1. A misunderstanding.
In today’s language criticism and correction are almost synonymous; but there is a world of difference between the two. Criticism is shallow, emotional and often irrational. Correction is deep, very rational and often an act of Christian Charity.
Our radio program had earned a notoriety in that Protestants listened to it and found it unnecessary to attack the Catholic Church because our program was doing a good job doing it. Hold it. We are not attacking the Catholic Church. We are correcting what is perceived as errors in Catholic belief.
For the last 40 years we have published in summary form the writings of the Fathers of the Church’s interpretation of Scriptures. And the Bishop’s Conference requested that the publication be given to all Diocesan priests. Of course, it spread in Asia and even to far lands. Its aim was the perfection of Catholic knowledge that is already contained in the writings of the Fathers together with Scriptures. The radio program was meant to remind the priests who have already read the teachings of Scriptures and the Fathers that there is disobedience to those fonts of Revelation that endangers one’s salvation. Now, that is correction; that can very much sound like criticism to many ears. But those who are truly seeking God can very well see the difference and have shown gratitude for it.
2. A more confusing age.
The year 2016 is an age of total darkness and confusion. It is the proverbial storm at sea in the Gospels. It is totally dark and we are in the midst of howling and mountainous waves. It is akin to the terror experienced by those amidst an 8 magnitude earthquake in the middle of the night. The victims had simply described it as the end of the world. Complete terror; a moving earth, falling debris everywhere and in pitch darkness. Hmmmm? How did they know that? Had any experienced the end of the world?
The Fathers had written that the end of the world will occur at the middle of the night amidst great terror. We are just experiencing a dry run.
In such a situation, a glimpse of light will be welcomed. In such a situation that glimpse of light can only come from what Scriptures described as ‘fraternal correction.’ That is what we are trying to do, though it could be easily be misunderstood as criticism. The defect would not be in the object perceived but in the mind that is perceiving. We have control on the object but not on the minds of men who are perceiving.
3. Our Aim is ‘fraternal correction.’ Let us now show the importance of performing this obligation. First and foremost, ‘fraternal correction’ is an Act of Charity, an act of the love of God and neighbour. It is a sign that one is inside the Catholic Church. Withholding ‘correction’ is a sin because it is an act of lack of charity which is always a sin.
This is described as an act of Alms deed and doing it well will depend the very salvation of our soul. While mere silence could be the damnation of my soul. The choice is very clear for all souls. The former and still on going newsletter on the writings of the Father we have distributed was the beginning of fraternal instruction. And these posts are just a continuation of it.
Now, that is already a glimpse of light. Let us proceed and increase the wattage of the light. Not everyone can give fraternal connection. Only those who have mastered the commands of Christ and how to put them into practice can correct. Because when one corrects he must state the command of Christ disobeyed and how it was disobeyed. Then he must proceed to teach how the disobeyed command can be correctly obeyed. To accuse someone of having a fault in not enough. How the fault can be corrected is what makes it an act of correction.
An example. In a past post we discussed how Christ taught the apostles. Then we showed how this manner of teaching is disobeyed by all the seminaries. Then we corrected the defect and repeated how instructions should be done. That post was not a criticism; it was a correction, an act of love of God and neighbour, an act of Charity.
4. Criticism vs correction.
What is criticism? It is the expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes. So, it must be a mature human act of judgment where the mind makes a judgment that someone or something deserves disapproval. This judgment is, however, based on a perceived fault or mistake. So on what will the judgment be made? The judgment is defective in that it depends on something merely perceived and, therefore, no certainty. What will be the basis of that perception? Private opinion? Private conscience. Unsound science or philosophy? It must, at least, be Scriptures and Tradition which for Catholics is the only bases for sound judgment. In criticism, everything is relative; everything depends on each one’s personal criteria. There can never be agreement here. And so every one’s criticism is as good as another. Agreement between the one criticising and the one criticised is impossible.
What is correction? In everyday life, correction is offering a change towards something right, true and accurate. Here the judgment made is human and mature. The bases for judgment are things that are right, true and accurate. That cannot be any science or philosophy. The bases can only be Divine Revelation and the Tradition of the Catholic Church.
5. An example. On Pope Francis.
We have made many analyses on Pope Francis. Note how we go about it. We begin by proposing the Sunday Liturgy of the Mass. We get the first two readings and read the Gospel. Then we explain the interpretation of the Gospel as taken from the Fathers of the Church as compiled by St. Thomas of Aquinas found in his Catena Aurea.
Then we get stories about Pope Francis from the news and analyse his words and deeds based on Divine Revelation and Tradition. If there is a contradiction or discrepancy then we note it down. That is not criticism. That is correction that is extensively discussed in the work of St. Thomas, Question 33, entitled ‘On Fraternal Correction.’
Again, ‘fraternal correction’ is an act of almsgiving, an element of the life of repentance. It is an act of Charity, i.e. an act of love of God and neighbour. It is, also, an act of Justice. To correct is an obligation to God for which we shall be judged on Judgment Day.
Faced with an erring brother, we are obliged under pain of sin, to correct him in Charity that the erring brother may find the way to his eternal goal.
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