D
DL82
Guest
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
“If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the Liturgy of the Word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in praer for an appripriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families.” CCC 2183
In my work, I have occasionally encountered people who suffered so badly at the hands of the Church’s representatives, priests or religious, that they just can’t bring themselves to attend Mass. They would like to come back, but they just can’t, they can’t trust the priest or believe in the holiness of his ministry.
I know of people who, because of psychological factors, such as extreme scrupulosity, have been told not to take part in the sacrament of reconciliation. Confession is just too much of an obstacle for them, psychologically, so they have been told not to go, or only to go and say “Father forgive me, for I am a sinner” and not try to examine their conscience.
Clearly both of these are cases of psychological damage, and it would be better to be healed. But sometimes healing is slow when such deep damage has been done.
My question is, could such a psychological barrier constitute a legitimate reason, in the same way that physical distance from a church, or the absence of a priest, would be a legitimate reason to miss Mass?
“If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the Liturgy of the Word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in praer for an appripriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families.” CCC 2183
In my work, I have occasionally encountered people who suffered so badly at the hands of the Church’s representatives, priests or religious, that they just can’t bring themselves to attend Mass. They would like to come back, but they just can’t, they can’t trust the priest or believe in the holiness of his ministry.
I know of people who, because of psychological factors, such as extreme scrupulosity, have been told not to take part in the sacrament of reconciliation. Confession is just too much of an obstacle for them, psychologically, so they have been told not to go, or only to go and say “Father forgive me, for I am a sinner” and not try to examine their conscience.
Clearly both of these are cases of psychological damage, and it would be better to be healed. But sometimes healing is slow when such deep damage has been done.
My question is, could such a psychological barrier constitute a legitimate reason, in the same way that physical distance from a church, or the absence of a priest, would be a legitimate reason to miss Mass?