Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,
On Facebook I see that many Catholics are distressed about the Synod of Bishops on the Family, because certain topics are discussed. They jump to the conclusion that the Church is adopting teachings opposed to current Church teaching. Please consider that in forming plans for the pastoral care of irregular situations, the bishops explore whether behaviors and attitudes fit with divine moral law and Church teaching. I hope it helps overcome confusion to offer you what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches on “Conscience” and “Erroneous Judgment”:
(bold numbers are paragraphs in the CCC–spaces and footnotes removed)
1787 Man is sometimes confronted by situations that make moral judgments less assured and decision difficult. But he must always seriously seek what is right and good and discern the will of God expressed in divine law. 1788 To this purpose, man strives to interpret the data of experience and the signs of the times assisted by the virtue of prudence, by the advice of competent people, and by the help of the Holy Spirit and his gifts.
- Erroneous Judgment–1790 A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience. If he were deliberately to act against it, he would condemn himself. Yet it can happen that moral conscience remains in ignorance and makes erroneous judgments about acts to be performed or already committed. 1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man “takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.”In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits. 1792 Ignorance of Christ and his Gospel, bad example given by others, enslavement to one’s passions, assertion of a mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience, rejection of the Church’s authority and her teaching, lack of conversion and of charity: these can be at the source of errors of judgment in moral conduct.
We hear politicians stating positions contrary to Church teaching claiming that in Catholic education they learned the primacy of conscience. Their error is that a right conscience is formed through study of truth and divine revelation. For example, one can feel free to engage in relations outside of Holy Matrimony, however this is contrary to the Bible and Catechism. The Church welcomes all with love and compassion, however a lack of conversion and lack of repentance blocks one from receiving Eucharist and serving as a minister at Mass.
The Church offers mercy through her Priests in Confession and the Bible and Catechism to help us overcome doubts about Church teaching. To receive Communion or be a minister in the Mass one must be in full communion–living in union with Church teaching. We all need conversion, so I embrace all with love and compassion, regardless of sin or their struggles with Church teaching.
Your servant in Christ, Father Paul