Contraception and Culpability of Laity

[Greg_McPherran]

For those who read this post, make no mistake, contraception is a serious evil.

However, many Catholics today are misguided by priests who often do not encourage people to follow the official Church teaching regarding contraception. Therefore to hold these people accountable from mortal sin is not right as they are simply following consciences formed by the priests of the Church.

This tears at the hearts of people who seek the truth and the joy of faith but cannot “get there” because many priests refuse to obey the Church teaching. It is very dificult when one hears a faithful priest on e.g. EWTN and then is told by his local priest that EWTN is “right wing”.

We cannot expect the laity to follow Church teaching when in reality this teaching is not upheld by their clergy.

So for those who post asking if Catholics who use contraception are going to hell, I would propose that we consider that many Catholics are misguided regarding this by priests who receive communion even while teaching against the Church. I think it is they who incur the sin.

Even a Catholic who wants to follow Church teaching can still get confused when many priests give them the indication that this teaching is not important.

The tearing of the heart of those who saw glimpses of Jesus and then the darkness of bad teaching is evil itself. This is psychologically abusive to have an official teaching that is a “grave sin” and then many priests discourage following this teaching. This is a serious psychological/spiritual abuse and it is another example of the abuse that Catholics suffer.

Our top priority as a Church must be agreement by clergy on the moral teachings.

I wonder if many priests are aware that some contraceptives work as abortifacients.

Also, I am not overlooking the many good and faithful priests.

Greg

 

[Jadesfire20]

I agree :clapping: …the priests who do not encourage laity to follow church teaching are much more culpable.

 

[DVIN_CKS]

Greg…for the reasons you state, it is no wonder why so many Catholics question whether this teaching is infallible or not. I’ve read in some books that it is not. Other sources say it is. Confusion abounds!!! Obviously, if the bishops and priests can’t be unified on this teaching, how can they expect the laity to be?

My personal opinion is that this issue is going to become a non-issue in a world that SO heavily promotes a contraceptive mentality. Inorder to get that “mentality” turned around, the Church would have to engage in a ‘full court press’ not only in the public media but also from the pulpit. I don’t think the Church wants to take on that fight right now.

 

[Jim_ov_Cov]

I think that the failure of our Pastors to teach on the issue of regulating births only mitigates the culpability of the laity, it doesn’t excuse it. We have a responsibilty to know the Faith ourselves.

 

[John666]

Greg_McPherran:

Our top priority as a Church must be agreement by clergy on the moral teachings.
Greg

AMEN! And amen to Jim ov Cov!

 

[lontas]

Well said, Greg! It’s great to come across someone who can see the problem for what it really is instead of jumping to short-sighted conclusions.

Although we laity are responsible for knowing our faith, the clergy is also responsible for teaching the faith. Using contraception or teaching that it is okay is objectively a sin–but the fact is, we cannot know what is in the hearts of those whose priests misguide them or even the hearts of such priests. Only God can judge whether each individual’s actions are sinful.

Still, many Catholics do not realize how contraception completely destroys the act of sex. They probably don’t even understand the true purpose/form of sex in the first place. They are unknowingly destroying their own marriages. Pray for them.

 

[Greg_McPherran]

Hello Iontas,

Thank You.

lontas:

we cannot know what is in the hearts of those whose priests misguide them or even the hearts of such priests. Only God can judge whether each individual’s actions are sinful.

Yes. However, consider this. People who have been sterilized (e.g. vasectomy, tubal ligation) and post here usually include indications that they have returned to their faith etc. The priest or apologist tells them to go to confession. There is no examination of the fact that they might not have knowingly sinned and therefore they do not have a mortal sin for the very reason you state (about not knowing what is in the heart.)

I would propose that, given the fact that many priests (I would estimate about 90% in my area) either fail to encourage Catholics or outright discourage them from following the Church teaching, some Catholics who have used contraception are not culpable to the extent of a mortal sin and may be very little culpable at all. So why do we here tell them to confess this without knowing what was in their hearts at the time?

I see all kinds of abuse here. We have a Catechism that says “grave sin”. We have priests that don’t encourage/discourage following it. Then we further the abuse by assuming people need to go to confession and making them confess something when it may be other priests themselves that encouraged them that they did not have to obey the teaching. I think it is abusive in cases when the laity have to confess sins that are the product of dissenting clergy.

I think there may be some Catholics who only after self-study and positive reinforcement by faith clergy realize the sin of contraception and immediately decide to change. For such misguided Catholics I don’t think we need to tell them to go to confession, instead we need to heartily aplogize ***to them ***that their priests denied them the truth of the faith.

