[Tax-chick]

I think it was necessary that this public disinformation campaign be publicly challenged. The point is not Sean Hannity's personal decision to contracept, because that choice is "invisible" to the public. By publicly proclaiming dissent on a moral teaching of the Church - while at the same time making a show of scrupulosity regarding an accidental failure to abstain from meat - Hannity is bearing false witness against the Church.

By causing a visible and open disagreement, Sean has threatened that "He will become Baptist" if the good Father and other priest keep up the pressure.

There's a place for people who look for a church that approves their favorite sin. "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!"

This quote, from an article "Frank Sheed" linked in another thread, is very relevant here:

Contraception involves no temptation at all, in the sense of pressure to yield to an impulse, but rather the resolution to lead one's life in defiance of the Church. To contracept while attempting to remain a Catholic accordingly required the development of an entirely novel religious stance, a stance founded on two beliefs: first, the conviction that the teaching Church is wrong in an area in which she explicitly claims authority; and second, the conviction that a Catholic can coherently hold that the Church is wrong in one place and right (or right enough) in others such that Church membership remains a conscientious and meaningful choice.

(Frank, could you post that link in this thread, at your convenience? I'm not good enough with html to do it neatly!)

[Frank Sheed]

http://www.ewtn.com/library/PRIESTS/FR93103.TXT

Your every wish is my command, Mrs. Tax! I stand with you and Holy Mother Church!

F

[Frank Sheed]

I have to mention this story which I posted once long ago and was told to me by someone.

A priest came to do a Parish Mission which was very well attended. On his final night, he spoke passionately about Life and included contraception in his talk.

After Mass, a woman who was a "Brahmin" in the Parish, a member of the Pastoral Council, who led all the fundraisers, was on every conceivable Committee, who sang each Sunday (etc., etc.) approached him outside in the view of all. In an accusatorial tone, she told him that she was a "good Catholic," but that the Church had decided this long ago. She said that some families just cannot be "as big" as others would have them be. As such, certain precautions were needed. She asked pointedly if the priest really meant that contraception, in HIS view, was a mortal sin? The priest tried to take her aside, tried to make it a private discussion, but she begged the question again in a loud voice. Finally, he replied "no, m'am. It is a mortal sin in the Church's view. That is a dogmatic teaching and it's not negotiable."

The woman left that night and never came back.

Fr. John Corapi has mentioned stories analogous to this over the years. Sometimes, people will walk away just as the crowd walked away from Jesus after His discourse on the Eucharist. Remember their words, "This is a hard saying."

Indeed.

[redgolum]

Good story FS. Heard a number of them like that myself (usually on Pro Life Sunday).

Still, this whole thing is just odd for me. Now there is a priest that moon lights at Fox defending Sean.

[NYer]

Sean has threatened that "He will become Baptist" if the good Father and other priest keep up the pressure.

Now what sort of message does that send to practicing Baptists?! Dissenting Catholics, lacking in moral fiber, choose to make their spiritual home with you.