Question on Scandal and Those Entering Religious Life

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Hello,

I was recently reflecting on the current scandal and how important it is for the clergy to live holy, chaste lives! But I got to thinking, what about those entering religious life? I always have thought along the same lines of St. Thomas Aquinas who wrote in Q. 189 of his summa that one does not necessarily have to already be keeping the commandments to join an Order.

Maybe an example might help…Let’s say that there is a young Catholic man who really wants to be perfect in the spiritual life one day. But, he has a mild problem viewing pornography every so often. So this young man decides to join an order as a brother in order to chase after perfection. Should he be allowed to enter the religious state, even with his problem? Even today with the current scandal?

Thoughts? Pax
 
Yep.

The formation period within an Order is meant to help the candidate grow in perfection. None of us are saints when we join. It is through our own formation journey with the direction of our formators that we come to live our vows fully. The world has always been in turmoil with one scandal or another. This scandal should not exclude people who wish for perfection in the evangelical counsels from the formation which has the specific purpose for that perfection of virtue.

Hoped this helped.

God Bless,
Br. Ben, CRM
 
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Viewing pornography every now and then is not a ‘mild’ problem. It is seriously sinful and very addictive. I accept we are all sinners and I judge or condemn no one. But before anyone even considers religious life , such seriously sinful and immature behaviour needs to be addressed and rooted out. Those with this particular habit are unsuited to religious life and could be a risk to others sexually.

Only when and if this is achieved should any consideration be given to a religious vocation. How could anyone make a decision to serve the Lord in religious life if they cannot even avoid offending Him by such gravely sinful behaviour?
 
stpiosson said:
Viewing pornography every now and then is not a ‘mild’ problem. It is seriously sinful and very addictive.
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I agree and a person discerning religious life probabaly would benefit from a probationary period of at least a year without this viewing.
 
When in Formation, the order looks at you as much as you look at it. The fit has to be a good one. And during formation as CRM brother says, any issues will come up and be discussed and mediated.

Don’t forget St Augustine was a very great sinner before he became a saint. 🙂
 
TheDumbFox said:
Hello,

I was recently reflecting on the current scandal and how important it is for the clergy to live holy, chaste lives!

Thoughts?
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My thoughts are that we are all called by God to live holy , chaste lives .
 
stpiosson said:
Viewing pornography every now and then is not a ‘mild’ problem. It is seriously sinful and very addictive. I accept we are all sinners and I judge or condemn no one. But before anyone even considers religious life , such seriously sinful and immature behaviour needs to be addressed and rooted out. Those with this particular habit are unsuited to religious life and could be a risk to others sexually.

Only when and if this is achieved should any consideration be given to a religious vocation. How could anyone make a decision to serve the Lord in religious life if they cannot even avoid offending Him by such gravely sinful behaviour?
Click to expand...
The addictive nature of this is much better understood than previously. So someone who views pornography “now and then” is, arguably, worse off morally than the admitted addict.

I respect the post by the Brother, about the nature of Formation. They don’t expect perfection on entrance. But I think in 2018 this would raise more red flags than before, for a few reasons.
 
OP, I’d say we could pose similar questions (and should) in any state in life - marriage, entering certain professions, etc.

As @Roseeurekacross and @JackFrost said above, we’re all sinners called to holiness. Our state in life might spotlight that for some people, but for us and for God, the basic rule is independent of our vocation: repent and strive to be like Him.
 
TheDumbFox said:
So this young man decides to join an order as a brother in order to chase after perfection. Should he be allowed to enter the religious state, even with his problem? Even today with the current scandal?
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I will also say, we don’t decide off our own backs to join orders as religious. The order will decide if we are a good fit to join them.

We cannot equate the current scandal with what we watch unless we apply this broad brush to other genres, horror, violence, etc.
Should an order admit someone who plays violent computer games or watches R rated Horror.

Sex abuse is about power, not sex.
 
Yes he should. For the same reasons CRM Brother already mentioned.
 
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