Even people who are not religious know that one of Jesus’ most famous teachings was against judging. Jesus was not warning against judging the morality of a persons actions, but about condemning the person.
In teaching his disciples to show mercy, Jesus warned that they should be aware of the gravity of their own faults because they they would be judged in the same manner and measure that they judge others.
According to the Golden Rule, Christians should treat others how they expect to be treated, so followers of Jesus who judge the actions of other people should expect to have their actions judged by God in the same way.
Jesus told his disciples to judge between good and evil actions. The ability to judge right from wrong is a gift from God and a valuable tool that helps Catholics to follow the right path, keeping themselves and others from sin.
Jesus taught about morality and He reprimanded those who did not conduct themselves properly. He commanded his disciples to do the same, teaching everything that He taught them, including teaching about morality.
If a Catholic judges that the actions of a person are wrong, they are expected to pray for the sake of the other person’s soul and to provide the necessary correction to that brother or sister as an act of mercy.
Catholics are never to judge the state of a person’s soul or condemn them to hell as a hopeless case. Only God can judge people and He will judge each and every person, at the end of their life and when Jesus comes again.
Disciples of Jesus are repentant sinners:
Judgment is a God-given gift:
Mercy requires that Catholics look out for each other:
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7: 1-5
Jesus condemns judging the heart of a person:
The state of a person’s soul cannot be judged by man:
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.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2478
Correcting others is not prohibited:
Becoming like God without playing God:
In effect, when we are tempted to judge others badly, as often happens, we must firstly reflect on our weaknesses. How easy it is to criticize others! But there are people who seem to have a degree in gossip. They criticize others every day. Take a look at yourself! It is good to ask ourselves what drives us to correct a brother or a sister, and if we are not in some way co-responsible for their mistake. In addition to giving us the gift of gentleness, the Holy Spirit invites us to be in solidarity, to bear other’s burdens. How many burdens there are in a person’s life: illness, lack of work, loneliness, pain…! And how many other trials that require the proximity and love of our brothers and sisters!
Pope Francis, General Audience, 3 November 2021
Authentic judgment is a good thing:
An appeal to a person’s soul:
The Truth, Goodness, and Beauty of the Catholic Church
The source of our healing and hope:
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