Speak up when people say things that are wrong, morally and academically. “Be Not Afraid”, a famous quote attributed to Pope John Paul II, is really scripture. Do not allow bishops, priests, deacons, brothers or sisters try to hush you when you know something is wrong. This is how we, as a Christian community will regain our reputation. Do not allow those in authority try to use the “authority over you card” to manipulate you into silence. There is nothing obedient about allowing mortal sin to continue when it is obvious that it exists. Don’t let them get away with it.
The injured usually crawl within themselves and breaking from the Church is what ends up giving them a feeling of freedom from condemnation and pain. It is a rush to feel free from tyranny. Now the Church is not a tyrannical organization. It is the men and women that abuse authority within their role that are the tyrants. There is not difference between them and the teachers of the law and the pharisees.
First, learn your faith. Learn to defend it from those that contradict it. Learn to be a loving and kind person to show that God loves, not hates. Scold those that abuse their position. Be as kind as possible towards them, but do not allow it to go unnoticed, because the ones running from the Church feel powerless and hopeless. They visualize God through the acts of those appointed over us and from our neighbors. Stand up for truth, always.
Now that you’re ready to bo up and attack, step back and pray, pray, pray. Be kind and gentle, never pass condemnation but judge one another with love. The scriptures tell us to correct each other. Those that contradict this are not of God, that is their words. A holy man may contradict and those words they say that are not true are not of God, which would be most likely all of them. BUT that does not mean they are not Godly men. Most try to do the right thing. But we have to remember that they are probably doing the best they can, being broken from our woundedness from the sin of Adam and Eve. Be kind, but never be ashamed to correct them when they say something contradictory to the faith. Just don’t do it like a jerk. Do it with love and kindness. If they jump on you, tell them that God loves them and so to I. Provide them with references when they are absolutely wrong. But if its about making a joke during the homily, please, get a life. St. Francis taught his brothers to lighten up with humor. If a brother was acting poorly he’d tell them to go to confession and comeback with a humorous spirit (misstated, but generally the meaning still holds). Don’t be a legalistic jerk either. I’m talking about dogmatic things. And if you don’t really know then don’t say anything. Be nice, but be firm in your faith.
For those that leave, pray for them because somewhere someone failed them on some level. Some of those people come back home. Be ready with open arms for when they do return. Just my thoughts about everything I’ve said.
