Posted on 09/18/2010 6:01:25 AM PDT by markomalley
New York City, N.Y., Sep 16, 2010 / 12:57 am (CNA).- Adding to Vatican analyst Sandro Magister's recent commentary on the issue of widespread contraception use among Catholics today, a noted canon law expert told CNA that the silence and even contradiction of some clergy regarding Church teaching on the issue is “incontestable.”
On Sept. 8 in the Chiesa section of the Italian newspaper L'Espresso, analyst Sandro Magister highlighted a recent book that shows a link between the usage of contraception among Catholics in the early 20th century and the silence of clergy in presenting Church teachings on the subject. Reasons cited for Catholic use of birth control were the permissiveness of priests in the confessional as well as clergy refraining from speaking openly on the subject.
In a follow up piece on Wednesday, Magister delved more deeply into the role of priests in addressing the issue during confession, also touching on the responsibility Catholics have to form their consciences.
CNA contacted canon law expert Fr. Gerald Murray, a priest in the Archdiocese of New York, who gave his insight into the controversial topic in an e-mail on Sept. 15.
When asked if he believes that silence on the part of clergy today on contraception has in fact contributed to Catholics’ use of it, Fr. Murray said “yes.”
“Even worse,” he continued, “it is incontestable that some clergy have contradicted Humanae Vitae and have stated that contraceptive use is not sinful.”
“So there is confusion among the faithful,” the priest asserted. “It would be good for the bishops of the United States to speak more often about the grave sinfulness of contraceptive use and encourage both generosity in receiving more children into our families, and the use of Natural Family Planning, not artificial contraceptives, to postpone pregnancy for serious reasons.”
Fr. Murray then offered clarity on the subject of how the issue of contraception should be broached in the confessional.
“If someone confesses that he or she has used some form of contraception, that ordinarily means that he or she knows such actions were sinful and that they wish to be forgiven this sin,” he noted. “The priest should first tell the penitent to thank God for the grace to make this good confession. He should then help the penitent to arrive at a firm resolution to avoid such sins in the future.”
“He should encourage the penitent to pray more, to receive Holy Communion frequently, to confess regularly even when the penitent only has venial sins to confess. He should also recommend that the person learn about Natural Family Planning in the case of a penitent who is married or is preparing for marriage.”
When asked he thinks there are mitigating factors for Catholics who contracept and whether or not a delicate approach is necessary on the part of priests, Fr. Murray responded, “a delicate approach is always necessary when hearing confessions.”
“But a delicate approach does not mean moral relativism which would subvert God's law by calling contraceptive use not a sin,” Fr. Murray underscored. “Church teaching on the gravity of artificial contraception is clear and binding on all. If the penitent confesses this sin, the priest must never contradict the moral law under the guise of pastoral charity. The repentant sinner needs to be encouraged to leave sin behind.”
“We should also remember the timeless maxim for priests in the confessional: 'Qui excusat non accusat,'” he added. This translates to “He who forgives does not accuse.”
“It is not for the priest to question the penitent about contraceptive use if that subject has not been brought up,” Fr. Murray said. “An exception to this is the case where an adult penitent asks for help in confessing, as in the case of someone who has been away from the sacrament for a long time.”
“Note that the priest may himself offer to help the penitent with the examination of conscience if such assistance seems to be called for. But the priest cannot require such an examination against the will of the penitent.”
sigh!
lets stick to abortion....which is murder.
Probably 95% of Catholics have used contraception, I know my wife and I did, back during our younger breeding age.
Catholic Priests, Bishops and the Pope can speak against it till hell freeze’s over but anyone who cannot afford one child after another is going to use some form of it.
There are many things in the Catholic faith I have a problem with, contraception is one. Divorce another. I have been married to my wonderful wife for 48 years, but I am not convinced that God meant for people who are involved in a bad marriage ,should stay committed to that marriage for life. The annulment procedure with the Catholic Church is crap. Have enough money and you get one. Ie: Ted Kennedy, Aristotle Onassis.
I believe strongly in the Catholic faith , but I am not blind to it’s failings, and it has many.
Well, No sense in stating my beliefs here , it’s a political forum and no two people agreee on religion.
Some birth control methods are also murder - the pill is an abortifacient for instance - and the contraceptive mentality leads to abortion.
No one is truly pro-life unless they oppose contraceptives.
I oppose IUDs and RU486 which is in fact abortion.(I do believe that not all BC pills are abortifactants but would never use these anyway)
but other contraceptives are not abortifactants...barriers combined with spermicides are NOT abortion.
You wrote:
“but other contraceptives are not abortifactants...barriers combined with spermicides are NOT abortion.”
Granted, but any support of such things supports abortion. Wherever you find “birth control” you find abortion eventually. The mentality is made clear by our illustrious infanticide supporting president. He said he would teach his daughters to be moral, but if they made a “mistake” he didn’t want them to be punished with a baby. That’s the mentality: Contraceptives are alright, if and when they fail or are not used by those who approve of them, the only “proper” alternative while avoiding the unwanted birth, is abortion.
Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:
Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of general interest.
interesting concept.....extremely flawed....but interesting...your theory is based on WHAT???
I, for instance abhor abortion, but not contraceptives...many people I know feel the same way...
