He hears every word

So I was on Facebook the other day when Jennifer Fulwiler--who I've been following for a while--promoted a friends website that makes greeting cards and the website has a section for the LGBT community. Needless to say, this was surprising. At first, people just commented with a question like, "were you aware that this supports the LGBT community??" But then those questions turned into accusations. And then the accusations just got meaner and meaner.

So very disappointed in you. I’m sure she is a good friend, but you know this is wrong. Don’t promote against what the church teaches. I have adored you. But I am so disappointed.  



(The comment above is just one of the many disheartening comments that I've read. It's not as mean spirited but just as harmful. Why, may I ask, are we putting so much stock in a mere human--who is as flawed with weaknesses as we are--that we are SO disappointed when they do something wrong??? That is our mistake that we feel so let down, not theirs!)

I jumped in with my own comment, trying to give Jen a little time  and support while she thinks things over--and of course, everyone jumped on me, as I knew they would. Other people also defended her as well and things just got ugly. Yikes.

I know that "celebrity Catholics" have to develop a thick skin for things like this, and I'm sure that Ms.Fulwiler is handling everything just fine. It just irks me to see this stuff. It hits a wound, right to the bone, to see good Catholics act so badly. I have to say something about it. It's so hard not to.

This is how people acted when Fr.John Coropi announced he was leaving the priesthood to marry a woman he was having an affair with. People were rightly disappointed and saddened. I would even say they had a right to feel betrayed. This was a priest that everyone trusted and looked up to. I didn't like how far some of the people went with their words but I did understand the hurt. (By the way, he has turned around, still a priest, but not allowed to give talks anymore.)

But this is just a regular woman who is a speaker and writes articles. She has a great and inspiring story of her conversion to the Catholic Faith. And everyone has put her high on up on a pedestal. Why, why, why do we do this?? It isn't fair and it isn't right.

No wonder God waits to make a saint out of someone until they are dead. Let them finish their life before we raise them up. Because while we're still on this earth, we still sin! We are weak people.

When I wrote my article on the PB & Grace website about how I prevented one of my kids from receiving Communion after acting out repeatedly during Mass, I too, got so many mean and condemning comments from people. They were hurtful and they tore down my spirit. They didn't help. They didn't teach. They just tore my soul apart. So this is why it bothers me so much and it will always bother me. I voiced my opinion on Jennifer's thread and I will voice it here, where I have more freedom to talk.

Speak out and speak the truth.
But remember you stand in the Confessional line too.

Is this how you would want a priest to talk to you? With words of judgement and condemnation? Can you imagine him saying, "Weren't you here just last week--didn't you just confess this sin?? You keep committing this sin, you can't be that serious about your faith. Who are you to continue to say you are sorry when you obviously aren't!" ???

"And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every careless word you speak."
Matthew 12:36

Inform the sinner but do it without emotion and anger. Most of the time, people just weren't aware or didn't know.

If they continue to support something that goes against the Catholic Church, then obviously you shouldn't follow that person. But we should always, always, be careful with our words. They can be weapons. I wish so much we would learn how to be patient with one another. And I wish so much we could learn to distinquish when we love a person and when we idolize them--which is a grave sin anyway.

Our good friend Gennie, who was very close to my mom and Dad, said she had a dream about a week after my Dad died. She said he appeared to her, looking radient and said:

 "Genny---He hears every word! He hears every word!"

Whether or not this dream was truly a vision or not, only God knows, but regardless, there is a truth to it. He hears every word. So let's use our words carefully.