Judge as the Father Judges

He doesn't judge you at all in this life, so why should we?

-Mother Angelica

Confusion Conclusion

I want to thank you all for your input and advice on my Confused question! Your answers really made me think and put things in perspective. And of course each situation is different. I think I have to evaluate my relationship with that person. For instance, family takes precedence over friends. I feel the need to voice my opinion because I care about them (and I believe that what I think is right--- don't we all??). But I also don't want a relationship ruined, nor do I want to cut communication with them. I want to help them get closer to God because that's what I want for myself and I see how much it has changed my life for the better. But I also know that it will come in their own time.

Friends. This is so touchy. I guess it depends on how close I am with that person. Because really, most of the time, their actions and decisions don't affect me or my family. People are going to live their lives the way that they live them. What matters is how active I am in their lives and how we get along. I want to voice my opinion to them too, but only if they ask I guess. The dynamic is different here than with family. Friends come and go, but my family is forever.

Each situation is going to be different than the one before. And the degree of importance is probably something that I have to take into consideration too. So confusing to type, but it's much clearer in my head now! Thank you all so much for your comments and the emails you sent me privately. I really appreciate the help in trying to piece this all together.

So Blessed am I to have met such caring Christians on the Internet (and in real life too)!!

Confused...

I want your opinions on this one. I'm confused. In my journey to becoming a more faithful Catholic, I have realized a great many things about people and how we think and act. And it's so easy to look at someone and how they're acting and make judgments about them. Let's say we know they are collecting disability or social security, but we know they are able to work. Or maybe they are pro-choice and we are pro-life. Or maybe they are not making what we believe to be the right choices according to their children. Do we distance ourselves from these people?

I'm just confused. I want my kids to be around righteous people that share the same values as me, but I also don't want to judge anyone and treat them badly. Because people that make bad choices can also be good people inside. So how do you personally do this? I mean, I think this is a pretty broad question, but in general. Do you hang around others that don't share ALL of your views and values? Do you prevent your kids from hanging around with others that don't share the same Catholic values as you?

On the one hand I feel like keeping my distance because I don't want to be swept up by those values, nor do I want my kids to. But then on the other hand, I can have fun with these people too! I share other things in common with them and get along with them. And what if we are there to help them to see God's truths? What if God put us in contact with these people to make a difference, to influence them?

So I struggle with this. And I want to know: How do you do this?