When “Catholic guilt” gets in the way of Catholic faith

[Erikaspirit16]

(FWIW I wasn’t familiar with the Arlington situation – I suppose it’s because I’ve long since moved to the U.K. so that never made the news here. I hope she finds a job soon.)

Here’s the Wikipedia article about it: Arlington National Cemetery mismanagement controversy - Wikipedia

If you’re in the UK, I’ll bring up a couple comparisons I think are apt. First, in the US, the concern seems to be “Is it legal?” or “Are there loopholes I can use?” whereas in the UK I THINK the reaction would be “Is this the right thing to do?” (You could also talk about a written Constitution (US) vs. an unwritten (for the most part) constitution (UK)). The same with accounting, which, as an MBA, I know something about. It’s the same issue: in the US, if there’s a regulation forbidding something, accountants will go along with it for the most part. If they see loopholes, they will use them. In Europe, the accounting rules are not as detailed, but they concern principles. There are no loopholes for principles!

So to go back to the original topic, “legalistic” Catholics take the “American” approach–detailed rules, loopholes, etc. Non-legalistic (I’m not sure what to call them) Catholics aren’t concerned with the letter of the law so much as the principles behind the law and the intent. I think Jesus would be in the non-legalistic camp.

 

[Erikaspirit16]

Yes it is hard to work with dishonest criminal psychological perverts. where it is OK to lie cheat defraud the customer and co workers. I’ve left 4 different jobs.
Gee don’t you want to go into management? Because all company’s are corrupt was the motto.

I’m sure there are ethical companies out there, I just have never seen one (I’ve had 8 full time jobs…). I was once in a departmental meeting where the main discussion was how to defraud members (it was a trade association). Think about that–an open discussion of how to commit a criminal act! To my credit I did speak up and say I’d visit them all in jail. But clearly I wasn’t a team player! When I brought the fraud to the attention of the CEO (I had invoices, contracts, payment records, etc.–complete proof) I was fired within two weeks and of course had to sign a 7-page non-disclosure agreement if I wanted severance pay. So yes, I sold my soul.

So again going back to the main topic here, Catholic legalism, I would be a lot happier if Catholics took principled stands when it mattered and stopped worrying about relatively trivial sins.

 

[LisaB]

Wow. Just wow. Is this in the US? I’ve never worked in a place where I was EVER asked to do anything immoral like that. Maybe it’s because I’ve never been (and don’t care to) up the corporate ladder very much, I don’t know, but I’m seriously shocked. I’m surprised these companies didn’t get reported to the authorities for their illegal activities.

 

[michaelArc]

Just a thought, but Catholic guilt may be a generational thing.

I know of a few people, including a past therapist who said that he left the church because of Catholic guilt. A few others who had similar views were all indoctrinated during the 60’s. I can’t comment on the validity of it but it’s just been my observation.

 

[Erikaspirit16]

Wow. Just wow. Is this in the US? I’ve never worked in a place where I was EVER asked to do anything immoral like that. Maybe it’s because I’ve never been (and don’t care to) up the corporate ladder very much, I don’t know, but I’m seriously shocked. I’m surprised these companies didn’t get reported to the authorities for their illegal activities.

Yes, US. I was always in management–lowly workers wouldn’t know what was going on. Reporting to authorities? Are you kidding? First you sign a confidentiality agreement before you start, and at the end–if you want your severance pay–a non-disclosure agreement. That’s why it’s rare to hear anything. Also at one company, the person you were supposed to report wrong-doing to was the exact same person DOING the wrong-doing! But I can’t believe I had an extraordinary run of bad luck, I think it’s typical. Just pick up the business section any day of the week.

Once, after explaining why I had left a couple jobs, an interviewer said, “You sound very idealistic.” My answer was “I simply don’t want to kill people or steal. I don’t think that’s idealism.” (And yes, one of the things we did–failing to recall vaccines that were ineffective–may well have killed people.)

 

[Detroit]

Yes 1 company general instruments came in and drumming out people. 1 guy was asked “aren’t you a whore like everyone else” he was offered a voluntary layoff.

The motto in sales was “get the customer drunk and find out how much budget they really have”

It was coffee is for “closers”

I didn’t want to lie but they told me too!!

 

[Mary888]

Without guilt there is no remorse. Remorse is part of the Sacrament of Confession.
The atheist movement always tries to induce/produce happiness by talking people out of feelings considered now “negative”. Is guilt pleasurable? No. If it is then it is not guilt it’s an obsession.
The moment we are incapable of feeling guilt then we incapable of feeling love. Indifference is spiritual death. Some don’t care about it. The soul looks like a small price in exchange for happiness.
We all choose. None of us is compelled to choose beyond our free will. Why some people are bothered that a Catholic would rather pick guilt over relaxed joy? And instead of feeling troubled by witnessing this strange choice the “Catholic guilt” label appeared to soothe everyone who is above guilt that they have made the best choice. The label is not for the Catholics but for the others. It’s the barb wire fence. But who inside it and who is outside it?