Truth, Mercy, and the Courage to Shepherd Souls

All men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of God,
and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing him who is,
and from studying the works did not discern the artisan;
But either fire, or wind, or the swift air,
or the circuit of the stars, or the mighty water,
or the luminaries of heaven, the governors of the world, they considered gods.
Now if out of joy in their beauty they thought them gods,
let them know how far more excellent is the Lord than these;
for the original source of beauty fashioned them.
Or if they were struck by their might and energy,
let them from these things realize how much more powerful is he who made them.
For from the greatness and the beauty of created things
their original author, by analogy, is seen.
But yet, for these the blame is less;
For they indeed have gone astray perhaps,
though they seek God and wish to find him.
For they search busily among his works,
but are distracted by what they see, because the things seen are fair.
But again, not even these are pardonable.
For if they so far succeeded in knowledge
that they could speculate about the world,
how did they not more quickly find its Lord?
- Wisdom 13:1-9

Jesus said to his disciples:
"As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be in the days of the Son of Man;
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage up to the day
that Noah entered the ark,
and the flood came and destroyed them all.
Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot:
they were eating, drinking, buying,
selling, planting, building;
on the day when Lot left Sodom,
fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all.
So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
On that day, someone who is on the housetop
and whose belongings are in the house
must not go down to get them,
and likewise one in the field
must not return to what was left behind.
Remember the wife of Lot.
Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it,
but whoever loses it will save it.
I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed;
one will be taken, the other left.
And there will be two women grinding meal together;
one will be taken, the other left."
They said to him in reply, "Where, Lord?"
He said to them, "Where the body is,
there also the vultures will gather."
- Luke 17:26-37

The Book of Wisdom reminds us that creation itself reveals the divine Artist, yet humanity so often stops at the art and forgets the Artist. St. Paul echoes this in Romans 1:20, teaching that God’s truth is visible through nature, leaving us “without excuse.” Natural law is not an invention of the Church but a reflection of the Creator’s design — especially in matters of human love, complementarity, and moral responsibility.

Fr. Daniel speaks with pastoral clarity about the dangers of confusing compassion with affirmation of sin. Scripture, natural law, and the Catechism all reveal that true love always leads toward conversion, never toward conformity with what wounds the human soul. The sacraments themselves presuppose repentance — “Repent!” was the first word of John the Baptist’s call (Mt 3:2). Christ’s mercy heals, but it never excuses. He tells every soul: “Go and sin no more” (Jn 8:11).

The priesthood exists to guard the flock, not to bless the wounds the Gospel came to heal. When clergy publicly celebrate lifestyles contrary to the teachings of Christ, they risk leading souls away from salvation rather than toward it. A shepherd who refuses to warn of the wolf is not merciful — he is negligent. A spiritual doctor who hides the truth of the disease is not kind — he is cruel.

The Church does not reject persons; she rejects the lie that sin can coexist with holiness. Every person — regardless of attraction or struggle — is infinitely loved by God and called to purity, which is the expression of authentic love. Christ does not say “Be yourself,” but “Be made new” (2 Cor 5:17). He does not say “Follow your desires,” but “Follow Me.”

Pray today for priests: that they may preach with apostolic boldness, charity rooted in truth, and fidelity to Christ’s teachings. And pray for all who struggle with sexual sin, that they may encounter not false affirmation but true liberation in Jesus Christ, who alone has the power to heal, transform, and set every soul free.