Ping!
To respond with all clarity, one would need to read Humanae Vitae, by Paul VI, or the Catholic Catechism to understand the full answer to your questions, but, the simple answer is that contraception, like abortion, interfere’s with God’s plan for humanity’s continued preservation.
In the case of abortion, the parents are depriving God of his role in deciding the outcome of that pregnancy and of that being, their life.
In the case of contraception, the decision to create life is not one that is in the hands of just the couple involved, there is a third party, and that is God. Contraception tries to place man above God in the decision of when to create life. Also, the pill IS an abortificant as it prevents the fertilized egg from implanting in the uterine wall.
Real Catholics may, for extaordinary reasons, use natural family planning methods but they must always be receptive to life, whether it fits into their plans or not. We make this pledge to each other and to God in our wedding vows.
You wrote:
“interesting concept.....extremely flawed....but interesting...your theory is based on WHAT???”
Reality.
“I, for instance abhor abortion, but not contraceptives...many people I know feel the same way...”
I understand. Many people never make the connection between the two because they do not have a true pro-life outlook or mentality. They instead compartmentalize their sexual ethics. They assume that as long as they are not murdering children directly by their own actions and not supporting those people who do, they are fully opposed to abortion. They assume that they ownership over the “rest” of their sexuality. As long as they use “safe” contraceptives, they believe they are in the clear. Incredibly, these otherwise pious people have no concept whatsoever about how their own sects once strongly opposed birth control as grossly immoral until just a few decades ago. Read the Protestant Charles Provan’s book called The Bible and Birth Control. You might be surprised at what you see.
Not surprisingly some of these same confused people
who say they are pro-life actually support abortion in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is in danger. Thus, we see so-called “pro-lifers” like Billy Graham (see his book Approaching Hoofbeats) and even Jerry Falwell (who died not all that long ago) supporting abortion - the murdering of an innocent baby - if a product of rape.
In 1991 a survey by the Baptist Standard reported that 80% of Southern Baptists believed abortion was just dandy for cases of rape and 76% for incest. That’s a lot of support for murdering babies. Sadly this is common. It is not just Baptists who mistake murdering babies for compassion for those suffering.
the planet is overcrowded....though the proportions are all wrong.
the 3rd world is breeding like rats and the intelligent westerners are not breeding...
there is no loss of humanity....but there is a loss of intelligent westerners....the solution??? beats me.
You wrote:
“The vast majority of Americans of whatever religion will never buy this ****. And it makes the people who promote it look like idiots. Like it or not. Flame on.”
The gospel has often been called **** by those who deny it. By the way, I think the RM would frown on your language. And you look like an idiot for using it.
If the West stopped murdering its babies and contracepting then there would be no “wrong” proportions. Also, the planet is not overcrowded and you should be terrified of the idea that someone might one day have the power to decide it is and have the power to do something about it. Hopefully - if that ever happens - you won’t be old, sick or otherwise considered a “useless eater”.
there are more people alive today then there were since the beginning of the human race to 150 years ago...
I am a conservationist....(not a preservationist as liberals like to be known as). and we are making out wild places into crowded cities....
let the masses fill asia, south america, and europe...they like the smell of each other, there..
me, I and happiest with a rifle haunting an almost empty (of humans) deer woods,....
there were too many people in America (200 million) when I was a kid....now there are 300 million and it is getting out of control....funny thing is the Catholic Church is defending the illegals....and we have 30 million of this baggage tearing down our nation....
Not much said about shacking up either. We do hear about abortion is killing but never hear who is to be punished for the act of killing. Well around election time, we hear that somehow the politician is guilty and should be punished for the killing and vote accordingly. Abortion has become an issue preached to politicians rather than mothers to be.
BTW we had 7 children, lost the 8th. We lived the Church’s view, thank God.
You wrote:
“there are more people alive today then there were since the beginning of the human race to 150 years ago...”
Let’s say that’s true. So what?
“I am a conservationist....(not a preservationist as liberals like to be known as). and we are making out wild places into crowded cities....”
Again, so what? There are HUGE swathes of land that are still “wild” - it’s just that we don’t live near them and therefore rarely think about them.
“let the masses fill asia, south america, and europe...they like the smell of each other, there..”
Actually there’s plenty of “wild” land in many parts of Asia, South America and even some sparsely settled places in Europe even if the overall population density is often higher than here. And, again, so what?
“me, I and happiest with a rifle haunting an almost empty (of humans) deer woods,....”
Again, so what?
“there were too many people in America (200 million) when I was a kid....now there are 300 million and it is getting out of control....funny thing is the Catholic Church is defending the illegals....and we have 30 million of this baggage tearing down our nation....”
Sorry, there are NOT too many people in America or anywhere else. Nothing you posted in any way suggests the world is over populated. And even if it were - something that is probably not even possible - the deliberate murdering of children is still wrong. So is contraception.
Do you support abortion in cases of rape or incest?
The planet is overcrowded? The wrong people are breeding?
Did I just wander into the Margaret Sanger.com site, or, perhaps the Better Living Through Eugenics.com website.
How do you know the planet is overcrowded? What is the magic number? I won’t even ask about how you decided which people should be breeding.
Wow
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