For other laity that knowingly dissent of course, that’s different.

Greg

 

[Greg_McPherran]

Note: When I say 90%, I base that on personal experience, this is not a scientific survey and within the 90% there is a range of degrees to from very little encouragement to discouragement. I also have noticed that we are starting to turn the corner. I would say at some parishes if you promoted NFP etc. you would actually not be considered welcome there. That’s just how bad it has gotten in some places.

I have been attending mass for about 18 years (since a fall away period in the past) and I don’t remember one sermon telling people of the sin of contraception - not one! The only exception is on TV on EWTN etc.

Greg

 

[itsjustdave1988]

We cannot expect the laity to follow Church teaching when in reality this teaching is not upheld by their clergy.

I disagree. What would you have said during Noah’s day? How about Lot? God can and does expect obedience even if it appears that nobody is faithful to His teachings. I have two teenagers and if this were the way in which I approached raising them, I’d be in trouble. Even if the “other kids” do sinful things, my expectation of them remains the same. I suggest you study Arianism and the heroic faith of Athanasius.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

Catholics who have used contraception are not culpable to the extent of a mortal sin and may be very little culpable at all. So why do we here tell them to confess this without knowing what was in their hearts at the time?

They are to confess all their sins, not just mortal ones, so whether their impediments to will and intellect with regard to grave sin relieves them of some guilt is irrelevant. If they know it was a sin or become aware of it, they ought to confess it.

 

[lontas]

Greg_McPherran:

So why do we here tell them to confess this without knowing what was in their hearts at the time?

Greg, I think this is partly a knee-jerk reaction from those of us here who are fortunate enough to have a well-formed conscience. We see contraception as a black-and-white, intrinsically wrong act that must be confessed if committed. But I think a lot of people do not understand the difference between “evil” and “sin”. Contraception is intrinsically evil, but because of the reasons outlined in the posts above, is not always a sin. You are right that it really is not our place to tell people what they need to confess.

But I believe that we should still suggest Confession simply out of concern for the person’s soul. If you committed an act and weren’t sure whether it was mortally sinful, wouldn’t you confess it just to be safe? You could either spend all night trying to determine whether it was a mortal sin, or you could just confess it and be done with it in 5 minutes. I think that’s the idea behind the Confession suggestions.

 

[Greg_McPherran]

itsjustdave1988:

I disagree.

It’s abusive to have a teaching that is a grave sin and then many clergy discourage following it. What about laity who read that it’s a sin in the Catechism but their confessor tells them they can use contraception? Scrupulous people are told to just do what your confessor says.

Greg

 

[Greg_McPherran]

lontas:

But I believe that we should still suggest Confession simply out of concern for the person’s soul.

Fair enough in principle. However, given the state of affairs today, suggesting confession may end up with the person being told by the priest that it’s not a sin, so the confession would cause psychological/spiritual damage - part of my original point.

By the way, I visited your web-site - beautiful music! :clapping:

 

[Greg_McPherran]

itsjustdave1988:

Tso whether their impediments to will and intellect with regard to grave sin

Being discouraged from following the Church teaching on contraception by many priests is an impediment to my intellect and will.

I would not suggest confession without first providing a list of priests that actually uphold the teaching otherwise the person could just going back to square one and be told “it’s OK if not selfish, etc.”

Can someone tell people where the list of “real” Catholic Churches is kept so that people can only confess to faithful priests? Until we have that list we cannot blame those who follow their confessors guidance.

Greg

 

[itsjustdave1988]

It’s abusive to have a teaching that is a grave sin and then many clergy discourage following it. What about laity who read that it’s a sin in the Catechism but their confessor tells them they can use contraception? Scrupulous people are told to just do what your confessor says.

We are bound to all things lawful. As an officer in the USAF, I am not relieved of culpability if I obey an unlawful order. St. Thomas Aquinas does speak of invincible ignorance, that is, ignorance that “cannot be overcome by study.” Actions committed from invincible ignorance are not formal sin. However, not all ignorance relieves guilt. “Vincible ignorance is a sin, if it be about matters one is bound to know; but not, if it be about things one is not bound to know.” If find it difficult to believe that those Catholics who use contraceptives are using them because they are invincibly ignorant of what the Church teaches. It’s more likely defiance.

Your thesis that because clergy have defiantly refused to assent to the clear teaching of the Church somehow relieves the laity of their obligation to obey the Church is absurd. Other people’s sins does not produce invincible ignorance. It may affect doubt, but one in doubt has an obligation to resolve the doubt in such instances versus merely living in doubt.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

Greg_McPherran:

Being discouraged from following the Church teaching on contraception by many priests is an impediment to my intellect and will.

