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Post by jen51 on Sept 19, 2017 12:08:03 GMT -5
At what point do we sin by not correcting something that is false in regards to morality?
Just for example: A non-catholic friend is telling you about what kind of birth control she's using, and goes on to say they are only going to have two kids so that they are better able to give them all the attention they need. Do you sin by saying nothing?
Another example: You know the person standing in line in front of you to receive communion is non-catholic. Do you sin by saying nothing?
There are a million examples. If Catholics are out about in the world, they run into these situations frequently. I've asked priests, but I never seem to get a clear-cut answer.
If we correct every falsehood we hear, we would go around blowing the whistle all the time. However, in my missal, it talks about sinning against your neighbor, and one of the ways we sin against them is by the sin of silence. So where do we draw the line?
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Post by micah1199 on Sept 19, 2017 12:19:15 GMT -5
I believe correction is needful if the person is subject to us or it isforeseen that it will have a good outcome. With most moderns, correction does not seem to ever have a good outcome.
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Post by Jayne on Sept 19, 2017 12:43:24 GMT -5
I think the Catholic Encyclopedia article on fraternal correction is a good summary of Church teaching on this: linkIt starts like this:
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Post by Jayne on Sept 19, 2017 12:49:02 GMT -5
There is a passage in Fr. Faber's Growth in Holiness that makes similar points to what has already been posted:
I get the impression from this that it is pretty unlikely for people to be obliged to do fraternal correction and that it is more likely that people attempting to correct others will fall into sin. It sounds like the rule of thumb is "when in doubt, be silent."
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Post by Lynne on Sept 20, 2017 6:53:23 GMT -5
There is a passage in Fr. Faber's Growth in Holiness that makes similar points to what has already been posted: I get the impression from this that it is pretty unlikely for people to be obliged to do fraternal correction and that it is more likely that people attempting to correct others will fall into sin. It sounds like the rule of thumb is "when in doubt, be silent." Thank you! I am incapable of correcting sweetly or wisely. Unfortunately, I'm like a grumpy bull in the china shop.
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Post by Marya Dabrowski on Sept 20, 2017 7:38:41 GMT -5
If you have that book by Fr. Lovasik best to just forget that page that says "Admonish the Sinner." It has never worked for me and causes a lot of bitterness. Now, if someone makes a comment about having too many kids or the like, I just start in cheerfully on how I think big families are good for kids because they learn to share, help out, take care of one another, and that they are not the center of attention. It's different than saying, "Birth control is a mortal sin."
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Post by Jayne on Sept 20, 2017 7:54:17 GMT -5
It is not that we should forget about admonishing sinners, but that we need to understand the conditions for it.
Some years ago there was a woman who attended the TLM where I did and I thought that her clothing was often inappropriate, but I did not think it was my place to say anything to her. A couple of years later we had become friends and the subject came up naturally in conversation so I was able to explain the problem. By that time we had the sort of relationship in which we could talk about such things and she respected my opinion. If I had tried to do it while we were mere acquaintances, I am pretty sure it would not have gone over well.
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Post by Voxxkowalski on Sept 20, 2017 11:39:13 GMT -5
Jayne im just happy to see you lol! Isnt that weird given our history! Glory to God
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Post by jen51 on Sept 20, 2017 12:07:01 GMT -5
Thanks, everyone. Jayne, your references are particularly helpful.
I generally don't say much to correct others. Like Marya, it usually doesn't go well if I do. It's the wondering if I've sinned by not saying anything that gives me trouble, but I see now I need not be worried about that in general.
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Post by Voxxkowalski on Sept 20, 2017 15:17:31 GMT -5
Dont cast pearls before swine.
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