Asking questions about moral issues on a forum such as this

[anamchrist]

I have been reading posts on this forum off and on for a long time. It was a couple of weeks ago when I finally signed up so as to be able to post. One thing that amazes me is the number of folks who post things about their personal life and asking if this or that is a mortal sin. I cannot believe that anyone would use an open forum such as this to ask such questions. Personally, I believe that if you have such questions they are better off being asked to your parish priest, confessor or spiritual director. And taking the advice of some unknown person over the internet could be very dangerous spiritually. Where moral issues are concerned, things are rarely black and white…there are all shades of gray…you have to take into account personal circumstances, maturity, age, mitigating circumstances, etc. And online you don’t get those things. Anyone else think this isn’t a good thing to do?

 

[Newbie2]

Sometimes it’s easier to ask anonymously on the internet, but you’re correct, “Is this a sin” questions are best answered by one’s priest or spiritual director.

 

[BamaRider]

http://bestsmileys.com/eating1/16.gif

 

[ForwardProgress]

It’s a good resource for finding out if something in principle is ‘against Church teaching’. But to ask ‘Is this a mortal sin’ and have 8 million people say ‘Yes…the church teaches that this is a mortal sin’ can really make someone feel bad. Esp. when their priest/confessor gives guidance and lets you know that due to your circumstances or other factors that you did not sin mortally…this can kill you spiritually b/c you then start doubting the advice of someone you looked up to as a holy person…you expect them, after reading the condemnations on forums, to really chew you out and condemn you, but that is hardly ever ever the case.

Find out if the matter in question is a matter for confession, ie, grave, then see a priest. But TRUST YOUR CONFESSOR. I can’t stress this enough. If you have some ‘whacked out priest’ that leads your parish, don’t use him. But as long as you respect the person you will confess to, before you even ask the questions in confession, then TRUST WHAT HE TELLS YOU!!

 

[Ted_in_Charlott]

I have been reading posts on this forum off and on for a long time. It was a couple of weeks ago when I finally signed up so as to be able to post. One thing that amazes me is the number of folks who post things about their personal life and asking if this or that is a mortal sin. I cannot believe that anyone would use an open forum such as this to ask such questions. Personally, I believe that if you have such questions they are better off being asked to your parish priest, confessor or spiritual director. And taking the advice of some unknown person over the internet could be very dangerous spiritually. Where moral issues are concerned, things are rarely black and white…there are all shades of gray…you have to take into account personal circumstances, maturity, age, mitigating circumstances, etc. And online you don’t get those things. Anyone else think this isn’t a good thing to do?

I would agree with you. I am amazed at some of the stuff I read here posted. I wonder if there is such a lack of moral compass or is it lonely people that are bored.

When I read some of the answers though, that is really scary. I think there are lurkers here that honestly try to subvert moral decisions, and are imposters that call themselves Christians / Catholics. Every bit of advise here should be carefully considered before acting upon it.

I would even consider posting a warning on the website:

Before you consider using anyone’s advise check it out first. And if it is a serious enough matter please have the good common sense to discuss it with a deacon/priest/bishop. Some matters are even more dire and should be discussed with a trained therapist, because lack of moral conscience could be a symptom of a grave medical / psychological condition.

 

[Sideline]

I’m an atheist, but I’ve been surprised by some of the posts on this forum as well.

Being a former Catholic, and a former seminarian, I’m actually fairly knowledgeable about Catholic teaching. I wouldn’t claim to be an expert, but I am expert enough to know that many of the answers posted on these forums run contrary to Catholic teaching. There are many excellent answers, but the majority of them are either confusing, incomplete, flawed, or wrong.

The problem is, if person is asking, “Is masterbation a sin?” Then odds are, he or she doesn’t know enough about Church teaching to tell the excellent answers from the bad ones.

Discovering the answers to complex moral questions on this forum is about as effective as a person asking random people on the street for medical advice. The best advice this person is going to get is, “Go to a doctor.”

The same way, the best advice that a person asking a question about Churh teaching on moral issues is going to get is, “Go to a priest.”

