May I morally take this job?

[utica]

I need help understanding a problem I find myself in.

I work in public relations as an independent photographer. Among my clients are several trade publications; magazines that are usually read by people within the specific industries. Generally, I provide portraits to run with profiles of different industry people.

Late this week, I received an assignment to photograph a professor at a local university. When I googled him to find out more about his work, I found out that he is a bio-ethicist and was very high profile in defending Plan B over the past weeks and months.

I’m not sure what to do here.

First, I know Plan B has a tertiary mechanism for killing embryos. And, after reading it again, I know that his argument is illogical and more than a little misleading.

Second, if I turn down this job on moral grounds there is a very good chance that I will lose this client. The client provides several jobs a year, and these jobs often result in residual sales. This is the first one from them that has presented a moral question.

Third, I really need the money. I’m the sole bread winner in our family. My wife is home full time with our children. We have four children. Business has been down, in no small part because I am trying to wean myself from working for clients who, while not doing anything illicit, are not exactly trying to build up a culture of life.

My wife, who is not Catholic, will support my decision about this 100%. While not Catholic, she too is working to build a culture of life. Nevertheless, we are under serious financial strain, and it takes its toll on her.

Thinking about photographing this guy makes me sick.

Bottom line: would it be a sin to photograph the professor for the magazine? If not, why not?

 

[Liberian]

Utica,

You sound like you have a difficult decision to make. I would vote for not photographing the person, though, and pleading moral objections to the client. My basis is the following joke; I don’t mean to make light of your (very serious) situation, but I think the joke teaches a very serious moral lesson.

A guy goes into a bar and meets a young woman there. After some chitchat, he asks her “Would you go to bed with me for a million dollars?” She thinks about it for a minute or two and says “Yes, I would.” “OK,” says he, “would you go to bed with me for ten dollars?” Indignant, she retorts, “What sort of a woman do you think I am?” “Oh, I’ve already established that,” he replies, “now we’re just haggling over the price.”

• Liberian

 

[utica]

That is a funny joke.

There is a good chance that pleading a moral objection to my client will result in the loss of this client, and the loss of other moral and licit jobs from him.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

It doesn’t seem as though photographing him indicates agreement with his views. Neither does it seem to directly support his views. I forget the definitions and distinctions of formal and material cooperation in evil. But even if the photo is to be used in an article promoting his views the cooperation is remote and therefore excusable for proportionate reason, like the need to make a living. It seems on the order of the cooperation given in setting print for the article or repairing his word processor. You might want to repost this in Ask an Apologist section. They would have the details clearer than I have given them.

 

[thechrismyster]

clients come and go.
i was approached a few years back to do some artwork for a popular “ahem” men’s magazine. and although the money made me want to play, boy, turning them down was delightful.

when it comes to your conscience, always follow it. a well formed conscience will make the decision long before your brain will. or your wallet.

although, in your case, you’re simply recording an image of someone. that is utilitarian and not immoral in and of itself.

my advice, take a deep breath, say a prayer to the Holy Ghost for guidance, and then listen to your conscience.

good luck.

(remember, if you’re good at what you do, forget about the client, be yourself, be the best artist you can be and they’ll find you in droves…)

 

[psteichen]

Utica,

I understand your dilema. And I agree with other posters that this is, in the long run, for your own concience to decide. Certainly I don’t think doing it would be sinful as it would be very remote participation, if you can even call it participation. However if you decide not to do it this could be a good oportunity to make a moral point with the publisher. It may get him to thinking about the seriousness of the issue.

Another option, why not just tell the publisher you will be unable to do the shoot due to scheduling issues? It wouldn’t be a lie, because afterall don’t you need to go pray for this professors conversion on that day?

If you do decide to do it I wouldn’t hold it against you. You are not doing anything to promote plan B yourself. How about using your talents with lighting to give the guy a subtly satanic look?

God Bless

 

[Mike_Dye]

The very fact that you are struggling with the issue should give you a clue as to what your concience is telling you. Even if it is not blatantly sinful you would probably feel better about yourself by following your concience.

 

[Coder]

It doesn’t seem as though photographing him indicates agreement with his views. Neither does it seem to directly support his views.

I think that aspect is a considersation but as you also seem to point out, it may depend on the nature of the maagzine and article . If the magazine article is unrelated to the medical field then the photo is not an endorsement of his immoral position. If the magazine article is promoting his work which also relates to his immoral position then it may be wrong to participate. I don’t think it is direct cooperation in the destruction of human embryos. You could consult a faithful priest.

