Jesus commands us not to judge. The misunderstanding and misrepresenting of this command in the last few generations has led to a permissiveness which has warped and/or destroyed millions of people. Permissiveness is not love; it is either ignorance, the selfishness of apathy, or cowardice.

When Jesus commands us not to judge, He means we should not judge without having first removed the plank of sin from our own eyes (Mt 7:5). Then we should judge what is sinful according to the teachings of the Church and the Bible. Thus we know what needs to be removed from others' eyes. We call others to repentance by speaking the truth in love (Eph 4:15). We must love others enough to correct them to keep them from harming themselves further (see Lk 17:3; Mt 18:15). We hate the sin because we love the sinner. We must not stand by idly while people hurt themselves (see Lv 19:16).

Permissiveness is not avoiding the sin of judging others, but is committing sins of apathy and cowardice. Not judging sins as sinful is committing another sin. Refusing to call a sin "a sin" is also a sin. Refusing to correct a sinner is yet another sin.

Don't judge others without first repenting yourself. Don't condemn others, but certainly love them enough to correct them. Don't judge sinners, but do judge sin so as to help sinners become saints.

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 4, 2008

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