 

[ForwardProgress]

I think that the ‘hardliners’ don’t think of anything as morally complex. It’s either a sin or it’s not. Not much else comes into play.

 

[MichaelTDoyle]

I like having a place where I can share and get advice on my faith. Those of us who are Catholic know we are called to pick up our cross and follow Jesus for love of Him. It helps to discuss with someone who shares your goal.

Besides, most threads have posters who already state “talk to a spiritual director” in every thread.

My friends are agnostic-atheist. The modern world trumpets atheism as enlightened. Is it so terrible for people who have the priceless gift of faith to come together and discuss what ails them and seek to find ways to more close follow the Way, the Truth and the Life?

The masturbation threads hardly from being condemning (unless you hold the view that sin is not sin) often have posters commiserating and praying for one another, sharing stories, witnessing to chastity.

I see more love her than anywhere on the internet and it seems more authentic, too, since the respondents are trying to help, not just reinforce people in their bad behavior, regardless if others brand them as meddlers.

We are called to be a community of meddlers Love is a communal activity. We are in this together.

to this forum.

 

[teachccd]

I’m an atheist, but I’ve been surprised by some of the posts on this forum as well.

Being a former Catholic, and a former seminarian, I’m actually fairly knowledgeable about Catholic teaching. I wouldn’t claim to be an expert, but I am expert enough to know that many of the answers posted on these forums run contrary to Catholic teaching. There are many excellent answers, but the majority of them are either confusing, incomplete, flawed, or wrong.

The problem is, if person is asking, “Is masterbation a sin?” Then odds are, he or she doesn’t know enough about Church teaching to tell the excellent answers from the bad ones.

Discovering the answers to complex moral questions on this forum is about as effective as a person asking random people on the street for medical advice. The best advice this person is going to get is, “Go to a doctor.”

The same way, the best advice that a person asking a question about Churh teaching on moral issues is going to get is, “Go to a priest.”

I just have to scratch my head as to how someone who can post like you did claims to be an atheist. I know that it is ***absolutely ***none of my business but I would sure like to know your story. Anyway back to the original thread topic.

I feel that people want a quick fix with the mere chance that someone will say that this or that was o.k. I truly believe that most people do not want to be in the state of mortal sin (I would pray so) and perhaps hope to find some reassurance that we all struggle with certain sins and that God understands. The reality is that while we might comfort each other here or share our sinfulness, one must realize that only through the Sacrament of Reconciliation may one really know the state of their soul. This forum should NEVER take the place of that most precious sacrament no more than, as Sideline stated, one would call a talk show or ask someone on the street if they discovered a weird growth on their body.

 

[Sideline]

I just have to scratch my head as to how someone who can post like you did claims to be an atheist. I know that it is ***absolutely ***none of my business but I would sure like to know your story.

Your post caught me off guard, and I wound up re-reading my own post several times trying to figure out why you thought it couldn’t have been written by an atheist.

I think I wasn’t clear on one important point.

My advice to talk with a priest was aimed at people within the Church who wish to remain orthodox. I don’t necessarily think that the priest will give them what I would consider a good answer, but they much more likely to give them the *Catholic *answer than a random person on the Internet is.

Take homeopathy as an example. I think homeopathy is useless. A person might as well pick the pills off the shelf at random. However, if you had comitted to trying out homeopathy and asked me how many pills you should take at a time, I’d likely answer that you should follow the instructions on the bottle or talk to a homeopathic “doctor”.

Here’s an even better example. When I play Monopoly, I play according to the rules. If there is a dispute between me and another player, I consult the rules that come with the game. If the players decide to change the rules, I have no problem with it, but I wouldn’t claim that we are playing according to the rules.

I’m not saying that Catholicism is useless like homeopathy, or a game like Monopoly. I’m saying that I can recognise an authority within a belief system without accepting the system.

I don’t recognise the authority to the Majesterium over me, but I do recognise that a person can not claim to be an orthodox Catholic without accepting the authority of the Majesterium over them.

Do I sound more like an atheist now?