 

[hasikelee]

What are the photographs for? Will the photographs go with an article or newspiece? If so, on what?

Photographs can be used to disagree and agree, or simply to inform. There must be more understanding of the issue to make a decision.

 

[Riley259]

I need help understanding a problem I find myself in.

I work in public relations as an independent photographer. Among my clients are several trade publications; magazines that are usually read by people within the specific industries. Generally, I provide portraits to run with profiles of different industry people.

Late this week, I received an assignment to photograph a professor at a local university. When I googled him to find out more about his work, I found out that he is a bio-ethicist and was very high profile in defending Plan B over the past weeks and months.

I’m not sure what to do here.

First, I know Plan B has a tertiary mechanism for killing embryos. And, after reading it again, I know that his argument is illogical and more than a little misleading.

Second, if I turn down this job on moral grounds there is a very good chance that I will lose this client. The client provides several jobs a year, and these jobs often result in residual sales. This is the first one from them that has presented a moral question.

Third, I really need the money. I’m the sole bread winner in our family. My wife is home full time with our children. We have four children. Business has been down, in no small part because I am trying to wean myself from working for clients who, while not doing anything illicit, are not exactly trying to build up a culture of life.

My wife, who is not Catholic, will support my decision about this 100%. While not Catholic, she too is working to build a culture of life. Nevertheless, we are under serious financial strain, and it takes its toll on her.

Thinking about photographing this guy makes me sick.

Bottom line: would it be a sin to photograph the professor for the magazine? If not, why not?

It’s possible that your photograph will accompany an article about this professor that exposes his support of Plan B and that readers will feel his status has been diminished by that. Someone may actually drop him a note expressing their disappointment in his position on this issue and you never know: this may be the seed that changes his heart about it.

 

[utica]

Thanks to everyone for your help in this.

I continue to prayerfully discern what my action will be, and will come to a decision in the next day or two.

 

[Fergal]

No money is better than blood money. Sorry if I am being very blunt but he is paying you probably with money earned with his ideals and actions that support the culture of death.

Just remember, blood stains.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

If you turn down jobs based on the morality of the client, then technically you would not be able to take any jobs at all.

Why avoid people who have morality we consider evil? What are we afraid of – catching something from it? Christ spent a great deal of time around evildoers. He even “promoted” women of ill-repute over so-called “righteous” people – so if Christ can extol the virtues of a prostitute to church leaders then maybe it isn’t so bad to associate with this man to take his photo.

If the man has a problem with how he thinks, then why not rub elbows with him, show him some unconditional love, and open your heart to find out what makes him tick? You just might learn something that will help you out in your own pro-life agenda. This is like a chance to infiltrate the “strong man’s house” in a way.

If you are being asked to endorse his agenda, then that would indeed be a problem. Other than that, Christ died for that man just as much as He did for any of us so we owe him just as much respect as we owe Christ Himself, for whatever we do to even the least of His brothers, we do to Him.

Alan

 

[Coder]

I agree with you about the endorsement aspect. Personally, I would seek to avoid anything that would reasonably imply condoning his views. It may be best to consult a faithful priest as to whether the implication of condoning is acceptable as a side effect. Germaine Grisez wrote a book about Christian moral principles that might be helpful.

Why avoid people who have morality we consider evil? What are we afraid of – catching something from it?Alan

St. Paul says that bad company corrupts good morals - although I agree that is probably not the issue here.

If the man has a problem with how he thinks, then why not rub elbows with him, …This is like a chance to infiltrate the “strong man’s house” in a way.
Alan

St. Paul also says not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good although I’m not sure the business relationship in this case will allow much for that.

We could all email this man and inform him that embryonic stem cell destructiion is immoral. CA may have links that we can send to people who support embryonic stem cell research involving desturction of the embryos. Certainly we wouldn’t make any connection to this situation in such an email though. Any thoughts utica?

I wonder what Catholic newcasters do when they must report about activities that involve the destruction of embryonic stem cells.

 

[TimOliv]

I need help understanding a problem I find myself in.

I work in public relations as an independent photographer. Among my clients are several trade publications; magazines that are usually read by people within the specific industries. Generally, I provide portraits to run with profiles of different industry people.

Late this week, I received an assignment to photograph a professor at a local university. When I googled him to find out more about his work, I found out that he is a bio-ethicist and was very high profile in defending Plan B over the past weeks and months.

I’m not sure what to do here.

