My friend seeks the truth as we all are on our faith walks. No it’s not because ECFs cast doubt on what she wants to believe. She searches Scripture in her discernment of trying to determine what it is she is to believe.
Not exactly correct Tantum. Christians don’t believe the EXACT same things. Just plugging along on their faith walk without sight. Striving to follow their consciences. Where within those consciences is their “most secret core”. Where they are “alone with God whose voice echoes”. (CCC1776) Striving to “always obey” their conscience so as not “to act against it” and “condemn” themselves. (CCC 1790) Exercising their “right to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions”. (CCC 1782)
So united in a belief in Him, all just striving to do their best to reach and know the truth, Tantum.
Matt, I have discussed with you these sections of the CCC before, you always seem to skip this section. I think I know why. It must be a special gift you have to cherry pick what you want to believe, then completely ignore the rest.
II. THE FORMATION OF CONSCIENCE
1783
Conscience must be informed and moral judgment enlightened. A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. **The education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings. **
1784 The education of the conscience is a lifelong task. From the earliest years, it awakens the child to the knowledge and practice of the interior law recognized by conscience. Prudent education teaches virtue; it prevents or cures fear, selfishness and pride, resentment arising from guilt, and feelings of complacency, born of human weakness and faults. The education of the conscience guarantees freedom and engenders peace of heart.
1785 In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path,54 we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. We must also examine our conscience before the Lord’s Cross. **We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church.**55
IV. ERRONEOUS JUDGMENT
1790 A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience. If he were deliberately to act against it, he would condemn himself. **Yet it can happen that moral conscience remains in ignorance and makes erroneous judgments about acts to be performed or already committed. **1791 **This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man "takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin."59 In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits. **
I would say that if you want to use some of the truth to back up your ideas, it must fit all of the truth. If what you believe contradicts what you use to support your view, then you are not being honest with yourself, or anyone for that matter.
Jesus gave us so much and we ignore it for so long. He gave us His Church to lead us and teach us, but if we ignore what She teaches and continue to follow an illformed or unformed concience, as you see
God bless his soul. I have a variety of Catholics with regard to degree of faithfulness and Catholic ed in my family too. The varying degrees span generations in my family. I don’t blame anyone or anything. It’s faith. People have different faith beliefs. Or faith and beliefs may change as folks walk along their lifelong faith journeys. I consider my mom to have been a saint too btw. If I need an example of Matt 7:1 or living life by the Golden Rule I only need to remember her soul.