Are we sinning by not boycotting?

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vanessabyrne

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Is it a sin and immoral to buy products/shop at companies that are against certain catholic teachings?

If we buy something or shop somewhere and the shop or company agrees or supports something that Catholics don’t, are we sinning or being immoral?

A lot of people, organsations, shops and companies agree and support things that Catholic teaching doesn’t. We may not even realise that a company does so. And sometimes they’ll be open about the supports or whatever.

I suppose that’s something that happens a lot in America, but where I live, it doesn’t happen as much.

But we’re not buying because of that, we’re buying because they’re cheap, the products are needed and so on.

Like if I buy a magazine that has something I disagree with, I either get rid if that article or not read it. Say for example horoscopes. I got a magazine for years that has horoscopes (like most do) but I was never bothered with that part. Since I got scrupulous I asked if it’s bad to get the magazine or should I take out all the horoscope pages, but was told that there’s things you do agree with but just ignore them or whatever. Sorry if that’s not explained well or a bad example.

Something like that usually wouldn’t bother me. I wouldn’t agree with something but I wouldn’t buy the product for that. But like I said, since then I’ve got scrupulous.

Not just the magazine example, but things in general. If the company supports something I or Catholics don’t, am I sinning or being immoral by buying or using the products? Or is that just being scrupolous?

I now a few of yous would start thinking of Walmart, or Target, or JC Penneys or whatever. But that doesn’t have much to do with me. I’m in Europe. Theres Primark/Penneys, apparently the version of JC Penneys around here, but I never known the version of it here to support what JC Penneys apparently does. And anything - like with a few shops - sell something I disagree with, I just don’t buy or use it.

You might like to see other threads:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=800034

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=800871

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=800783

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=800023

So back to the original question, are we sinning/being immoral by buying products where the organisation/shop/company etc support something Catholics are against? Are we support the bad cause, even if not intentionally?

Any Catholic Church teachings?
 
In answer to your initial question: No. The fact is that whatever we buy from whomever we are buying from sinners like ourselves.
I don’t think anything need be said beyond that.

Reb Levi
 
vanessabyrne said:
Is it a sin and immoral to buy products/shop at companies that are against certain catholic teachings?

If we buy something or shop somewhere and the shop or company agrees or supports something that Catholics don’t, are we sinning or being immoral?

A lot of people, organsations, shops and companies agree and support things that Catholic teaching doesn’t. We may not even realise that a company does so. And sometimes they’ll be open about the supports or whatever.

I suppose that’s something that happens a lot in America, but where I live, it doesn’t happen as much.

But we’re not buying because of that, we’re buying because they’re cheap, the products are needed and so on.

Like if I buy a magazine that has something I disagree with, I either get rid if that article or not read it. Say for example horoscopes. I got a magazine for years that has horoscopes (like most do) but I was never bothered with that part. Since I got scrupulous I asked if it’s bad to get the magazine or should I take out all the horoscope pages, but was told that there’s things you do agree with but just ignore them or whatever. Sorry if that’s not explained well or a bad example.

Something like that usually wouldn’t bother me. I wouldn’t agree with something but I wouldn’t buy the product for that. But like I said, since then I’ve got scrupulous.

Not just the magazine example, but things in general. If the company supports something I or Catholics don’t, am I sinning or being immoral by buying or using the products? Or is that just being scrupolous?

I now a few of yous would start thinking of Walmart, or Target, or JC Penneys or whatever. But that doesn’t have much to do with me. I’m in Europe. Theres Primark/Penneys, apparently the version of JC Penneys around here, but I never known the version of it here to support what JC Penneys apparently does. And anything - like with a few shops - sell something I disagree with, I just don’t buy or use it.

You might like to see other threads:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=800034

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=800871

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=800783

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=800023

So back to the original question, are we sinning/being immoral by buying products where the organisation/shop/company etc support something Catholics are against? Are we support the bad cause, even if not intentionally?

Any Catholic Church teachings?
Click to expand...
No we would not be sinning.
 
It depends. Those who buy *because *of the company’s support for something sinful *are *sinning–this relates to their intent: their intent is to support something sinful.

But a regular transaction is like this: I buy a box of spaghetti There is an equal exchange: they give me spaghetti; I give them money. The spaghetti is then mine to do with as I please: I can munch on it uncooked, I can cook it and make a salad out of it, I can use it as a tiny torch to light a candle in a jar. The money is fully the company’s: they decide how to use that money. I have no say in how they use that money because I got something in exchange for it.

This removes us from the responsiblity area, I don’t know the term for that, so we do not sin when we buy from those companies.
 
You need to sit down with a priest locally and discuss this and other issues you have been posting concerning your scrupulosity.

