Shunning

Yesterday, I received an e-mail from an old college girlfriend, Tracey.  I hadn't heard from her in a very long time.  It brought to mind a conversation she and I had many years ago.  This took place in the 1970's, when The Feminist movement was at its loudest, most militant height.  Tracey and I were/are Catholics.  Catholics believe it is wrong to directly murder unborn babies by abortion.  At that time, at least, feminists wholeheartedly promoted killing babies by abortion for their own supposed 'freedom.'  Yet, Tracey was a feminist.  She asked me, "Well, I guess you won't want to speak to me any more, now that you know I'm a feminist, right?"  I didn't even have to think. I responded, "Tracey, if two friends such as you and I can't talk together, there is no hope for world peace!"

Yet there are many who would totally cut off contact with another who had beliefs opposing their own beliefs.  This is called "shunning."  It is done, in part, to prevent 'contamination' of a community's beliefs.  The Mormon and old Shaker churches practice this, and also some of the fundamentalist Christian groups.

Perhaps you have seen a TV or movie drama: "You are no longer my son (or daughter).  I never want to see you again."

My Catholic friend, Pauline, mentioned, "Why is it that Catholics always welcome you with smiles and open arms if you convert to be a Catholic, but if you convert from a Catholic to another religion, they SHUN you?"  I told Pauline, "I don't know, that doesn't make sense."  Her family turned her away, but that is the only instance I've ever heard of this happening in my many years of being a Catholic.  Pauline explained, "I just thought it would be good for the children if me and my husband were the same religion."

Being shunned, especially by those you love must be very painful.  To me, shunning just seems like old-fashioned HATE!  And, we can't forget, hate always harms the one doing the hating more than the one being hated!

Our Dear Lord, You never shunned anyone, not even the worst sinners or even horribly disfigured lepers.  Please help us become equally loving and accepting to all we meet!