Accompaniment vs Enabling

[roseofshannon]

So I’ve been thinking a lot about Amoris Laetitia and what our Dear Pope Francis said about an emphasis on accompaniment and lovingly encouraging sinners on their path to holiness.

I’m wondering though when accompaniment becomes enabling?

Is it possible to that we may actually accompany someone on their path to Hell? Would that be loving?

I agree that people (including myself!) can only overcome sins gradually and must be assisted with love and patience.

But what if they don’t intend to overcome their sins? Or at least try?

Any thoughts?

 

[Michael_Allen]

Hello Rose,

My own take on this question is that when we accompany someone, walk alongside them, we can be completely non-judgemental. We need not condemn but also we need not condone. We can be there to listen and to help someone think through things without ever needing to tell people what they should or should not do.

To do this requires trust that deep down everyone is being drawn by their conscience to be the fullness of who they can be.

Others may prefer to advise people (and I am not saying that they must be wrong), but there is a way of accompanying people that needs absolutely no judgement in any circumstances, and feels no need ever to offer advice. And it can be a beautiful and privileged experience.

God bless,

Michael

 

[johnnyc176]

So I’ve been thinking a lot about Amoris Laetitia and what our Dear Pope Francis said about an emphasis on accompaniment and lovingly encouraging sinners on their path to holiness.

I’m wondering though when accompaniment becomes enabling?

Is it possible to that we may actually accompany someone on their path to Hell? Would that be loving?

I agree that people (including myself!) can only overcome sins gradually and must be assisted with love and patience.

But what if they don’t intend to overcome their sins? Or at least try?

Any thoughts?

As always Jesus shows us the way…

“Neither do I condemn you (compassion). Go your way, and from now on do not sin again (conversion).” John 8:11

Compassion for this life, conversion for the next. Both are pastoral and done out of love.

A key mission given the Catholic Church by Christ is the salvation of souls. The identification and condemnation of sin is necessary in carrying out that mission.

Jesus did not walk very long with the adulteress woman before He told her not to sin.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Some Catholics are so focused on “sin managment,” that they have no compassion for the discursive “others,” in life, who are not living up to their Catholic image.

Pope Francis is trying to tear down these ego driven identities which are more harmful than anything else.

Christianity isn’t about morality, its about the mystical.

Its about the relationship we share in Jesus Christ.

This is the year of Mercy. Learn what that means before you judge others as too unworthy to receive it.

Jim