God wants you to be at peace.
 
coachdennis said:
You need to sit down with a priest locally and discuss this and other issues you have been posting concerning your scrupulosity.

God wants you to be at peace.
Click to expand...
👍👍

Absolutely the best answer.

As the initial post indicates, these things can become very complicated very quickly.

First of all “companies” are inanimate objects. They do not support anything.
Companies are made up of people and those people may or may not support this or that…and in a very large company you will likely have people on all sides of various issues.
Of course - company leadership - be it the actual owner(s) or Board members (in the case of corporations) - decide who to contribute money to, what causes to support and so forth. But again these are individuals and not “the company”.

Then there are other factors that come into play. Factors too numerous in their permutations to even try to get into here. The interplay of these factors could easily drive a person crazy trying to keep it all straight.

So - talk to your confessor. Let him know you struggle with Scruples and what your concerns are. Then be guided by his specific advice dealing with your specific situation.

Peace
James
 
In my humble opinion, you may be guilty of a sin.

Take for example Starbucks - The CEO of Starbucks told Christians that they can invest elsewhere if they do not agree with the company’s stance on the redefinition of marriage.

theblaze.com/stories/2013/03/24/starbucks-ceo-tells-shareholder-to-invest-elsewhere-if-they-dont-like-companys-stance-on-gays

So, knowing that a portion of the money you give Starbucks will go to fund pro redefinition-of-marriage initiatives, makes you just as guilty as starbucks (if you do it with foreknowledge and willingly).

Now, if you happen to be driving on a long stretch of road and you will likely fall asleep and crash if you don’t get a cup of java and there are no other coffee shops for miles… would you still be guilty?.. probably not.

But if you always shop at Starbucks, IMHO, you probably are.

-Mario-
 
I don’t even go to Starbucks, nor do I usually drink coffee.

Like apparently apple donate money to certain causes that Catholics don’t agree with or whatever. I only recently read of this. I own an iPod touch (I’m using right now) so can I not get another apple product?

And this thing about JC Penneys. That’s an American shop. The apparent version of it here has never said to support the causes which apparently the American one does. and anything I found offensive there I wouldn’t bother buying - as with most shops.
There’s more information on that in my other threads.

Am I really sinning?
 
Vanessa, you have answered all the questions you have asked in the last short while. I have cut the parts of your post that don’t apply and you will see the answer.
vanessabyrne said:
…Since I got scrupulous … But like I said, since then I’ve got scrupulous… Or is that just being scrupolous?
Click to expand...
Please get yourself a regular confessor, or spiritual director to address your problems with scrupulosity and address ALL such questions to that person, not to an internet forum where you will get many interpretations, some of which will not take into account your scrupulosity.
 
VivienneJ said:
Vanessa, you have answered all the questions you have asked in the last short while. I have cut the parts of your post that don’t apply and you will see the answer.
Please get yourself a regular confessor, or spiritual director to address your problems with scrupulosity and address ALL such questions to that person, not to an internet forum where you will get many interpretations, some of which will not take into account your scrupulosity.
Click to expand...
👍

Its not exactly wrong to come looking for answers on here (hence the name, "Catholic ANSWERS!!) ; however vannesabyrne, you may consider looking for answers from a priest or religious person in real life. :o
God bless you on your spiritual journey!
 
Thanks for the advice. I know what you’re saying. But yeah, since it is Catholic answers, I’d like answers on here if possible. Even if a priest here could answer?
 
vanessabyrne said:
Is it a sin and immoral to buy products/shop at companies that are against certain catholic teachings?

If we buy something or shop somewhere and the shop or company agrees or supports something that Catholics don’t, are we sinning or being immoral?

A lot of people, organsations, shops and companies agree and support things that Catholic teaching doesn’t. We may not even realise that a company does so. And sometimes they’ll be open about the supports or whatever.

I suppose that’s something that happens a lot in America, but where I live, it doesn’t happen as much.

But we’re not buying because of that, we’re buying because they’re cheap, the products are needed and so on.

Like if I buy a magazine that has something I disagree with, I either get rid if that article or not read it. Say for example horoscopes. I got a magazine for years that has horoscopes (like most do) but I was never bothered with that part. Since I got scrupulous I asked if it’s bad to get the magazine or should I take out all the horoscope pages, but was told that there’s things you do agree with but just ignore them or whatever. Sorry if that’s not explained well or a bad example.

Something like that usually wouldn’t bother me. I wouldn’t agree with something but I wouldn’t buy the product for that. But like I said, since then I’ve got scrupulous.

Not just the magazine example, but things in general. If the company supports something I or Catholics don’t, am I sinning or being immoral by buying or using the products? Or is that just being scrupolous?

