Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In this fallen world, we are confronted with sin and sinners every day.  There are two wrong ways to react to this.

First, it is wrong to ignore the reality of sin. This is the mistake made by today’s popular culture, which considers tolerance the highest value. This is what Pope Benedict called the tyranny of relativism. It’s the common attitude that says everyone can do whatever they feel like, that there are no objectively evil actions. In other words, sin doesn’t exist. If we accept that point of view, we end up condoning evil.  That’s tantamount to approving of people destroying themselves – because sin is always self-destructive. So, it is wrong to ignore the reality of sin. In the story we just heard, in fact, Christ clearly condemns the sin.  He tells the adulterous woman: “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”  He didn’t ignore the sin.

It is also wrong to condemn the sinner along with the sin. When a person commits evil, that person is not rejected by God. God still loves that person and wants that person to repent and be saved. As God’s children we are called to have the same attitude. In fact, Christ actually gave his life for people who were sinners. He is the good shepherd who goes out to search for the lost sheep. He is the doctor of souls who comes to heal the spiritually sick.

Why is it that we are not allowed to condemn the sinner? Because only God can see that person’s heart.  Only God knows how responsible that person is for the evil choices they make.  Only God knows that person’s whole history.  And so, only God can judge people fairly. We can condemn evil actions.  As a society, we can even punish people for crimes and limit their freedom so that they do less damage, but only God can condemn the actual person. We are allowed to condemn the sin, just as Christ did with the adulterous woman, but we are not allowed to condemn the sinner. With Christ, we are to say, “Neither do I condemn you.”

Love.

Fr. Jason