Listening to bad talk about abortion

[pm2222]

I was in the car with a person who said some things that made it seem like pro life people didn’t know what they were talking about. The person mentioned talked about it for maybe a minute or so and I was in the car but didnt say anything. Is it a sin that I didn’t say anything? And if so how serious a sin? I felt like kind of scared to say something to the person and I’m worried that by not saying anything I sinned.

 

[AdamP88]

You didn’t sin by not speaking up in this instance. It’s understandable that we can be upset and afraid when our views or morals are challenged.

Yes - we should stand up for what we believe in. But doing this takes practice and sometimes, even when we do this, we agonize over how we could have done better.

We are called as Christians to set an example and ideally we should do so. But we’re human and we do not and cannot always weigh into every argument. And sometimes, for the sake of prudence - we should not.

 

[manualman]

Sin? Nope.

Missed opportunity to develop the virtue of moral courage? Yup.

Do your best to be charitable, but give it a shot next time. Better to do it badly than not try at all. Besides, doing it badly a few times is how you learn to do it well.

 

[mexolic]

Iv’e had an experience where two other Protestant passengers in a company van pool I was in, were discussing that it’s wrong to be in Catholic church. I had to bite my tongue on that one.

 

[1ke]

I was in the car with a person who said some things that made it seem like pro life people didn’t know what they were talking about. The person mentioned talked about it for maybe a minute or so and I was in the car but didnt say anything. Is it a sin that I didn’t say anything? And if so how serious a sin? I felt like kind of scared to say something to the person and I’m worried that by not saying anything I sinned.

Based on this and other of your posts, you sound very scrupulous. Please get some professional assistance from your priest to help you learn how to form your conscience and how to judge situations like this. you cannot continually come on an internet forum and ask “is this a sin” for every little thing.

 

[mytruepower2]

I was in the car with a person who said some things that made it seem like pro life people didn’t know what they were talking about. The person mentioned talked about it for maybe a minute or so and I was in the car but didnt say anything. Is it a sin that I didn’t say anything? And if so how serious a sin? I felt like kind of scared to say something to the person and I’m worried that by not saying anything I sinned.

Silence can be a sin when it gives people the impression that nothing is wrong with talking like that. It’s called the sin of Scandal. However, this sin is much more serious when the person committing it is a publicly-recognized figure in society, like a politician or bishop.

However, for the most part, this is only a venial sin, and will be chased off the next time you receive holy communion.

On the other hand, if you simply -didn’t know how- to respond, it’s not a sin, but the virtue of prudence. Giving a poor defense of the truth wouldn’t benefit anyone. My advice is; study up on the subject, until you can talk about it from a variety of different angles, then let 'em have it.

 

[Kay_Cee]

I was in the car with a person who said some things that made it seem like pro life people didn’t know what they were talking about. The person mentioned talked about it for maybe a minute or so and I was in the car but didnt say anything. Is it a sin that I didn’t say anything? And if so how serious a sin? I felt like kind of scared to say something to the person and I’m worried that by not saying anything I sinned.

If you are going to see this person again, get a copy of Peter Kreeft’s Three Approaches to Abortion. Kreeft is the author of a textbook on Socratic Logic, so he certainly knows what he’s talking about.

After you read the book yourself, the way to guarantee that your friend will read it too is to hand him your copy and say, “You seem to know a lot about abortion. Well, I read this guy, and he disagrees with you, but he seems to make a lot of sense. Can you tell me where he goes wrong?”

That way it’s not you arguing with your friend. It’s Kreeft arguing with your friend.

And, while your friend may never admit it, Kreeft will win.

You can find that book here: amazon.com/Three-Approaches-Abortion-Compassionate-Controversial/dp/0898709156/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341670528&sr=1-1&keywords=three+approaches+to+abortion