Is This Judging?

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When I walked home from Church today there were a group of about 4-6 young men, I’d say they were about 16-19 years old.
I have walked past people of this age before and one young man harshly said “WHAT.” That made me jump and ever since then I have been wary of going too near these young men gathered in groups.

Well these young men could of been nothing like the man in the situation described above but I still crossed over the road as so not to be walking behind this group of youngsters.
By committing this action am I guilty of the sin of Judgment?

Any answers are appreciated.
 
FAH said:
When I walked home from Church today there were a group of about 4-6 young men, I’d say they were about 16-19 years old.
I have walked past people of this age before and one young man harshly said “WHAT.” That made me jump and ever since then I have been wary of going too near these young men gathered in groups.

Well these young men could of been nothing like the man in the situation described above but I still crossed over the road as so not to be walking behind this group of youngsters.
By committing this action am I guilty of the sin of Judgment?

Any answers are appreciated.
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I think it depends on your attitude towards these men. I see nothing wrong with being prudent with your own safety. Safety experts tell us that a significant portion of people that find themselves hurt, whether by accident or by others, report that they felt afraid before the incident but dismissed their own fears. So I don’t think there is anything wrong with taking a path that makes you feel more safe. At the same time, that does not mean you have to think poorly of these men, or that you shouldn’t explore with yourself whether your fears are justified or due to some prejudice, etc. For example, I love dogs, but I don’t pet dogs I don’t know because I have been bit and don’t want to be bit again. That does not mean I am judging that particular dog, its just that I have adopted a policy that makes me more comfortable about my own safety. In the same way, you can choose a path that makes you feel more comfortable about your safety without that meaning that you are judging or harboring bad feelings about these individuals. At least that’s how I see it.
 
Objectively…if one due to that experience …avoids such groups.

That is not judging (rash judgment) that is just being cautious… Perhaps overly cautious …

Now if you see a group and say without any evidence decides–those guys are bad…they are criminals etc…just cause it is a group of youths. Well that would be an example of “judging”.

See the Catechism on this in the commandments section.
 
Of course not judging does not meant literally never judging. No one who advocates not judging says we should do away with the courts. Jesus even says when he sends out the twelve:

Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves.

The world is a cruel and dangerous place. You are not obliged to walk through it unaware of the danger and unmoved by it.

People can be much more dangerous and empowered to do bad acts when in groups. The way people dress says something about them. The way they act says something about them. Of course you can use this information to judge how to keep yourself safe. In fact if we were talking about not just you but your family then you have an obligation to protect them from dangers.

On a practical note I would also suggest whatever you do walk confidently with your head held high and dont avoid eye contact in a sheepish way. People who are looking for targets to do something bad to look for what they perceive as weak. Often times you can control the situation by presenting yourself as strong and confident. Showing fear can often embolden people intent on ill.
 
FAH said:
When I walked home from Church today there were a group of about 4-6 young men, I’d say they wer
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You would be sinning if you approached the group of men, if in your region there is violence. Then, you’ld be putting your life in risk.

To tell you frankly, I suspect that the first group was not aggressive. It is a famous stupid joke so shout near a person to make her jump and son … they have fun … I wont tell you what I did when I was a teenager. Funny and Stupid times …
 
I believe we are dealing with two different factors.
One is judging and the other is prudence.

In Scripture we are told by Christ not to judge. But we are also told to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Mt 10:16)

Feeling concern, or apprehension, based on a previous encounter, you crossed the street. Your action is prudent and based, not on a judgement of the individuals, but on a “judgement” of the situation.
However crossing the Street does not prevent you from praying for the welfare of those youngsters.
An ejaculation that I use whenever I pass a “Planned Parenthood” might work in your situation as well.
“Heavenly Father. Protect the innocent. Convict and convert the guilty.”
By this you may strengthen what is good in the young men and combat what is not good without making any judgement on an individual.

Peace
James
 
forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=8262744&postcount=5

and

Catechism:

2477 Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury.277 He becomes guilty:
  • of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;
  • of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them;278
  • of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.
2478 To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor’s thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way:

Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another’s statement than to condemn it. But if he cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved.279
 
FAH said:
So you think I’m not guilty of judging others?
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Not based on what you’ve said, anyway, no. It’s totally natural to avoid things like that.

You have other strategies available, maybe, than such a great degree of avoidance, but that’s about strategy not right and wrong.

Alan
 
FAH said:
So you think I’m not guilty of judging others?
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From what you’ve told us, no. However, it might be best to talk to your confessor about this since he knows you, the neighborhood etc much better than we ever could and can give you a far better and more complete answer.

Peace
James
 
FAH said:
Well these young men could of been nothing like the man in the situation described above but I still crossed over the road as so not to be walking behind this group of youngsters.
By committing this action am I guilty of the sin of Judgment?

Any answers are appreciated.
Click to expand...
no, judging would be saying you guys are so going to hell because of the way you dress and act

you were exercising the virtue of prudence
 
FAH said:
When I walked home from Church today there were a group of about 4-6 young men, I’d say they were about 16-19 years old.
I have walked past people of this age before and one young man harshly said “WHAT.” That made me jump and ever since then I have been wary of going too near these young men gathered in groups.

Well these young men could of been nothing like the man in the situation described above but I still crossed over the road as so not to be walking behind this group of youngsters.
By committing this action am I guilty of the sin of Judgment?

Any answers are appreciated.
Click to expand...
I live in a house with a 16 year old and I jump from time to time. He is just loud and is
oblivious of it but dosen’t mean anything by it. He is just being him.

I think you are right they sometimes forget other people are around and can back up
without thinking, or give out a yell without realizing it bothers others. That’s just the
way they are at that age and you are just protecting your ears and feet. Not a bad idea.
 
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