Perhaps so, but that doesn’t necessarily entirely relieve you of the guilt of sin.

There are three types of ignorance:

Invincible ignorance: ignorance which a person cannot reasonably overcome given time, opportunity, and talent available; destroys the voluntary character an action

Vincible Ignorance: can be reasonably overcome given time, opportunity, and talent available; may diminish but not destroy voluntary character of an action

Affected Ignorance: deliberately sought ignorance; does not destroy or diminish voluntary character or responsibility for an act. In fact, it may increase responsibility, at least to the degree that it adds malice to the act

Only invincible ignorance relieves the sinner of the guilt of their objective or material sin.

Vincible ignorance is a sin if it is something one is bound to know. The Church’s teaching on contraception is something a Catholic contemplating use fo contraceptives is bound to know. Their guilt may be diminished, but it is never destroyed.

Affect ignorance actually increases the guilt of the sinner.

 

[Greg_McPherran]

itsjustdave1988:

We are bound to all things lawful.

Yes, but that’s my point. People are misguided as to exactly what is lawful and unlawful. If their confessor tells them they can ignore what you say, and they think since their confessor is an ordained authority then he can be listened to and trusted then they don’t think they are violating any law - that’s the whole point.

Greg

 

[Greg_McPherran]

itsjustdave1988:

Perhaps so, but that doesn’t necessarily entirely relieve you of the guilt of sin.

Remember, you’re preaching to the choir. I believe it is a serious sin as the Catechism says.

When enough priests say it’s OK, it definitely raises the question in some peoples minds (even obedient) and this is just the state of affairs and has nothing to do with ignorance. They try to overcome their “ignorance” so they ask a priest. If the priest says it is not a concern then they feel they have done their duty to overcome their “ignorance”. Scrupulous people are told to just obey the priest in confession.

Greg

 

[itsjustdave1988]

Greg_McPherran:

Yes, but that’s my point. People are misguided as to exactly what is lawful and unlawful. If their confessor tells them they can ignore what you say, and they think since their confessor is an ordained authority then he can be listened to and trusted then they don’t think they are violating any law - that’s the whole point.

Greg

So as an officer in the USAF, if my commanding officer orders me to kill non-combatants, I am relieved of the guilt of following his orders? I disagree. I am bound to know the law of arm conflict as an officer in the USAF. Ignorance of that law does not relieve me of guilt of violation of that law. I am guilty if I follow the directive of officer appointed over me if they order me to violate higher authority.

Catholic laity have the same obligation to obey their pastors as I have for obedience to the officers appointed over me. They must obey UNLESS they direct them to do something unlawful. Catholics contemplating use of contraceptives are bound to know Catholic teaching on the matter. This is easily researched in the official Catechism of the Catholic Church that the pope calls a “sure norm” of Catholic teaching. They have time and opportunity to study the matter. If they lack normal mental capacity, then they may be invincibly ignorant. For the rest with normal mental capacity, they have no excuse. You cannot fake invincible ignorance before God. Your thesis seems like a lawyerly trick in order to get out of being culpable for sinful actions. The clergy indeed commit the greater sin, as they are given greater responsbility. Yet, unless you are invincibly ignorant you do sin and are culpable for that sin.

 

[Greg_McPherran]

itsjustdave1988:

So as an officer in the USAF, if my commanding officer orders me to kill non-combatants, I am relieved of the guilt of following his orders? I disagree.

Murder is more clearly wrong. However, if for example you were never taught better all your life and were raised from childhood as a killer, yes you may not think it is wrong at all.

Contraception is different. It requires more discernment and it is much easier to convince someone that it is not serious and that the Church may change the teaching etc. If Catholics are taught in this line of thinking and sincerely believe it, then yes, they have little if any guilt. I would say that is the current state of affairs with some Catholics today.

itsjustdave1988:

Catholic laity have the same obligation to obey their pastors as I have for obedience to the officers appointed over me. They must obey UNLESS they direct them to do something unlawful.

Yes, but if people got wind that your superiors were telling you to murder, those superiors would be quickly removed.

Many bishops and the pope know that many priests do not uphold the Church teaching on contraception. Since these priests are not removed this further reinforces to Catholics that it must be OK.

I see this state of affairs as serious in itself and I agree that no Catholic should use this to excuse using contraception. However, I am concerned that there are many Catholics who sincerely do not know it is seriously wrong. Even if they do their duty to overcome this and ask their priest and ***sincerely ***believe their priest then I do not see how they have culpability.

Greg