We are to hold no one in contempt. But even Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery to go and sin no more. He didn’t hold her in contempt, neither did he condone adultery. He challenged those tried to stone her too.
There is a balance that has to be found here. We treat human beings with the respect and love they deserve; but we state the obvious too. A sin is a sin, regardless of how much one loves.
The ends never justify the means. Man may never choose evil to correct a problem. Man must always choose the good. To risk one’s soul is never justifiable. To disobey the Church on a matter as serious as this is a choice for evil.
The low numbers of priests and religious will be filled by the grace of the God in whatever manner God sees fit. Only God can call a man to the priesthood. Only God can call a man to the diaconate. Only God can call a man or woman to the religiosu life or consecrated lay life. It is not up to man to decide to take up the cause without being called. It is up to man to make himself available to God, should he want to use us in this way.
You’re very right. Jesus would call these women to follow him in the same way that he called the Samaritan woman to follow him. He invited her to ask him for life-giving water and to leave her sinful life behind. There is no argument here. Jesus comes to save, not to condemn. He does not call people to follow him and continue on the same sinful path simultaneously.
St. Clare of Assisi once said that the best way to build the Church was through total surrender to God’s will. St. Bruno, the founder of the Carthusians said, “the way to build the Church is to seek only God.” St. Elizabeth Ann Seton said, “the way to build the Church is to be children of the Church.” St. Francis of Assisi said “the way to build the Church that has fallen into ruins is to become poor and obey the Church in all things.” Finally, Christ says that we serve by “taking up the cross” and following him.
None of these involves taking matters into our own hands. All involve denying ourselves in some way to achieve our salvation. Through the grace that we receive as we journey toward our eternal salvation, the Church is nurtured.
Fraternally,
JR