Against Pharisaism (Pharisee-ism)

[Brother]

Originally Posted by Sacredcello

He is sorry for some sins, but not others, but believes he is righteous and thanks God that he is not like some poor Catholic who voted differently than him.

If he really thinks that he is better than others because he is a practicing Catholic or plain and simply, better than others, and exalts himself, I would say that he is like a bad Pharisee (I say 'bad' Pharisee because not all Pharisee were very bad, I think some others, or few others were good Pharisee).

Jesus said:

[Luke 18]
{18:9} Now about certain persons who consider themselves to be just, while disdaining others, he told also this parable:
{18:10} “Two men ascended to the temple, in order to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
{18:11} Standing, the Pharisee prayed within himself in this way: ‘O God, I give thanks to you that I am not like the rest of men: robbers, unjust, adulterers, even as this tax collector chooses to be.
{18:12} I fast twice between Sabbaths. I give tithes from all that I possess.’
{18:13} And the tax collector, standing at a distance, was not willing to even lift up his eyes to heaven. But he struck his chest, saying: ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’
{18:14} I say to you, this one descended to his house justified, but not the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Also, if the person does not love or despise other people because they don't agree or think like him, that person is in a bad position too, because it's written in St. John that: "If anyone says, 'I love God' but hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

[garabandalg]

Perhaps we can say that anyone who does not put God above all else, including his or her own ego, interiorly or exteriorly, at all times, is not practicing his or her Catholic faith as they should...

If being too strict or too liberal in our interpretation of faith puts us at odds with God's Will and Word by being too harsh or not harsh enough, we are straying from the true practice of that faith...

Does that sound ok?