The Anti-Christian conspiracy, page 44

Jesus preached - he broke bread - with tax collectors, prostitutes, thieves. These people commited grievous sins on a regular basis, but Christ continued His ministry. Why? Because while Christ had no tolerance for pretension and sin, He also kept His hand open to those people so that they would know that He wanted to love them, He wanted to take their hand and heal them of the afflictions of their spirits. It's no wonder that the first Saint was a thief, brigand, and murderer. Dimas - despite his wretched life - repented and was forgiven.

”Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measurement ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote (speck) that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and them shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words shalt thou be condemned.” Matthew 12:36,37
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach...Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” Matthew 23:2-3,13, NIV

It's not for us to judge our brothers and sister, despite how much we deplore their behavior. How can we bring anyone to the Truth if we turn them away at every opportunity? Let us recall the parable of the prodigal son... Luke 15: 10 -32

In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
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Then he said, "A man had two sons,
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and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them.
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After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
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When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need.
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So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
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And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.
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Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger.
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I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
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I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."'
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So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
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His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.'
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But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
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Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast,
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because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began.
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Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.
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He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
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The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
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He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him.
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He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
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But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.'
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He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.
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But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'"

I am a lifelong Catholic who seriously considered the priesthood. I've been involved in prison ministries, homeless shelters, and working with the 'undesirables.' I certainly don't approve of many of the choices they have made, but it's not my place to judge them. It is my most fervent prayer that Christ may use me as His vessal, that through His grace, I might help someone who is wrapped in sin, misery, and pain to open their eyes and see clearly again. Please don't forget that they are God's children too. If He - through His Son - has promised that the most wretched person can be redeemed, who are we to say otherwise.

Too many Christians use their faith as a club; they tout their 'holiness' because they go to church, they pay their tithes, they are seen sitting in the front pews. Big freaking deal. A Christian seeks those in need. If it was good enough for the Word Made Flesh, it should be good enough for you. I think that some of the Anti-Christian sentiments are because of this attitude.

I also believe that it is trendy to 'buck the system'. God asks too much of His followers, so let's worship this, that, or nothing at all. I also think that church is considered to be an obligation. I find going to Mass to be the highlight of my day and I try to go as often as I can. The peace, the feeling of community, the love that I feel in church is something that has brought me so much joy.

What can we do to correct this persecution? Be more like Christ. Embrace those who are snared by sin and sorrow, be a beacon of God's healing light for those who wander in the darkness.

Thank you to those who have stayed with me this far.