live in a society where no one wants to be labeled “judgmental” and people are afraid of pushing their morality on another. I believe the only way to proceed in this culture is to hold fast to our beliefs, and let our actions toward people speak the truth of our deep respect for all people. For all the angry calls I receive in my work for the Tribunal, I occasionally am blessed to receive one from someone crying with gratitude at the healing, reconciliation, and grace they have received as a result of our work. These people were able to realize that the Church was not looking to place judgment or blame on them, but rather seeking to heal them of past wounds and move forward secure in the knowledge that the Church is merciful.

By Shannon Fossett, J.C.L.

Shannon is a Canonist for the Diocese of Portland.

It's the Little Things

We can easily say “I am a Christian” and sometimes it’s even easy to behave as a Christian: when we team or attend a retreat when we attend Mass, when we volunteer in the parish, etc.  These are times and places when it is easy to put on the mind of Christ.  But this is not the where we live and where we live is where the challenge is.  We live in and are exposed to places and situations that constantly bombard us with messages and behaviors that are contrary to Christ’s teachings.  Without pausing to think about it, I’m sure we can all name a couple of people who claim to be Christians but whose lives do not reflect that.   However, I want to challenge you to think about YOU and the areas in your life that may not exemplify Christ. 

Immediately our minds turn to the BIG things:  I’m faithful to my spouse; I go to Church once a week, sometimes more; I don’t swear; I volunteer; I haven’t committed murder; I’m not a thief, etc. Great!  That’s all great, no doubt about it.  But let’s look at the details, the little things of our lives that may speak loudest.  After all that is what St. Therese of the Child Jesus did.  She worked on the details of the picture more than the big picture itself.

Do we give our spouse and children the same courtesy and respect that we would give others such as please/thank-you or excuse me?  We would do that much for strangers, why not our family?  What about our language?  Do we clean up our language when we’re in public but resort to more colorful words with close friends/family? As Christians, we should not have one behavior at home and one out in the world.  We need to do our best to be Christian in our thoughts/words/actions all the time, everywhere.

Are we good stewards of what God has given us?  Do we waste food? Do we recycle?  Do we hoard the clothes that we no longer wear or worse yet, do we throw them out? Are we respectful of our property and the property of others? You’re getting a new set of dishes.  What do you do with the old one? Do you throw it away, store it, or do you donate it to the battered women’s shelter, the food kitchen, Good Will? Do we spend our money wisely? Are we honest in our treatment of others, even when no one else would know?  You have a second job (or your wife or teenager) but are paid under the table so it doesn’t have to be reported on your income tax.  The clerk at the store gave you change for a twenty but you gave her a ten.  We would be quick to point it out if she gave you too little change, but too much change? Would you even have to think about it before saying anything?

Do we place conditions on our commitment to Christ?  I’ll work at the food kitchen/pantry if it rains;  I’ll visit the sick if I can’t find a partner for golf; I clothe the naked if . . . I’ll be kind to my enemy if . . .  I’ll pray more after I retire; after the garden is in; after the kids are older.  First, I have to remodel this room; first I have to roof the garage . . . the kids are too young . . .  after that I’ll  get involved. We are not all called to become Mother Theresa.  We can’t all be great evangelists.  As St. Paul said in his first letter to the Corinthians, we are all parts of the same body and each part has its own function. Not every part is meant to be flamboyant. Not every part is going to be recognized for the work that it does but each part is required to do the best they can, right where they are, just as they are.  

As with St. Therese, it’s the little things that made a difference and it’s the little things that will help to keep us on the path and allow us to follow Jesus as we should.

By Judy Michaud

Slow Down!

The past several months I’ve found myself in a crazy whirlwind of activity.  A summer of transition, a big move for my family, a very blessed trip to World Youth Day, a great evening of worship with Jackie Francois and Patrick Coffin, and now I find myself busily preparing for more wonderful upcoming retreats including Journey 2011, the first ever Catholic Women’s Conference, and the annual March for Life Trip as well as a personal pilgrimage to the Holy Lands and my college roommate’s wedding.  It seems like there’s just been so much going on in all dimensions of my life that I’ve barely had time to breathe, sleep, or even think!  Don’t get me wrong…they’re all very good things – just a lot all at once. 

I was recently sharing with a friend all the great things I’ve been up to lately and made a comment that I just need to slow down so I can enjoy it!  His response: “No, you need to slow down so you can pray.”  Touché.  Without realizing it, in the midst of life’s busyness, my life and mentality shifted to the very thing that Jesus rebukes Martha for in the passage we recently heard in the Gospel at Mass.  “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.  Only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen the better part.”  Everything going on in my life had begun to become a burden and cause for anxiousness and worry rather than a cause for rejoicing and celebration of the good things that God is doing in my life and through my work.  I had become so busy doing the works of the Lord that I forgot about the Lord of the works!

These words that Jesus speaks to Mary penetrated straight to my heart.  “Mary has chosen the better part.”  What is it that we find Mary doing?  Sitting at the feet of Jesus.  If we are to be effective evangelizers in and through the work that we do, whether we work directly in ministry or answer the call to evangelize in the midst of our secular jobs and temporal affairs, we absolutely must spend time sitting at the feet of Jesus!  Soaking in His love, letting His gaze penetrate ours, and listening to His promptings so that the many things we find ourselves anxious and worried about can become instead causes for joy and opportunities for love.  Sitting at the feet of Jesus reminds us what is truly important and gives us strength to continue doing the work of bringing others to Him.

And so, if you find yourself like me, caught up in the craziness of the fall and a new school year, I challenge you to take some time to slow down…and pray.

By Sarah Houde

A Picture Can Say a Thousand Words

The staff of the OLFF would like to officially unveil our new logo, which was finalized after months of prayer and consultation. As it is often said, “ a picture can say a thousand words” and the new logo is no different.  Each of the elements that make up the image offer a specific insight regarding the mission of the office and all those who participate in the passing on of our Catholic faith:

• Blue coloring: to remind us of Mary, the Mother of God, who is the model for all catechists and the patroness of our diocese.
• Sunrise coloring: represents the dawning of a new springtime for evangelization in our diocese, which was proclaimed by Blessed John Paul II as the Church headed into the new millennium.
• Mountains, pine trees, light house and ocean: represents the beauty of Maine.
• Rays of light: to remind us of our mission, entrusted to us by Jesus - the Light of the World, to: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.* And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt 28:19-20)
• Dove: represents the Holy Spirit and, by virtue of our Baptism, our responsibility to participate in the mission of the Church to evangelize and catechize the world.
• Thin circle: symbolizes the lifelong process of conversion and faith formation.
• Entire cross structure with circle image: symbolic of a monstrance and, therefore, the Eucharist - “the source and summit of the Christian life.”

As we continue to journey through October, a month dedicated to the Holy Rosary, let us entrust our prayers for guidance and strength - to participate in the mission of the Church and thereby continue to bring about a new springtime for our diocese - to our Blessed Mother and ask her to intercede on our behalf to her Son, Jesus Christ.

By Michael Lavigne