Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: kw1r+@andrew.cmu.edu (Kevin Whitley) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: One of the best kept secrets in the Catholic Church Message-ID: Date: 7 Oct 90 01:38:28 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 60 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu Talking about the idea that one may follow one's conscience even if it is contrary to church teaching,. Will Bralick said: >Sorry. If your conscience is properly formed then you will not >experience any conlict between the words of your heart and the >teaching of the Church. That is not to say that you will _like_ >or _prefer_ what the Church teaches. You are obliged to properly >form your conscience. > Mark Sandrock said: >Sorry, but this could not be more wrong! >We do not "form" our conscience, rather we *follow* our conscience! >It is only through our conscience, our intuitive perception, that we are >able to perceive the Will of God, and by no other means! I don't think that either of these positions is correct. It is 1) neccesary to properly form our conscience (which includes sincere attention to the teachings of the church, prayer, consultation with tradition, discussion with other people who have experience in the matter at hand, etc.) and 2) once our conscience is formed if we are still in not in accord with the church's teachings, we must follow our conscience. I put forward the example of the Inquisition, which today, by most of us, is considered to have been an error. At the time many of the people involved were 1) following the dictates of the church, 2) following their consciences. I would argue (against Mr. Bralick) that the church was in error and that we should be aware that such error could occur again. I would argue (against Mr. Sandrock) that the people's consciences were in error - they were not properly formed. This is a dangerous idea actually. The ability to put one's conscience before the teachings of the church is very often seized upon as an easy way around difficult church teachings. I am myself very suspiscous of any tendency in myself to disagree with the church. When I study physics I don't disagree with those more learned than myself; when I discuss with a mechanic what needs to be done to my car I don't disagree. I operate on the principle that for most matters the church is maintaining an important body of wisdom and knowledge aquired over centuries by many men and women more intelligent, wise, loving and holy than I am. To simply disregard this is flirting with pride and foolishness. Nonetheless, God speaks to our hearts. After much effort (and if the effort is not painful I doubt that the work has truly been done) we may find our consciences in conflict with the church. Then we must obey our conscience. When God calls, we MUST follow, though we leave mother and father, spouse and children, country and even church behind. Yours in the peace of Christ, Kevin Whitley kw1r@andrew.cmu.edu