Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!psuvax1!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: ames!ultra!!spetter@uunet.uu.net (Scott Spetter) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: One of the best kept secrets in the Catholic Church Message-ID: Date: 27 Sep 90 08:14:21 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Ultra Network Technologies Lines: 45 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu I should preference my remarks by saying that I am by no means an authority on Canon Law. Indeed, my entry into Roman Catholism is rather recently, although the search began long ago. (Does anyone hear Thomas Merton???) A couple of weeks ago, I attended a Young Adults panel discussion, sponsored by the Archdiocese of San Francico. It was entitled: "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Catholic Church... But Were Too Pious to Ask!" The panel members were some of the major Church authorities for the Bay Area - including a nun who holds the equivalent of a doctorate in Canon Law, and who actively researches questions for the local Tribunal. At one point in the discussion, it was pointed out that if we, as Roman Catholics, feel a serious conflict between something mandated by the Church, and what we feel in our hearts, we should pray about the issue. The Bible should be consulted, and we would be wise to also seek the advice of some people more versed in the mandate and the rationale behind it. If these steps are sincerely followed, and we still feel the conflict, we MUST listen to the words that come from our own hearts. This is considered one of the best kept Catholic secrets, although I assure you, there is no one in authority within the Church actively trying to supress this information. It is a sort of 'elastic clause' in Church doctrine. When I first learned about it, it did a great deal to reaffirm my own comfort with the Church's position. I hope that if this is new information for you also, that it will give you a positive thought about our Church, be you a member, a fellow Chrisitian, or just an interested bystander. God bless you all, Scott