Vasectomies, Confession, and Reparation

[Reformed1]

Greetings,

First, let me say that I am not a Catholic, but I have an honest question that I would like to have answered…not trying to bait anyone or start anything.

It is my understanding that when you guys (and girls too) go to confession, part of the process is that you have to make reparation for the sin or sins confessed when possible.

Also it is my understanding that many people in your church, including apologists at Catholic Answers, do not think once a man has had a vasectomy that he would have to have it reversed. This of course assumes the man is Catholic.

Why wouldn’t he be encouraged if not required to have the procedure reversed? It would seem that the reversal would be part of the reparation of the confession.

Thanks in advance for the answers.

 

[Veritas41]

Greetings,

First, let me say that I am not a Catholic, but I have an honest question that I would like to have answered…not trying to bait anyone or start anything.

It is my understanding that when you guys (and girls too) go to confession, part of the process is that you have to make reparation for the sin or sins confessed when possible.

Also it is my understanding that many people in your church, including apologists at Catholic Answers, do not think once a man has had a vasectomy that he would have to have it reversed. This of course assumes the man is Catholic.

Why wouldn’t he be encouraged if not required to have the procedure reversed? It would seem that the reversal would be part of the reparation of the confession.

Thanks in advance for the answers.

Hi reformed! The reason I have heard is that the idea is not to place too much of a burden on someone. It may be for financial or health reasons that a man may have a difficult time getting a reversal. Reparation can be made in many ways – through prayer, acts of charity, sacrifice.

 

[Reformed1]

Hi reformed! The reason I have heard is that the idea is not to place too much of a burden on someone. It may be for financial or health reasons that a man may have a difficult time getting a reversal. Reparation can be made in many ways – through prayer, acts of charity, sacrifice.

Thanks for your response.

 

[udoc89]

Dear Reformed:

I was 42 when my husband and I joined the Cathollic Church after being Protestants our whole married life. My husband was 48. He had a vasectomy after the birth of our second child, long before we even dreamed of becoming Catholic. We went through RCIA with an extremely orthodox priest, and wanting (indeed, truly longing) to be the best Catholics possible, we asked our priest if my husband ought to have the vasectomy reversed. He responded that while God honored our desire to be obedient to Church teaching, it was not necessary (given my age!) for us to attempt to go through a reversal. Even so, my husband called the doctor who had done the vasectomy and was told that he was not a good candidate for a reversal after ten years time.

We both wish it had been possible. My ideas about large families have changed considerably since becoming Catholic!

 

[DaveBj]

Those responses match what I was told during my coming into the Church two years ago. I had had a vasectomy 30 years ago while I was a “pagan.”

People in this situation (vasectomy a long time ago, now coming into the Church) should just relax and be open to life. You just never know what God’s sense of humor might lead Him to do.

DaveBj