Oath for honor society

[NFrancis]

I was invited to join an honor society (Phi Theta Kappa) at my college that will help me with possible scholarships to continue my education for a bachelors degree and get a job. However in applying online there is this oath that I have to select “I agree” and I don’t know if this is okay or not. At first, I thought it was a fraternity so this is why I have reservations about it but it is not a fraternity.

Here is the oath:
I believe in and support the purpose of the Society, meet eligibility standards for membership as stated in the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and adhere to the moral standards of the Society. Therefore, I solemnly promise to uphold the standards of Phi Theta Kappa, and to keep this object and aim in mind, and I do solemnly pledge allegiance to my fellow members and promise to aid them in all worthy endeavors.

 

[snarflemike]

What’s the sticking point, exactly? I can’t say I found anything problematic (assuming the purpose and standards of the organization are not in opposition to Catholic teaching, of course).

 

[NFrancis]

What’s the sticking point, exactly? I can’t say I found anything problematic (assuming the purpose and standards of the organization are not in opposition to Catholic teaching, of course).

I don’t know. It just seems kind of fraternity-ish to have to take an oath and I have always been opposed to fraternities so maybe just because I thought it was a fraternity to begin with made me suspicious of this oath. I think it’s okay and ill probably end up joining. I don’t see how being part of an honor society can hurt me either.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

I don’t see anything wrong with this particular oath. The main thing to look for in this kind of thing is anything that could conflict with your religious or civil duties, such as a solemn oath never to reveal something to anyone which does not make exceptions for religious and civil duties. I see nothing of the kind here. Provided you really do meet their eligability standards and the moral standards that are mentioned are good ones, I don’t see a reason not to take the oath. The last part of the oath could have been problematic had the word “worthy” been omitted, but it wasn’t.

 

[Nita]

I was invited to join an honor society (Phi Theta Kappa) at my college that will help me with possible scholarships to continue my education for a bachelors degree and get a job. However in applying online there is this oath that I have to select “I agree” and I don’t know if this is okay or not. At first, I thought it was a fraternity so this is why I have reservations about it but it is not a fraternity.

Here is the oath:
I believe in and support the purpose of the Society, meet eligibility standards for membership as stated in the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and adhere to the moral standards of the Society. Therefore, I solemnly promise to uphold the standards of Phi Theta Kappa, and to keep this object and aim in mind, and I do solemnly pledge allegiance to my fellow members and promise to aid them in all worthy endeavors.

Depends upon what their purpose is and what they give as their moral standards.

 

[Qoeleth]

I don’t see anything wrong with this particular oath. The main thing to look for in this kind of thing is anything that could conflict with your religious or civil duties, such as a solemn oath never to reveal something to anyone which does not make exceptions for religious and civil duties. I see nothing of the kind here. Provided you really do meet their eligability standards and the moral standards that are mentioned are good ones, I don’t see a reason not to take the oath. The last part of the oath could have been problematic had the word “worthy” been omitted, but it wasn’t.

As James the Just says: “Above all, take no oaths.” Jesus says it too, doesn’t he?

“Let your Yes be Yes, nor your No No. Anything more comes from the evil one.”

What you have said, though, seems to me more of a promise.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I think that an oath is more than a promise. It implies that one is calling on God to witness the promise. What you have here appears to be just a promise.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

As James the Just says: “Above all, take no oaths.” Jesus says it too, doesn’t he?

“Let your Yes be Yes, nor your No No. Anything more comes from the evil one.”

What you have said, though, seems to me more of a promise.

The Church has said nothing condemning have to take oaths. In fact, it’s a requirement for many positions within the Church. At one point, all priests, theology profs, etc were required to take the Oath against modernism.

What we can’t do is make rash oaths, false oaths, oaths against what the church teaches, etc.

Most public servants have to take an oath prior to assuming their duties. When you go to court, you have to swear or affirm.

I’m a sworn peace officer. Prior to assuming my duties, I had to take an oath. I had the option of swearing or affirming. I swore.

Whenever I serve someone legal documents, I have to go and swear I served them.

This also means that I have to be careful not to break my oath, or be certain I’m not swearing something falsely. Otherwise I have to go to confess it. I also have to inform my confessor that I’m under oath, as it may mitigate my sins.

BTW.
If the OP is unsure about whether or not the church permits joining fraternities, perhaps he should go discuss this with a priest from the FSSP.

 

[icamay]

Hi,

I was inducted into PTK in college, and served actively in our chapter. The four hallmarks you are pledging to uphold are:

Leadership
Service
Fellowship
Scholarship

PTK was a wonderful avenue for me to volunteer in my community. You will not be required to participate in any service activity that will contradict your personal beliefs or convictions. Your oath will be a commitment to those four values. PTK is considered an honor society, but because it has no time commitments or specific service requirements, it is not a fraternity. Many people will pay their dues and not show up for anything else - not even the induction in which they take their oath (though your chapter as the right to require this ceremony before you get the stamp on your transcript). There are honor fraternities in college (I also belong to one of those); they operate very differently than an honor society.

You can learn more about Phi Theta Kappa at www.ptk.org.

Congratulations on your scholastic achievements!