Time to Offer an Apology Over Judgement

In the shadows of the Orlando shooting, the Catholic Church has come under fire for its insensitive way of treating the LGBT community.

Recently Pope Francis was asked about how the way the church has been negative about gays. The Pope said "I believe the church not only should apologize to the person who is gay whom it has offended, but has to apologize to the poor, to exploited women, to children exploited for labor; it has to ask forgiveness for having blessed many weapons."

These comments were made during a news conference aboard the papal plane as he returned from Armenia. It was refreshing to hear the pope acknowledge the behavior and asking for understanding. "Who are we to judge?"

Yet judge is what many of us do. We judge the sinner rather than the sin. Whether we condemn the behavior that does not give us the right to condemn the person. If the person is of good and seeks God, what they do behind closed doors or at a nightclub or wherever is not for us to judge.

Personally I have heard many Catholics make remarks that have made me feel almost ashamed to be a part of the Church. Regardless of someone's lifestyle, no one should or has been given the right to judge them here on earth.

With the leadership of our holy father, perhaps the Church will find forgiveness and a humble heart. May we apologize for those that we have offended and learn to reach out a hand as Jesus would to help rather than condemn. Regardless if they are the woman at the well or someone within our own community we need to show the compassion and love like Jesus has taught us to share.

As the Church body it is time for each one of us to extend our reach. We are called to be disciples of Christ and to share his gospel. We do not sit on the throne and pass judgement upon others. There is only one true king, as followers we are called to share his teachings.

Catholics are the foundation of the Church and we should be able to set the example for others to live by. We do not occupy the throne of judgment nor should we pass it from the pews. We are in need of healing and forgiveness not judgment or condemnation.