Intolerance, Discriminating, and Prejudiced

Bad words. Sometimes.
Let's take a look, shall we - not at what other people tell us about these words, but what the words themselves mean.

Intolerance: lack of toleration; unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect contrary opinions or beliefs, persons of differentraces or backgrounds, etc. The question then, should we really RESPECT all contrary opinions and beliefs? What does tolerate mean? to allow the existence, presence, practice, or act of without prohibition or hindrance; permit. Tell me. St. Thomas More - did he tolerate the marriage of Henry VIII to Ann Boleyn? I think not. He did, however, tolerate the King - uttering "I die the King's good servant, but God's first!" 

Discriminating: differentiating; analytical. 2. noting differences or distinctions with nicety; discerning;perspicacious: a discriminating interpreter of events. 3. having excellent taste or judgment: a discriminating interiordesigner. Where, good grief, is the danger in this? 

An undiscriminating person seems far more dangerous to society if you ask me. They aren't able to discern between intolerance of evil and love of the sinner. 


Prejudice: an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand orwithout knowledge, thought, or reason. 2. any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable The catch here, so it seems, is that we all have prejudices - favorable (usually called bias) or unfavorable. Now, if we face these prejudices with a discriminating charity then we shall go far beyond political correctness. 

We will discriminate between right and wrong, good and evil, sinner and sin. We will then not only tolerate sinners, but we will love them - and for their own goodness we will be intolerant of anything that keeps them from the love of God.  We cannot do it alone, and so we root ourselves in prayer, shield ourselves with the sacraments, stay the course of the Magisterium, and accept a helping hand when we stray.