Question: Would saying that Protestants or Catholics are heretics be considered judging?
Answer: Well, why even say that out loud? What's the point? You just need to be Orthodox. You and I are still miles away from being truly Orthodox. Leave Catholics and Protestants to God — He'll sort things out. He has more than enough love for everyone. The apostolic teaching says even pagans will be judged according to how they've lived. But Orthodox believers will be judged more strictly because they have the Body and Blood of Christ, yet they still sin. The responsibility is much heavier.
Saint Macarius of Egypt once held the skull of a pagan priest and asked him, "How is it for you over there?" And the skull answered him spiritually, "It's hard for us, very hard. But it's even worse further down." "Who is further down?" Macarius asked. "Monks and bishops are there, and they have it far worse; it's easier for us, certainly." Do you see? That's it. As Scripture says, "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required" (Luke 12:48).
