8th Commandment for the Scrupulous

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The 8th commandment for the scrupulous states: “When you doubt your obligation to do or not do something, you will see your doubt as proof there is no obligation.”

Am I correct in saying that obligations not only refer to “Holy Day of Obligations” but also issues like moral obligations? For example, I’m scrupulous and I’m uncertain whether I need to tell someone about so and so, using this commandment, I don’t have an obligation to because I have doubt?
 
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With all love and charity
The internet, and in particular this forum, is not helping you and will not help you.
You need direction from a good priest and a good counselor.

Holy Days of Obligation are posted in your church bulletin. You obligation is to attend Mass. Period.
 
Please refrain from asking on here. You will get bad advice, for one. It also reinforces the OCD to keep trying to eliminate all uncertainty. You have to learn to accept uncertainty. Second, TRUST the clergy. You dont know who some random poster on CAF is and what their agenda is, even me. So talk to a Priest or Deacon you know you that you feel comfortable with.
 
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Can scrupulous people switch Confessors/Spiritual Directors? Moral Theology
You have already been advised by a priest not to post these compulsive scrupulosity issues on CAF. Just ask your confessor. One more thing… just ask your Confessor. God bless.
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9th scrupulosity type post advice…
 
As a scrupulous person myself mate I think there is wisdom in what blackfriar stated. Please know it sounds like it is done in charity.
 
I understand he’s doing it out of charity, and I appreciate it. However, I currently don’t have a Confessor and won’t meet him until sometime this week. That’s why I wanted to get some principles on how I should act until then. Otherwise, i’d have to continue with the really harsh restrictions placed on myself which basically doesn’t allow me to function as a normal* person
 
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Let me be clear on this: you are under no obligation to believe someone if they identify as clergy on this site or anywhere else on the internet.
 
The point to that advice is for people with scrupolosity to avoid things like responding to every single pro-abortion comment on Facebook or correcting people all of the time.

It is not a permission slip in and of itself to avoid attending Mass. That is well outside the spirit of the commandment, although people in these situations may have illness that prevents them from participating in Mass.

Having said all of this, you need to discuss this with a priest. People who have scrupulosity issues should not be looking for answers on the internet.
 
The latter (correcting people) is my main issue. The example illustrated was just that if a person didn’t know for sure that it was a Holy Day of Obligation, then one isn’t obliged to attend (according to what the 8th commandment for the scrupulous says, at least). HOWEVER, the person (Whether scrupulous or not), still has to check if the day is a Day of Obligation.
 
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I meant a REAL Catholic Priest in real life. The Scrupulous should not be asking these questions to random people on the internet. They need real, in person, direction.
 
Ok so I want to use this example to show perhaps what the clergy is talking about. By checking on the internet if you got the commandment correct you are seeking reassurance. This seeking reassurance is most likely to deal with the uncertainty of doing something wrong, or the anxiety associated with it. This is the moment for the gut check and humility. Read the commandment, what does it say? As a scrupulous person not in the moment I can read it and to me it seems clear. If you still have this question in 48 hours and need clarification then bring it to your confessor. It’s part of being a faith person is sometimes there is a bit of uncertainty. The short answer to this… listen to Friar, I think he has it right, and I believe it’s in charity, as is mine. We are in support of you mate.
 
I think use your reason here. Yes we are all obligated to go to mass on holy days of obligation. Checking once to see if it’s a holy day of obligation is good and appropriate. Checking 7 times would probably be part of the problem. This is a “clear” example as it is defined as a sin to miss mass. If someone calls your house and you feel you “should” talk to them and aren’t sure if it’s a sin to do so or not, then read the commandment for the scrupulous again.
 
Oh no, I was agreeing with you!

They should never, ever go shopping for answers on the internet or to random people. The scrupulous need real, in person help from a real Priest who can help “keep them in check”. Finding one Priest they can trust, who seems to understand their problem and to follow their spiritual advice is ideal. I know from experience, I have OCD with scrupulosity issues. Having a Confessor who corrects me, keeps me on a short leash (for example, telling me not to go to confession for at least a certain period of time, not to mention past sins x,y or z in confession again or why something doesn’t meet the required criteria for a sin to be mortal) and gives me instruction to follow, even if I am doubting or having anxiety, is a great help. In fact, the more doubt you have, the more you should strictly follow the advice of the Priest. They have studied, they have been ministering, often for many years. Most people on here are lay experts, and should be treated like someone giving medical advice or legal advice without the training and experience. One bad or inaccurate post could cause serious anxiety and uncertainty for someone with scrupulosity.
 
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Yes, “in person direction” is needed by a reliable source. But those of us on the internet talking abut scruples are in different places in its development. I mean, some people may just be starting out feeling guilt about everything, others are pretty bad off-perhaps in despair- and there are others who’ve had ongoing direction, where they can talk about suggestions on the internet. but still need their director’s guidance.
Maybe in understanding what phase you are in, ask, eg., " If i missed mass today because of a terrible cold,
would it make me feel guilty"?
 
I have OCD/Scrupulosity. It is by working with a trusted Confessor (and the good people at Scrupulous Anonymous) that has helped me gain a better control of this problem.

A person with scrupulosity should NOT be shopping on CAF for answers. It is 1) engaging in a compulsive activity to gain temporary relief from uncertainty, which is highly counterproductive when dealing with OCD and 2) they are likely to get all kinds of different advice, some highly unproductive.
 
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