Acting against scruple

[Zynxensar]

So I was reading up on scruples and came across the following:

“He who acts against scruples does not sin” - Fr Wigadt. From St Alphonsus’s book “The Way of Salvation and Perfection”

“The scrupulous may, and ought to, act in defiance of their misgivings, i.e their so-called conscience” - Old Catholic Encyclopedia

“Act contrary to scruples, and with a firm foot overcome them” - St Alphonsus

“The scrupulous are to act against their scruples, and plant their feet firmly in resisting them” - Gerson. From St Alphonsus’s book “The Way of Salvation and Perfection”

1. Do these still apply today? Has the Church’s teaching on scruples changed since then? Is acting against scruples still permitted?
2. From what I’ve read so far, as long as we can identify something as a scruple, we can act against it. They say the best way to determine if something is a scruple is to ask a Priest. If I do not have access to a regular Confessor at the moment, can I ask another well-informed Catholic about whether something is a scruple?

 

[margaret42]

Maybe what we’re really “acting against” is fear, not conscience

 

[RedDuke]

Yes they still apply today. You have to act against your scruples to overcome them, and the best way to overcome scrupulosity is by getting help from a priest. If you need help and can’t get to a priest, then it’s fine to ask a well-informed layman for help.

 

[Zynxensar]

How do we differentiate between actual conscience and scruple?

 

[Zynxensar]

The question that’s puzzling me though is that even though those that are Holy and well informed are still capable of being wrong re: whether something is a sin or not. If they’re wrong and I follow their counsel, will I go to hell because of following wrong advice?

 

[angel12]

How do we differentiate between actual conscience and scruple?

You know you need to speak to your priest about this. And talk to him about whether you should keep reading this type of material – you’re always finding things that trouble you.

 

[RedDuke]

No, the responsibility would be on them rather than you. Unless your confessor or trusted spiritual director tells you to do something that is obviously a sin (e.g. murder, adultery, etc), it would not be sinful to follow their advice and you certainly wouldn’t be damned.

 

[Zynxensar]

I see. Would this apply to other lay Catholics whose advice I follow too? Or does it only apply to clergy?

 

[RedDuke]

Yes it would apply to laymen’s advice as well, just make sure they’re knowledgeable in the faith and can be trusted to give good advice.

 

[porthos11]

So I was reading up on scruples and came across the following:

“He who acts against scruples does not sin” - Fr Wigadt. From St Alphonsus’s book “The Way of Salvation and Perfection”

“The scrupulous may, and ought to, act in defiance of their misgivings, i.e their so-called conscience” - Old Catholic Encyclopedia

“Act contrary to scruples, and with a firm foot overcome them” - St Alphonsus

“The scrupulous are to act against their scruples, and plant their feet firmly in resisting them” - Gerson. From St Alphonsus’s book “The Way of Salvation and Perfection”

1. Do these still apply today? Has the Church’s teaching on scruples changed since then? Is acting against scruples still permitted?
2. From what I’ve read so far, as long as we can identify something as a scruple, we can act against it. They say the best way to determine if something is a scruple is to ask a Priest. If I do not have access to a regular Confessor at the moment, can I ask another well-informed Catholic about whether something is a scruple?

How many more of these variations on the same theme will you post, and STILL get the same answers?

You already know the answers to this.

 

[LillyFaith]

If they’re wrong and I follow their counsel, will I go to hell because of following wrong advice?

My mother always says that it is the other person’s fault if they are giving us wrong advice when they should be helping us. That sin wouldn’t be on us, it would be on them. If it is an offense grave enough to send someone to hell then they would be at fault since they are misleading Jesus’ sheep. Although if a priest is giving you advice without bad intentions then you should probably ask other priests if you can. Sometimes I like to go to confession at a few different churches to see everyone’s take on the issue and then pray and hopefully come to a solid conclusion.