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.”
the big 'Black Death' of this generation has not occurred yet....and if it does in your lifetime you wont be so smug
Well... Since you want to ignore the spiritual aspect, which to me IS the issue, how about the demographic one.
Americans are only hanging onto a productive replacement rate due to the family sizes of your poor immigrant, low IQ (although how you figure that leaves me wondering) and all. Meanwhile Europe is in the midst of demographic suicide. There will be no cultural Europeans in the very near future.
Your “supporting the brood” comment kills me. It was not too many years ago that my Grandparents raised 13 kids, during the depression, and the “brood” all lived and thrived. It’s a straw man argument. Sounds good, but all reality refutes it.
The United States is less a nation than an ideal, one we have, at times, failed to live up to. There is no reason that a Mexican immigrant (legal of course-we can discuss immigration reform if you want, but that’s a separate issue) cannot become every bit as much an American as you or me, although your views are a little bit scary if you think that the Church’s consistent support for God’s plan for procreation is something that has never been thought of before. If you truly want answers, the Church is ready for you to discover for yourself what She teaches and why.
The invitation is open.
fine...but it is not a matter of living space, it is a matter of keeping the rock we squat on at least some semblence of the way the creator made it...
you know? stewards of the land yatta yatta yatta...
we need to use it but not abuse it....drill for oil, yes. Make safe nuclear power plants yes...move out into the solar system and beyond, yes...but to breed like lemmings till we are forced into the sea???? absolutely NOT.
just my $0.02.
Right. Justifying contraception is just another way of saying 'choice'.
Who did you vote for for president?
BTW, how did either WWI or the Great Flu epidemic CURE the alleged ‘overpopulation’? More people are alive now than then, so what was the ‘cure’?
80 Reagan
84 Reagan
88 Bush
92 Bush
96 Dole
00 Bush
04 Bush
08 McCain
but its none of your business who I voted for.
your argument makes no sense...no one said there was a permanent cure.... things go in cycles...
when their are too many lemmings, a chunk of them jump into sea....then a number of years later they need to jump into the sea again...
in our 21st century world of modern medicine and uber agriculture, we are pushing our ability to keep all alive and well to the outside of the envelope...when it finally gives we are in for a world of hurt....but keep those blinders on, I wouldnt want you to see reality.
btw, I vote for the lesser of evils...so my previous post reflects that....I am a strict constructionist...most Republicans have about as much regard for the constitution as the Dhimmicrats...but they are a hairs breadth better, so I vote for them...
No, just half-baked generalizations. But that's pretty much the same.
bye,bye
“your argument makes no sense...”
ROTFLMAO! Yours aren’t arguments, they are ignorant polemics filled with sound and fury, signifying nothing but bigotry and hatred.
“no one said there was a permanent cure....”
Yeah, you did. Now you back AWAY.
“things go in cycles...”
Really? And what does that mean.
BTW, people are not lemmings.
...but to breed like lemmings till we are forced into the sea???? absolutely NOT.Where are we doing that?
Onassis was Greek Orthodox.
none so blind as those who will not see.
have a good life....I’m done beating my head against a wall with you...
You wrote:
“No, just half-baked generalizations. But that’s pretty much the same”
No, an article. An article you didn’t read. An article you didn’t read and then essentially claimed wasn’t posted until later. Maybe that’s some half-baked honesty on your part.
bye, bye vladi.
Just remember, you didn’t read the article and then claimed it wasn’t posted until later.
See what? Your juvenile claims? Your failed analogies? Your support for odious bigotry? Got it. You cannot support your claims so you say:
“....I’m done beating my head against a wall with you...”
LOL, enjoy the rest of junior high.
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