The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 298: Respect for Others (2025)

Date: October 25, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Paragraphs Covered: CCC 2284–2287
Main Theme: The Sin of Scandal and Respecting the Souls of Others

Overview of the Episode

Fr. Mike Schmitz continues the journey through the Catechism of the Catholic Church by focusing on the command to "respect the dignity of persons," especially with regard to the souls of others. In this episode, he dives into the concept of scandal—not just as a social misstep, but as an action or omission that leads others into sin and harms their spiritual well-being. Fr. Mike explores the seriousness of scandal, examples across various roles (parents, teachers, business leaders, influencers), and leads listeners to examine their own influence, concluding with a call to repentance and hope in God’s mercy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Grave Nature of Scandal

Timestamps: 01:30–07:00

• Fr. Mike frames scandal as not only about “physical life” but about “respect for the souls of others”—highlighting that spiritual damage can be even graver than physical harm.
• Scandal is “an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil” (CCC 2284).
• "The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor’s tempter. He damages virtue and integrity. He may even draw his brother into spiritual death." (CCC 2284, read at 04:45)
• Scandal is a grave offense, especially when one deliberately leads another into grave sin by deed or omission.

2. Authority, Responsibility, and Scandal

Timestamps: 07:00–14:30

• Scandal takes on greater gravity when it comes from someone with authority or due to the weakness of those scandalized.
• Fr. Mike references the serious warning of Jesus:
  “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Read verbatim at 05:30; Mt 18:6)
• He emphasizes that all Christians, not just official teachers or clergy, bear the responsibility to witness to Christ by their lives and words.
• Cites St. James: “Not many of you should aspire to be teachers, my brethren, because you'll be held to a higher judgment, a stricter judgment.” (10:15)
• Every Christian is "called to be a martyr" – that is, a witness – by virtue of their baptism and identity.

3. Everyday Examples of Scandal

Timestamps: 14:30–22:00

• Fr. Mike shares a personal story:
  He admits to leading a holy friend into gossip about a newlywed couple, recognizing afterwards that he was the “source of temptation” and, by creating a space for gossip, became guilty of scandal. (Story begins at 15:05)
• He breaks down other everyday examples:
  • Cohabitation or even “sleeping over” without sexual sin can still give scandal to family or others who observe and might wrongly believe it is acceptable.
  • Calling evil good or good evil leads others astray by bad example.
• “We’re called to be martyrs… We are witnesses by our lives… We are either bearing witness to Jesus, or to the world or to ourselves.” (12:00)

4. Institutional and Societal Scandal

Timestamps: 22:00–26:00

• The Catechism notes that laws, institutions, social customs, and opinions can be sources of scandal if they undermine morals or religious practice.
• Examples include:
  • Laws that “establish social structures leading to a decline of morals and the corruption of religious practice” (22:53).
  • Business owners making rules that encourage fraud or force employees to work on Sundays.
  • Teachers who provoke children to anger or manipulate public opinion away from moral values.
  • Social influencers who normalize immorality.
• “We all have some degree of influence—big or small. We have to use it to lead others to Christ, not to lead them astray.” (24:44)

5. Ultimate Responsibility and a Call to Repentance

Timestamps: 26:00–29:45

• If you have the power to influence others, you are “responsible for the evil you directly or indirectly encourage.”
• Fr. Mike references the words of St. Augustine:
  "If you do not tell the people of God the truth so they have the opportunity to be converted and turn back to Him, then they'll die in their sins—but you will be responsible for that. If you do tell the truth, they may still not convert, but you are not guilty for that." (27:12)
• He urges listeners not to fall into self-condemnation, but instead seek conviction from the Holy Spirit and repentance:
  “God, help me not to succumb to self-condemnation, but allow myself to be convicted so that we can be led back by God’s grace to his heart.” (28:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the seriousness of leading others astray (quoting Jesus):
  “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” — Fr. Mike reading CCC/Matthew 18:6 (05:30)

• Personal conviction after gossip:
  “I realized in that moment I was the source of temptation in that moment. I was the one who had kind of put the feelers out there... And I remember just—yeah, just being very—you say, ‘Father, if that's the worst sin you can think of when it comes to scandal, it's not. It's the one I'm going to share, though.’” — Fr. Mike (16:12)

• On responsibility as witnesses:
  “Every Christian is called to be a martyr. Every Christian is, de facto, by the very fact that you and I have been consecrated as a Christian...we are witnesses. So we’re either bearing witness to the Lord Jesus, or we’re bearing witness to the world, or even bearing witness to ourselves.” — Fr. Mike (12:00)

• On institutional scandal:
  “Therefore they are guilty of scandal who establish laws or social structures leading to the decline of morals and the corruption of religious practice, or to social conditions that intentionally or not, make Christian conduct and obedience to the commandments difficult and practically impossible.” — CCC 2286, paraphrased by Fr. Mike (23:03)

• A professor’s memorable warning:
  “I have one word for you men, and that word is millstones. Remember, that was 23 years ago...I can still hear his voice saying, I have one word for you. That word is millstones.” — Fr. Mike, recalling Dr. Chris Thompson’s seminary warning (20:57)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:05–01:30 — Brief introduction and context for Day 298
• 03:40–05:30 — Catechism reading on scandal and its definition
• 07:21–11:02 — The gravity of scandal among those in authority or teachers
• 12:00–14:30 — The Christian call to be witnesses/martyrs
• 15:05–18:40 — Fr. Mike’s personal story about scandal via gossip
• 19:50–21:45 — Seminary professor’s “millstones” warning and the seriousness of Christian witness
• 22:00–24:44 — Institutional/structural scandal: laws, business, teaching, and influence
• 24:44–27:12 — Broader implications: influence, social media, public opinion
• 27:12–29:45 — Call to repentance and hope in God’s mercy

Tone and Style

Fr. Mike’s tone is compassionate, humble, and earnest. He is open about personal failings and uses them to illustrate spiritual truths, encouraging listeners to honestly examine their own lives. He combines scriptural quotations, personal anecdote, and practical examples, always returning to hope in God’s mercy and the importance of repentance.

Key Takeaways

• Scandal is a grave sin because it leads others away from God, not just by action but also by omission or bad example.
• Those in authority—parents, teachers, priests, leaders—bear greater responsibility, but all Christians are called to witness by their lives.
• Institutional and societal structures can give scandal; everyone has some degree of influence and must use it for good.
• We are called to conviction and repentance, but not to despair or self-condemnation—God’s grace and mercy are available.

Fr. Mike closes by urging renewed care in our words and actions, and to pray for anyone we may have led astray, trusting in God’s redeeming love.