Let Us Not Be Cowards!

As Catholics we have a duty to treat all people, regardless of their beliefs, with justice, charity, mercy, prudence, patience and understanding.  We’re not asked to “tolerate” them but to love them, which is a much more demanding task. 

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Obviously, tolerance is an important democratic working principle.  Most of the time, it’s a good and vital thing.  But tolerating lies about the nature of the human person is a sin.  Tolerating grave evil in a society is an equally grave evil.  And using “tolerance” as an excuse for not living and witnessing Jesus Christ in our private lives and in our public actions is not an act of civility.  It’s a form of cowardice. 

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.