Episode 70 -- Spiritual Combat c43.2 -- Properly Reacting to the Public, Serious, and Malicious Sins of Others

Granting that rash judgements of fellow human beings are wrong, what do we do when the sin is publicly known and/or the sin is very serious? Should I condemn the person then? No! In this episode we are planning to finish reading the long treatment of the need for organized “spiritual exercises” in the Spiritual Combat. “Exercises” are practiced by militaries. They have various plans and methods, and simulated situations in which they figure out what to do against an enemy. We have been studying the methods we need to overcome the subtleties of the devil, the world, and fallen human nature (the flesh) if we want to grow in virtue. He ends with one of the most difficult trials: the temptation to rash judgment. What is rash judgment? Aquinas explains it this way: when the reason lacks certainty, as when a man, without any solid motive, forms a judgment on some doubtful or hidden matter, and then it is called judgment by "suspicion" or "rash" judgment. In other words, if we reach “certainty” too easily, without sufficient EVIDENCE, then we call it rash judgment or suspicion. There are so many hidden things about other people and their pasts that we rarely are in a position to be CERTAIN about their hearts. But what if it is a public sin? In charity, look for an excuse for the person. Look for a hidden virtue in the person that this public sin will keep hidden… Remember that this fault may one day help the person reach a deeper self-knowledge and humility. What if the sin is very serious and the person is not repenting? Turn your mind to Heaven and God’s inscrutable wisdom… Remember: some saints were terrible sinners earlier in life… Even those who were at the heights of holiness have fallen… Who should I criticize then? - Myself! But with gentleness! Where do my good thoughts of others come from? - The Holy Spirit! What do I need to watch out for? Detraction, saying evil about others unnecessarily. Condemning others. Being attentive to faults of others. Magnifying, making the faults of others seem larger and worse. Focusing on smallest faults of others when no large ones exist.