F
Fergal
Guest
Hi Folks,
I am looking for advice on the following recent scenario.
On friday lasy I entered the Parish Office to photocopy a sheet for an upcoming meeting.
Whilst at the photocopier, I noticed that a job was underway and had a closer look to see how much longer was involved.
I noticed, on inspection, that it was information on contraception, sterilisatiion and emergency contraception.
I asked those who worked there what it was and they said it was a job one of the Priests asked them to do. They said that they did not pay much attention to it and therefore did not really know its contents, they just loaded it into the copier.
On further inspection I found that it offered phone numbers to abortion referral services and information on abortifacients. I was shocked and horrifed at the graphic nature of the content and at the fact that it was being photocopied for a Priest of our Parish. I do not know whether he was doing them for himself or whether he was doing them for someone else. So I took one copy of each of the leaflets home with me for further study.
I just assume that he was copying them for distribution but where are when I have no idea.
I do know the copies are for a Priest in our Parish. I do know he is in charge of the Marriage Preparation programme in our Parish but I have no proof that they will be used there.
I do not know where they are going or who they are intended for.
I do know that they contain information about gross immoral procedures that directly and abominably contradict some of the Churches strongest ever teachings on human life and the sacrament of marriage.
I cannot remain silent about this and yet I have no idea where they are going or who they are for. This is what I have learned on the Church Law side of things so far:
Canon Law Number 1398 states, quite simply, in Latin and English; Qui abortum procurat, effectu secuto, in excommunicationem, latae sententiae, incurrat. (Those who successfully abort a living human fetus bring on themselves instant excommunication.)
‘Abortum procurat’ means anyone who works to kill a human foetus in any manner at all. This may be the boyfriend or husband who drives the mother to the abortion mill, pays for the abortion in full or in part, or even advises that abortion may be an option in her case.
Canon Law 1398 (quoted above) and Section 2 of Canon Law 1329 outline quite clearly the penalty for assisting in an abortion. The latter Canon Law states that “Accomplices, even though not mentioned in the law or precept, incur the same penalty [latae sententiae excommunication] if, without their assistance, the crime would not have been committed, and if the penalty is of such a nature as to be able to affect them; otherwise, they can be punished with ferendae sententiae [inflicted by clergy] penalties.”
If they are for him and if he is intending they be used at the pre-marriage course then under canon 2350 the same priest has incurred an automatic excommunication.
My question. With so many assumptions and holes in my knowledge what do I do? Admonish the sinner? Combat the error by issuing tracts on the Church’s teachings on contraception? Go to the Parish Priest? Go to the Bishop?
There must be action but in what way?
I am looking for advice on the following recent scenario.
On friday lasy I entered the Parish Office to photocopy a sheet for an upcoming meeting.
Whilst at the photocopier, I noticed that a job was underway and had a closer look to see how much longer was involved.
I noticed, on inspection, that it was information on contraception, sterilisatiion and emergency contraception.
I asked those who worked there what it was and they said it was a job one of the Priests asked them to do. They said that they did not pay much attention to it and therefore did not really know its contents, they just loaded it into the copier.
On further inspection I found that it offered phone numbers to abortion referral services and information on abortifacients. I was shocked and horrifed at the graphic nature of the content and at the fact that it was being photocopied for a Priest of our Parish. I do not know whether he was doing them for himself or whether he was doing them for someone else. So I took one copy of each of the leaflets home with me for further study.
I just assume that he was copying them for distribution but where are when I have no idea.
I do know the copies are for a Priest in our Parish. I do know he is in charge of the Marriage Preparation programme in our Parish but I have no proof that they will be used there.
I do not know where they are going or who they are intended for.
I do know that they contain information about gross immoral procedures that directly and abominably contradict some of the Churches strongest ever teachings on human life and the sacrament of marriage.
I cannot remain silent about this and yet I have no idea where they are going or who they are for. This is what I have learned on the Church Law side of things so far:
Canon Law Number 1398 states, quite simply, in Latin and English; Qui abortum procurat, effectu secuto, in excommunicationem, latae sententiae, incurrat. (Those who successfully abort a living human fetus bring on themselves instant excommunication.)
‘Abortum procurat’ means anyone who works to kill a human foetus in any manner at all. This may be the boyfriend or husband who drives the mother to the abortion mill, pays for the abortion in full or in part, or even advises that abortion may be an option in her case.
Canon Law 1398 (quoted above) and Section 2 of Canon Law 1329 outline quite clearly the penalty for assisting in an abortion. The latter Canon Law states that “Accomplices, even though not mentioned in the law or precept, incur the same penalty [latae sententiae excommunication] if, without their assistance, the crime would not have been committed, and if the penalty is of such a nature as to be able to affect them; otherwise, they can be punished with ferendae sententiae [inflicted by clergy] penalties.”
If they are for him and if he is intending they be used at the pre-marriage course then under canon 2350 the same priest has incurred an automatic excommunication.
My question. With so many assumptions and holes in my knowledge what do I do? Admonish the sinner? Combat the error by issuing tracts on the Church’s teachings on contraception? Go to the Parish Priest? Go to the Bishop?
There must be action but in what way?
