Does Invincible Ignorance exempt someone from Natural Law?

[Esrb99]

I was discussing the concept of invincible ignorance, and was wondering about the following scenario:

If any religion said abortion was okay in some circumstances,
then since this was related to their faith,
would the precept of natural law not apply to them when it comes to abortion?

(substitute any “sin against the natural law/law on men’s hearts” for abortion if need be)

Thanks!!!

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

The Natural Law applies to all of us since it can be known through reason. However, how culpable we are is determined by other circumstances.

If I violate a traffic law that my parents told me wasn’t a law, I am still going to be pulled over by a police officer who sees me do it. The police officer will most likely ticket me and I would appear before a judge to plead my case. The judge will then make a determination of whether it is believable that I could have been ignorant of the particular traffic law and whether such ignorance makes a difference based on the severity of my diving actions and how contrite I am now that I am aware of the law.

In a similar way, God is the ultimate judge of our actions. God alone knows our motives, knowledge, contrition, etc. Invincible ignorance does not mean a “free pass.” After all, imagine the utter grief and sadness that someone would experience when they realize the horror of abortion. Imagine the pain of standing before the source of all love and realizing the tragedy of the decision for an abortion. There is no “free pass” based on invincible ignorance, it would be better to know the truth and follow/live it.