People that are okay to hate…
Sometimes when I read Catholic blogs, it seems there are some people it’s okay to hate; well, if not hate, just ridicule, mock, and laugh to scorn - without ever quite saying they are going to hell. Has anyone else noticed that? I’ve done it myself! (I’m so sorry everyone!)
So who are the people it seems okay to hate? (This will be the short list):
*On an occasional Tradititionalist blog, it can read as if some of these people,who long for the Tridentine rite to be re-established, would like to burn their opponents at the stake, along with charismatics and liturgical dancers. If I didn’t know better, I might be conviced it is okay to hate Novus Ordo Catholics and liberals - especially if they are Bishops.
*Women who insist they are Catholic and yet participate in illegal ordinations of women.
*Religious women who are into wicca and seem to promote goddess worship, or just happen to be “Mertontonians” who are interested in Oriental forms of meditation.
*Homosexuals, whether they be flagrant and active, or those who identify as Catholic and try to live according to Church teaching - some people think they are all sodomites, or faggots to be burned.
*Priests and nuns who don’t wear habits and live in their own apartments or houses.
*Abortion providers and anyone associated with, or condoning Planned Parenthood policies. Even those who know little or nothing about this subject, albeit who endorse political candidates that are pro-choice, pro stem cell, pro whatever - it sometimes sounds/reads like it’s okay to hate them.
*Black people, referred to as ghetto, white kids referred to as Goth or punk - any kid with pants below their butts, or girls with everything hanging out, and all people tatooed and pierced beyond recognition.
* Definitely, child molesters.
*Terrorists and Islamic extremists.
*Zionist Jews.
*Masons.
*Communists.
*Oprah and Rosie O’Donnell.
*Former or current employers, employees you don’t like.
*The husband or wife, mother or father, who left you.
*Nancy Pelosi or Hilary Clinton. (That’s a hard one, can I choose both?)
*The person who abused or raped you.
*Anyone who mocks or disrespects you.
So that is just the short list. When you read blogs, or listen to some good Catholic people gossip about others, you hear a lot of detraction and calumny, scorn and contempt, and even some hate speech. At least I hear it…read it between the lines…whatever. I heard it said once or twice, “hate the sin - love the sinner” - that’s a hard one too.
“But what I say to you is: offer no resistance to injury…” - Matthew 5:39
“Treat others the way you would have them treat you: this sums up the law and the prophets.” - Matthew 6:12
May 8th, 2007 at 3:20 am
You’re absolutely right, Terry. It’s just easier said than done, at times.
May 8th, 2007 at 8:03 am
Very true, Terry. There is such a lack of charity out there. People must be VERY careful not to calumniate others or allow others to be calumniated on their blogs, in the comboxes, especially. On one blog someone was accusing me of being a Lefebvrist (among other things) but luckily the blog owner alerted me so I was able to correct the falsehood. Even if people know something is true of someone, people should not be spreading it if it will destroy someone’s reputation (unless it is for the public safety.)
May 8th, 2007 at 8:05 am
And even if it is for the public saftey, one must be very cautious, and and not tell something unless it is already a matter of public record. You know what I am trying to say….
May 8th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Some people are difficult to love or forgive.
May 8th, 2007 at 9:30 am
wow, I think I hated on everyone in your list.
I’m also one of those difficult ppl to love.
I don’t know why I take pride in that. I shouldn’t. eh.
May 8th, 2007 at 9:42 am
Elena, I have a question. Let’s say I find out that someone is doing something like abusing a child. Are you saying I shouldn’t say anything unless it is already public record that they are doing it? The issue of when it should be permissable to reveal a person’s “private” actions is theologically a difficult one. What if I know someone has fallen into a specific serious sin and after I have talked with him, he still refuses to try and change? I should be quiet so his reputation isn’t harmed? What about the Scripture which tells us to bring others to confront someone if they won’t listen to us and eventually involve the Church? By doing that aren’t we revealing someone’s actions?
May 8th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Of course, this doesn’t mean we don’t love the sinner. But we still have a duty to admonish them for their actions, either one on one or with witnesses.
May 8th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Not forgetting SSPX supporters who keep labelling us ‘heretics’.
May 8th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Eric, I was talking about what people post on blogs, which (I think) was the topic at hand. If you KNOW FOR CERTAIN that someone is abusing a child, you make it known to the child’s parents and/or the police. But you had better be sure, since families have been broken up and destroyed by false accusations. And you (discreetly, if possible) warn other people with children about the abuser. You don’t necessarily announce it on your blog or website, unless you are a state trooper in charge of the Megan’s law website. Of course, it is a duty to speak out if innocent people are in danger, although there are appropriate channels for doing this, given the situation. Much of this is common sense and it is also in the catechism.
May 8th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Actually, I was in a situation in which a known child abuser, who had been convicted, done his time and was on the loose again, was in contact with some small children. I warned the parents, telling them the facts as the police had told me. (I consulted the local police about the abuser and they encouraged me to warn people since he was often in places where there were children.) The parents were very grateful.
May 8th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
If I applied the same standards to myself that I do to others, I would appear quite a few times on my own lists.
I seem to have forgotten who appointed me to be list maker for the Catholic Church. Would someone remind me?
May 8th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
From a recent homily regarding forgiveness:
1) Forgiveness does NOT mean we allow people to walk all over us…
&
2) Forgiveness does not mean the person forgiven does NOT pay the penalty or receive the punishment due them.
Amen.
May 9th, 2007 at 11:45 am
A late P.S. regarding punishment due…
a) That’s in THIS world, not the next (provided we’ve asked God’s forgiveness)
&
b) That goes for ME, TOO!
May 9th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Methinks you worship at the alter of moral relativism. “Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no.” Call sin what it is and quit pandering to every social abnormality out there.
May 9th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Good post Terry. I have quit reading a lot of blogs becaue of the negativity out there.