Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide... What?

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It seems more and more Catholic priests and theologians are using the term “well formed conscience” to support obviously grave contradictions to Catholic moral and theological teachings. Take Fr. Geoff Farrow of Fresno, California: He stated that the Bishops were spreading a message of hate by supporting proposition 8 (a state ban on homosexual marriages) and felt that he would be acting against his conscience if he were to suggest his parishioners vote for the ban. His “well formed conscience” told him to go against Catholic moral teaching and suggest his flock vote in favor of homosexual marriages. The same wordage is used by priests and laity who support the ordination of women citing that it is uncharitable, and sexist. The list goes on: contraception… co-habitation… abortion… masturbation… divorce… whatever you want really… 😦

Where does this “well formed conscience” idea come from?? It seems that anyone and everyone is using it to buy their cafeteria ticket. In any case, has this idea of following your conscience first and foremost always been apart of Catholic teaching? Or is it a “spirit of VII” no basis whatsoever save I guess someone’s own “well formed conscience” idea?

… Confused 🤷
 
The idea of conscience to inform our moral belief has always been present in the Church from the beginning. I recall that in the 13th century, the Church ruled that forced conversions were sinful.

Just because some people’s consciences are malformed is no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Blessings,
Marduk
 
So would it be correct to say that a conscience formed by forces outside of the Church, such as (and for the purpose of this discussion) popular secular beliefs and inclinations not be considered well formed? I may be confused here then… My own personal belief was that it didn’t matter how some “touchy” subject made me feel, but rather I was meant to follow the teachings of the Church.

So for instance: A man and woman, by their “good conscience” believed that having a child at some point in their lives would be irresponsible, or unwise for the upbringing of the child be it because of poverty, age, or social conditions. After consulting their “well formed consciences” they decide that in order to support the unitive quality of their marriage, they ought to use artificial contraception.

I always thought that the above situation was immoral and against Church teaching on contraception. period. No debate as to how one feels about the situation, it’s immoral, done. Is your conscience based upon what YOU think, or what the CHURCH teaches?
 
There is a Catholic meaning and there is a perverted meaning of the term “conscience.” Here’s a good explanation from Cardinal Newman.

newmanreader.org/works/anglicans/volume2/gladstone/section5.html

Essentially, we receive truth through faith and reason. Conscience comes into play in when we make a decision on how to act in concrete circumstances given the truth that is known. There can also be culpable ignorance.

I also liked how St. Catherine of Siena explained it: she said conscience is like a guard dog who barks to warn us of an evil decision and wags his tail for a good one. However, he must be fed (with the doctrine of the Church) or else he becomes weak and non-responsive–or even dead!
 
Antonio Corduba, a Spanish Franciscan, states the doctrine with still more point, because he makes mention of Superiors. “In no manner is it lawful to act against conscience, even though a Law, or a Superior commands it.”—De Conscient., p. 138.
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And the French Dominican, Natalis Alexander:—“If, in the judgment of conscience, through a mistaken conscience, a man is persuaded that what his Superior {261} commands is displeasing to God, he is bound not to obey.”—Theol. t. 2, p. 32.
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Ok, first The Newman essay was very enlightening. So the conscience is strictly the voice of God and reason that speaks to our own personal soul. So in its essence, it is impossible for your conscience to contradict the Church’s moral law. Yes? Correct me if I’m wrong.

Now when I look at the two quotes listed, It seems that the actions of Fr. Geoff Farrow would not be sinful. He after all truly believes that acting contrary to his belief is displeasing to God. He even states in is address to the congregation that at his death he would be forced to answer for his actions. He decided to speak the way he did so that in the end he could truthfully tell our Lord that he acted in a way he saw pleasing to Him (God). So based upon the quotes, he committed absolutely no sin. If I’m right to draw the conclusion, it still seems wrong. Do I just not really get it?
 
Cruikshank_s said:
Ok, first The Newman essay was very enlightening. So the conscience is strictly the voice of God and reason that speaks to our own personal soul. So in its essence, it is impossible for your conscience to contradict the Church’s moral law. Yes? Correct me if I’m wrong.

Now when I look at the two quotes listed, It seems that the actions of Fr. Geoff Farrow would not be sinful. He after all truly believes that acting contrary to his belief is displeasing to God. He even states in is address to the congregation that at his death he would be forced to answer for his actions. He decided to speak the way he did so that in the end he could truthfully tell our Lord that he acted in a way he saw pleasing to Him (God). So based upon the quotes, he committed absolutely no sin. If I’m right to draw the conclusion, it still seems wrong. Do I just not really get it?
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A person following a malformed conscience always commits sin. Whether mortal or not depends on the gravity of the act as well as how far invincible ignorance enters the picture. Truth does not depend on consensus or “feelings.” As Father Farrow no doubts knows the teaching of the Church (who Jesus Himself instructed us is to be our guide), he is committing a mortal sin - i.e., invincible ignorance cannot mitigate his actions or beliefs.

But to answer a previous question you had, which brother Genesis315 has already covered, our conscience is not based on mere “feeling.” A conscience that is based on mere “feeling” will most likely be led astray, if it is not simultaneously informed by the Church’s teaching as well as reason.

Blessings,
Marduk
 
Is it possible for a sane person with a ‘well formed’ conscience to conclude that the entire RCC teaching is wrong? Yes.
Is it possible for a sane person to think that he might be wrong in his single-minded conclusion (however intelligent he may be) and therefore safer to consult his superiors? Yes.
Is it possible that due to such grave conflict the same sane person can wrongfully mislead his flock? Yes.

The priest in question sinned.
 
The problem is with the definition of a well formed conscience.
II. The Formation of Conscience
1783 Conscience must be informed and moral judgment enlightened. A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. the education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings.
1784 The education of the conscience is a lifelong task. From the earliest years, it awakens the child to the knowledge and practice of the interior law recognized by conscience. Prudent education teaches virtue; it prevents or cures fear, selfishness and pride, resentment arising from guilt, and feelings of complacency, born of human weakness and faults. the education of the conscience guarantees freedom and engenders peace of heart.
1785 In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path,54 we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. We must also examine our conscience before the Lord’s Cross. We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church.55
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If ones “well formed” conscience does not reflect Church teaching one is obliged to rectify the discord. One is either wrong, or has misunderstood the Church teaching.
 
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