First, I know Plan B has a tertiary mechanism for killing embryos. And, after reading it again, I know that his argument is illogical and more than a little misleading.

Second, if I turn down this job on moral grounds there is a very good chance that I will lose this client. The client provides several jobs a year, and these jobs often result in residual sales. This is the first one from them that has presented a moral question.

Third, I really need the money. I’m the sole bread winner in our family. My wife is home full time with our children. We have four children. Business has been down, in no small part because I am trying to wean myself from working for clients who, while not doing anything illicit, are not exactly trying to build up a culture of life.

My wife, who is not Catholic, will support my decision about this 100%. While not Catholic, she too is working to build a culture of life. Nevertheless, we are under serious financial strain, and it takes its toll on her.

Thinking about photographing this guy makes me sick.

Bottom line: would it be a sin to photograph the professor for the magazine? If not, why not?

Personally I would say that while it may not be a “sin,” not photographing him would be a positive sacrifice to offer to Christ.

 

[rwoehmke]

Seems to me taking his picture would be a morally indifferent act. Not taking his picture is not going to have any impact one way or the other on the article. Seems like any cooperation would be pretty remote and indirect

 

[LighthouseRon]

I need help understanding a problem I find myself in.

I work in public relations as an independent photographer. Among my clients are several trade publications; magazines that are usually read by people within the specific industries. Generally, I provide portraits to run with profiles of different industry people.

Late this week, I received an assignment to photograph a professor at a local university. When I googled him to find out more about his work, I found out that he is a bio-ethicist and was very high profile in defending Plan B over the past weeks and months.

I’m not sure what to do here.

First, I know Plan B has a tertiary mechanism for killing embryos. And, after reading it again, I know that his argument is illogical and more than a little misleading.

Second, if I turn down this job on moral grounds there is a very good chance that I will lose this client. The client provides several jobs a year, and these jobs often result in residual sales. This is the first one from them that has presented a moral question.

Third, I really need the money. I’m the sole bread winner in our family. My wife is home full time with our children. We have four children. Business has been down, in no small part because I am trying to wean myself from working for clients who, while not doing anything illicit, are not exactly trying to build up a culture of life.

My wife, who is not Catholic, will support my decision about this 100%. While not Catholic, she too is working to build a culture of life. Nevertheless, we are under serious financial strain, and it takes its toll on her.

Thinking about photographing this guy makes me sick.

Bottom line: would it be a sin to photograph the professor for the magazine? If not, why not?

I say do the job. Taking care of your family should be your first concern and taking his photograph isn’t sinful in itself and you really have no idea what it will be used for. If you refuse to work for sinners how much work will you have? If you know these photos would be used in opposition of catholic teaching, that’s wrong. To take photos of a sinner is okay.

 

[vern_humphrey]

If you worked for the telephone company, would you refuse to install a telephone for this guy? If you were a mail carrier, would you refuse to deliver his mail?

You’re not being asked to defend this guy’s opinions, or to write a puff-piece about him – just to take his picture. Go ahead and take it.

 

[Coder]

If you worked for the telephone company, would you refuse to install a telephone for this guy? If you were a mail carrier, would you refuse to deliver his mail?

Father Pavone discussed not providing services to abortion clinics as a way of combatting the evil of abortion. Our goal is a pro-life society - we want our actions to be pro-life. Perhaps it’s acceptable to take the picture - I don’t know all the details. However, it seems to be in the wrong direction when our goal is to promote pro-life. That’s why I say, maybe we should start am email campaign to notify the man that his support for ebryonic stem cell research is wrong.

 

[Coder]

This is an email I wrote to Cesare Galli involved in or promoting stem cell research at a Laboratory in Italy. Feel free to copy it and email it to anyone. You may also modify any way that you find useful. This person claimed to have/share Catholic values so the first sentence (and perhaps other parts) may not apply to emails to others.

—Quote—
I read an article in which you were reported to have referred to sharing Catholic values but don’t need to be told what to do by the Church. Consider the love of Jesus and putting Him first. Is it good science to think that human problems are solved by destroying human life? You were an embryo once and your life was sacred then as it is now. Jesus said: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Apply this to embryos.

Use your intelligence and creativity to understand human physiology such that you can solve problems without destroying innocent human life.

“What shall it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul.” Don’t be fooled into thinking you are being good when you are doing evil.

Repent and come to Jesus. The love of God is the most important goal of our lives. His love is so precious. Trust in Him.
—End Quote—