"Judgment is stern" for government leaders. "The mighty shall be mightily put to the test" (Wis 6:6). "For those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends" (Wis 6:8).

Government leaders are not the only ones to be judged more strictly by God. Bible teachers and Church leaders also "will be called to the stricter account" (Jas 3:1).

In fact, on Judgment Day, Christians will be judged more strictly; because, "when much has been given a man, much will be required of him" (Lk 12:48). We Christians have been given more. We have been given salvation, new life, freedom, peace, power, forgiveness, mercy, Holy Communion, God's word, the Church, the indwelling of the Trinity, everlasting happiness, etc. Because more has been given to us, more will be asked of us.

Finally, we Catholics will be judged even more strictly than those mentioned above. We believe the Lord has given the Catholic Church the fullness of His revelation and power. We will be judged accordingly. In an encyclical letter, Pope John Paul II quotes from Vatican II: "Those who are incorporated in the Catholic Church...'owe their distinguished status not to their own merits but to Christ's special grace; and if they fail to respond to this grace in thought, word, and deed, not only will they not be saved, they will be judged more severely' " (Mission of the Redeemer, 11).

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 3, 2009

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