Were one to ask a couple of friends similar questions, whose advice should one accept when they differ? The public forum can certainly be “hit or miss”.
No level of “background” can be assumed for any participant on the public forum. Perhaps that fact needs to be more evident? And if there are real priests participating on the public forum, perhaps CAF should have a means to verify bona fides and “tag” them in some way.
You make the presumption that someone’s word ought to be accepted. it’s a forum - a debate - and yes, people are likely to be influenced, but it’s the same in any forum.
Yes indeed.
Theologians and Priests too can argue and differ with one another as to what is the truth or what is error or what is the moral thing to do. And they can make mistakes too. Simply part of things. It is important to have great respect for them and their vocation (
anyone who knows me in life knows I very much do so) while avoiding any
clericalism (see Russell Shaw. Ignatius Press etc). But to know that they too that we are all limited and can make a mistake.
For instance I found an error in one rather orthodox Professors book - and pointed it out to him - for which he was thankful. Everyone can make a mistake or a misjudgment and we see even the Catholic Answers Apologists (Priests and Laity) getting questions like “I was told this by so and so…or this theological writer said this” …to which the Apologists then provide the Teachings of the Church etc.
It is as you note a
Public Forum -
caveat emptor- yes one must weigh the answers and discuss them. And remember what it is and what it is not. It an an
anonymous forum. One does not know really who each of us is. If Pope Francis posted here - I would need to find out if he really was Pope Francis! (though I would not put it past him to one day do so - he does like to ring up people on the phone - so perhaps one day he will visit us here!) Sometimes you even get atheists posting in a way that one thinks they are another Catholic.
This forum should not be a substitute for say approaching your own Pastor or Confessor or others whom one really knows. And who knows you pastorally if it is say a question of Conscience or moral question. Often in answering a question here in the forums myself - I add that the person should bring the matter to their confessor etc. This is anon. forum - so even if the advice is from a Priest or a poster you generally think is correct - that is not a substitute as I noted.
And of course there are the know places and known experts one can ask - such as the National Catholic Bioethics Center etc etc.
One of course ought to seek out the right sources (Catechism etc etc) or can research the question on the main Catholic Answers site - one for example knows quite well who the Catholic Answers Apologists are - including the Priests at Catholic Answers. That is one reason why they have that service of Ask an Apologist, and now that has migrated to to a different form on the new site - but it still is active - just ask your question there or look to see if it as already been asked. That way one knows who is answering.
Yes indeed on a public forum one must take great care -just as one ought not necessarily run with advice one finds say on a forum where people discuss medical problems! Just cause they say they are a doctor or a nurse or a brain surgeon - they may be but they may not be a good one. And they actually have warnings on sites telling you this. Seek out known trustworthy sources - talk to your doctor who knows you and whom you know - weigh what you read - seek out verified sources of knowledge and experts- do not just take medical advice and run with it from forum.
Caveat emptor.
On the other side - if one knows - “hey this is a forum” - and approaches it as such -then it can be a good experience - even if you do not always agree with this or that poster or they with you. You can proceed as Christians - as brothers and sisters and as interested persons in a topic or sharing what one has come to know or encounter new ideas or approaches…
And there will be disagreements at times. If someone disagrees with me - we might discuss it out - but in the end they are my brother (or sister) and I theirs. We are fellow Christians and sometimes we get to practice virtues we did not know we needed more of - and to forgive and to forbear etc. In the end let us always be brothers (in the biblical sense).
And if they are not yet Christians who argue - well they too are loved and we can share common human respect together.
And heck if they are “enemies” and hostile as some come here simply to attack the faith - well the Lord said “love your enemies” and “pray for those who persecute you” so that is we are to do too.
I am rather a tertiary. There are married Priests though …but no I am not a Priest (not one of the Clergy converts from Anglicanism- though I am a convert from years ago). One though does not need to be Priest or Religious or a Professional Theologian to discuss Theology…though I greatly admire those called to those vocations and consider or was attracted to each to them at one point or another in my life.