I feel the need to make a general follow up statement to this post, just to clarify a few things:

1. The church I was going to during the time of my divorce did NOT ask me to publicly apologize for anything.

2. There were many people at the church who showed me and my daughters lots of love (although maybe not directly in response to my divorce). There were also many who showed no direct judgment yet treated me and my "situation" like a big elephant in the room. While I completely understand that, it still isn't an expression of love.

3. The judgment I refer to was mostly expressed through the church leadership's formal act of "discipline," which was made more painful by everyone else's general silence and lack of outrage over that decision. I believe churches should work with people who are struggling or perhaps making poor decisions, but they should not "discipline.

4. When all is said and done, I felt more judgment and condemnation from that church than love, compassion or concern. The church I go to now would respond to the exact same set of circumstances in a completely different way, without detracting at all from the seriousness of the situation and God's place in it.