Fear and Aquinas...

In our meeting, several people have justified the violence of turning away from each other by expressions of fear. Aquinas points out that fear removes voluntariness when that which is feared is an evil greater than that which is done... for example the crew of a vessel in a storm, who throw valuable cargo overboard to save the ship, have done what is right. However, the matter of degree is important. So those who hurt others, cause deep violent hurt, and do not mitigate that hurt out of their fear, may think to balance. Are you saving the ship, or protecting yourself from discomfort at the expense of seeing God in others? In that discomfort, might you find a closserness to God? By doing violence to others, may you be doing great violence to yourself as well?
Christ's forgiveness to each of you.