Priest Packing Heat?

[triumphguy]

I’m guessing that they were interested in whether there were any killings of any sort in your life history; and, if there were, they would have investigated further in order to determine whether they presented any difficulties to your application.

You may be right.

BTW I am a gun owner and a lay person.

If I was a diocesan priest, however, I might still use a rifle for hunting, and would probably use it for self defence, especially against a home invasion, or a robbery, or to defend another…

… but if I was being attacked for my faith I might find myself at least desiring martyrdom as a witness to other Catholics and to all others.

I might not be strong enough, but it would be my wish to be strong enough to accept martyrdom.

However, if one joined a religious order you would absolutely have to abide by the rule of the order.

There’s no guns in the Franciscans, and Francis himself walked unarmed into the sultan’s camp.

 

[Gorgias]

If I was a diocesan priest, however, I might still use a rifle for hunting, and would probably use it for self defence, especially against a home invasion, or a robbery, or to defend another…

… but if I was being attacked for my faith I might find myself at least desiring martyrdom as a witness to other Catholics and to all others.

Great post… nice distinction between these two!

 

[BobCatholic]

Kill

Really? What canon is that?

 

[TheDoors]

There is a difference between being martyred for one’s faith and being murdered for one’s wallet.

 

[crumblymunky]

Thanks for the continued discussions, guys.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

There is a difference between being martyred for one’s faith and being murdered for one’s wallet.

What’s particular dumb is when those desiring martyrdom confuse the latter for the former. Seriously, do you really think you being mugged is considered a “trial of faith?” No, you’re being mugged because they’ve got the habit and just happened to see you drop a couple dimes.

You may not have to shoot the guy but please don’t tell me you’re just going to stand there and not knock the misguided sucker to his senses. Your life is not worth sacrificing for someone else’s stupidity.

 

[Dranu]

Priests are called to a higher plane of just war and defense than earthly ones, so it would (at least aesthetically) seem a bit off for them to be armed, but I am not sure if its actually wrong.

However, I thought I recalled reading something in Canon law forbidding priests possessing weapons, but I cannot now find anything on that. So I would bet its permissible.