I now a few of yous would start thinking of Walmart, or Target, or JC Penneys or whatever. But that doesn’t have much to do with me. I’m in Europe. Theres Primark/Penneys, apparently the version of JC Penneys around here, but I never known the version of it here to support what JC Penneys apparently does. And anything - like with a few shops - sell something I disagree with, I just don’t buy or use it.

You might like to see other threads:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=800034

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=800871

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=800783

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=800023

So back to the original question, are we sinning/being immoral by buying products where the organisation/shop/company etc support something Catholics are against? Are we support the bad cause, even if not intentionally?

Any Catholic Church teachings?
Click to expand...
Well, that depends on the product and the company. Can you do without the product. Fine, do without it. If you need the product, can you get somewhere else without too much trouble.? You can; good, get it somewhere else. Still, it would not necessarily be a sin to buy it with the offensive company. I guess it would depend on how " loud " they were about their offensive " charities. "

I avoid buying unnecessary things from " offensive " companies but I don’t think I would be committing a sin if I did buy what I wanted. Again, if the company was really " loud " about what they were doing, I might feel differently.

Linus2nd
 
vanessabyrne said:
Thanks for the advice. I know what you’re saying. But yeah, since it is Catholic answers, I’d like answers on here if possible. Even if a priest here could answer?
Click to expand...
Please try to listen to what people are saying – we are not responding to this particular thread but the sum of your other threads that have a theme of scrupulosity.

The real world and talking to a priest in** real time, face to face**, one who knows you and you can develop a spiritual relationship with is a better choice than the best answers you can get from an anonymous website.

Again, God wants you to be at peace.
 
vanessabyrne said:
Thanks for the advice. I know what you’re saying. But yeah, since it is Catholic answers, I’d like answers on here if possible. Even if a priest here could answer?
Click to expand...
coachdennis said:
Please try to listen to what people are saying – we are not responding to this particular thread but the sum of your other threads that have a theme of scrupulosity.

The real world and talking to a priest in** real time, face to face**, one who knows you and you can develop a spiritual relationship with is a better choice than the best answers you can get from an anonymous website.

Again, God wants you to be at peace.
Click to expand...
Vanessa, this site is excellent for learning about our faith and posing ‘general-type’ questions. You have admitted that you suffer from scrupulosity, this brings another whole set of considerations to your questions. Not all the respondents on your threads have taken this into consideration when answering your questions and THAT is why many of us, out of concern for your peace of mind, are advising you to seek the advice of one priest, as Coachdennis says, to talk to real time. Someone who knows you and can point out which concerns are real and which are your scrupulosity taking control.
 
Why was the name to the thread changed? Is this only when I post?

Also, I think I meant to put this in moral theology, but God’s will
 
vanessabyrne said:
Is it a sin and immoral to buy products/shop at companies that are against certain catholic teachings?

(snip)

So back to the original question, are we sinning/being immoral by buying products where the organisation/shop/company etc support something Catholics are against? Are we support the bad cause, even if not intentionally?

Any Catholic Church teachings?
Click to expand...
You need to study up on the subject of “formal and material cooperation with evil.” This has been discussed any number of times on a whole host of topics (primarily abortion, but it is generally applicable).

Bottom line:
If you patronize those businesses because of their immoral policies (in other words, you actually wish to help them accomplish the immoral goal), you are formally cooperating with evil. Bad.
If you patronize those businesses because of other reasons (best prices, product quality, or whatever) and are either ignorant of their immoral policies or do so in spite of those immoral policies, then you are materially cooperating with evil. The culpability with material cooperation is the closeness to the act. In the case of patronizing a business, buying a magazine, or the like, the proximity of the cooperation is pretty remote (unless you are a MAJOR, MAJOR customer, you personally giving or withholding business will not make a significant change in their bottom line one way or the other). If your support materially cooperate in such a fashion that the evil act could not happen without it, then you are obliged not to provide that support and providing that support makes you culpable for the act. If your material cooperation is remote (i.e., the cooperation isn’t something that is, in of itself, needful for the act to happen), then your culpability decreases to the point that you are not culpable.

For example, if you are a commercial landlord and lease an office to an abortionist, you would be culpable. If you are a nurse anesthetist who provides anesthesia for an abortionist to perform a late term abortion, you would be culpable for that abortion.

On the other hand, if you were a janitor in an office building where one of the offices was an abortion clinic, your cooperation would be remote. If you were an office supply company that provided paper and pencils to an IVF clinic, your cooperation would also be remote.

So, in your case, if you were to buy a cup of overpriced, mediocre coffee at Starbucks, your cooperation is eminently remote. If you were to subscribe to an, in of itself, morally neutral magazine (e.g., Field and Stream) from the same publisher that publishes Cosmo, your cooperation would also be very remote. If you are an employee of a company that has a policy of providing benefits to same sex partners, your cooperation is also extremely remote.
 
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