[Asianunta]

Dear Effie,

No it is not only you. I too have the same problem. Also it is not only about judging priests, but all people around us. I do this a lot! And when I thought I was ok. someone told me that I am judging positively and even that is a sin - like saying "John is an angel! or Father Y is a saint!" Even such statements are classified as judging! It took me awhile to recover from this discovery, because I was trying to cut back on negative judging and there was news for me that any kind of judging is actually that: judging.

What has helped me (sometimes since I am not able to refrain from this always) is to think about saints who are considered Fools for Christ. If I get angry at someone who is not behaving according to our society's standards I say "Nina what if the person is a Fool for Christ? What shame will it be for you if you treat him/her not well?" It is an eye-opener to read the lives of the Fools for Christ. Alas, although it can improve me maybe for a week, I soon get back to my old ways, so I guess I have to keep their lives by my bedside and read them always. I wonder if there is a book which includes them all. That will be a good dose against this sin.

Also a Father/Mother (possibly mother Gabriela) has said: be careful how you treat others because maybe tomorrow they will be saints. This quote was also aligned with the example of the Fools for Christ and it is very grounding and humbling. But I fail to follow these quotes because when I need such quotes I happen to forget them. So the struggle continues.

From my personal experience (atheist/agnostic) media sometimes in Greece (like everywhere) can be very vicious towards the Church. Keep away from such news so you preserve your peace since we are vulnerable. I admire people like Dimitri (your husband) and I wish I was like him.