Help me understand how they justify their behavior

[st_felicity]

Where do all the pundits and “not-traditional” Catholics get the idea that they can “follow their conscience” on such issues as birth control in contradiction of what I deem infallable Catholic Doctrine? When I say “follow their conscience” I do not necessarily mean a “rightly formed” conscience–i.e. How do so-called “Catholics” justify using contraceptives apart from ignoring Humanae Vitae–what’s their basis?

I’m sorry if this is worded poorly…I hope you get what I’m asking…

 

[Genesis315]

The Church is out of touch with reality and the modern world and they know better than the authority founded by Christ.:yawn:

 

[slinky1882]

I would have to go with Pride (in the selfish sense). Ultimately, Pride is behind all sins by undermining Faith, Hope and Love and communion with God’s Grace.

 

[st_felicity]

It seems to me there is some Vatican II document wording that some people point to…does this sound familiar to anyone? I’m asking because my “Barely Protestant-Almost Ready to Convert Catholic” mother is hung-up on how some “Catholics” seem to sincerely believe there is teaching that supports this idea.Ya…Ya…I know… there’s gonna be another issue after that…I’m a-prayin’!

 

[Genesis315]

st_felicity:

It seems to me there is some Vatican II document wording that some people point to…does this sound familiar to anyone? I’m asking because my “Barely Protestant-Almost Ready to Convert Catholic” mother is hung-up on how some “Catholics” seem to sincerely believe there is teaching that supports this idea.Ya…Ya…I know… there’s gonna be another issue after that…I’m a-prayin’!

Probably this on religious freedom from Vatican II.

vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651207_dignitatis-humanae_en.html

On his part, man perceives and acknowledges the imperatives of the divine law through the mediation of conscience. In all his activity aman is bound to follow his conscience in order that he may come to God, the end and purpose of life. It follows that he is not to be forced to act in manner contrary to his conscience. Nor, on the other hand, is he to be restrained from acting in accordance with his conscience, especially in matters religious. The reason is that the exercise of religion, of its very nature, consists before all else in those internal, voluntary and free acts whereby man sets the course of his life directly toward God. No merely human power can either command or prohibit acts of this kind.(3) The social nature of man, however, itself requires that he should give external expression to his internal acts of religion: that he should share with others in matters religious; that he should profess his religion in community. Injury therefore is done to the human person and to the very order established by God for human life, if the free exercise of religion is denied in society, provided just public order is observed.

The thing is, no one is forcing them to do anything. Likewise, that doesn’t make the act objectively not a sin, however. The Church cannot force them not to sin. Likewise, just public order is destroyed by things like abortion.

 

[banjo]

Catholics are bound to follow their conscience, but are also bound to properly inform their conscience and that, according to CCC 1784, is a “lifelong task.”

 

[Fidelis]

A big factor is the mush that passed for catechesis after the Second Vatican Council. The statement above by the Council is absolutely true. *However * it presumes that the reader knows (and cares to find out) what a properly formed conscience is. Since the Silly Sixties people have been told to “follow their conscience” where conscience was the same as “feelings” or “what my gut tells me to to.” Thus, we are left with a generation with relativistic “Jiminy Cricket consciences” where we decide on our own lights what is right or wrong.

Hopefully, the attached will help someone.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONSCIENCE
Part I: General principles
rosary-center.org/ll55n4.htm

UNDERSTANDING THE CONSCIENCE
Part II: Full Maturity in Christ
rosary-center.org/ll55n5.htm

 

[st_felicity]

THANK-YOU Genesis!!! I think that is exactly what I was looking for…

So…in context…what it is ACTUALLY saying is that we cannot interfere with the freedom granted all mankind by God, even if they choose wrongly. Every person has the freedom to be wrong and the Faith cannot be forced upon him, but due to that freedom, he also has the freedom to be wrong–even persistently and obstinately wrong at the cost of his immortal soul.

Is that so?

 

[st_felicity]

(oh…and thanks fo the help, too banjo and Fidelis…you posted while I was posting…but indeed helpful!)

 

[Genesis315]

st_felicity:

THANK-YOU Genesis!!! I think that is exactly what I was looking for…

So…in context…what it is ACTUALLY saying is that we cannot interfere with the freedom granted all mankind by God, even if they choose wrongly. Every person has the freedom to be wrong and the Faith cannot be forced upon him, but due to that freedom, he also has the freedom to be wrong–even persistently and obstinately wrong at the cost of his immortal soul.

Is that so?

That sounds good to me.