Forming a “Catholic Conscience” and those who are putting up roadblocks.

There are many things I need to be working on right now, but I just saw a post that has caused me to drop everything and write my thoughts!

In Catholicism, a formed conscience is one that is built upon through learning and experience, whereas an informed conscience is one that is researched and thought out through logic and reason. A person with a well-formed and well-informed conscience is less likely to reject God’s law.

So why does it appear that we struggle to have either/or, much less, both!

Of course, one could say it is difficult to find the truth in this day and age even if you do the research, but IMHO, the real cause is deeper than that. We do not allow people to think for themselves or to exercise logic and reason. Too many “Church leaders” are making the decisions for them – or at least, not requiring them to make their own decision through spiritual direction or reminder of the catechism. Others making the hard decisions for us is not just a Catholic trend, but permeates throughout American culture.

I am reminded of when I was working and we came out with “call-flows”. Not only were customer service reps given a “call-flow” to assist in ensuring they “covered all the bases in the most expedient manner”, but they were required to follow this flow without exception or would be penalized on their reviews. Thankfully, I was no longer a rep or I would have never received a raise again or maybe even been fired. I once said to my VP: “We are taking the personalization out of the calls, tying the hands of the reps to actually resolve a customer’s problem, and most significantly, taking away the ability for the reps to think for themselves or use their God given brains and talents.”. This was never more evident when a competing carrier threatened to strike. Our volume went through the roof and reps were in a panic. No existing call flows fit what they were experiencing so my department was used to provide “suggested verbiage”. After one call, I literally screamed “use your brain” (not to the rep but to the air after hanging up). I had received a 5th call in a row asking for specific verbiage on situations that all the rep had to do was apply parts of two verbiages already communicated. They were so used to being told exactly what to do and say, they could not or were too afraid to think for themselves and apply what they already knew to a situation that did not fit that exact scenario.

So what does that have to do with a Catholic’s conscience? Well, the post I saw that sent me through the roof was that a particular Diocese granted a dispensation from abstaining on the first Friday of Lent because of weather conditions. You have got to be kidding me! The excuse was that many had not been able to get to the grocery store. I know, I know – you may respond “where is your heart?” or “but that is true and people may not have anything but meat or because of no power, they need to eat it before it spoils” – yeah right. First, how are they going to cook it if no power? Plus, the likelihood of only having meat to eat is minimal.so why grant a dispensation to everyone? They further said they were doing it to relieve the additional stress. Really? Abstaining from meat one day a week during Lent is stressful? I would understand if there were no end in sight, but the weather would be improved by the following Friday – so how much stress could abstaining one Friday under those conditions be?

Instead, why not remind them that the “obligations” of the Church are for the well-being of their souls, not to cause them undue burden? Why not remind them that all obligations, even during Lent, are automatically dispensed if your situation would warrant it? Why not remind them of the purpose of the obligations is to draw them closer to Jesus in His suffering? Why not remind them that based on all this, they should make a decision based on their conscience as to whether or not abstaining would result in that undue burden? Why not take the opportunity to encourage them to offer up their situation, especially in Lent, to unite them more closely to the sufferings of Christ, or the plight of others on every other day? Why not suggest that this weather which is from God may just be a gift or opportunity for increased graces?

Yes, there are many people suffering as a result of this weather, of that there is no doubt. So acknowledge it, offer sympathy or empathy, but don’t just give a free pass to everyone. Use the opportunity to teach, to catechize, to remind, to explain, to clarify, etc., but do not give satan any more opportunities. Instead, encourage them to pray about their situation, to sincerely ascertain just how much abstaining would affect their situation, ask the Lord to guide them in their decision. To me, this is the way you share Christ’s Love, not by deciding for them what is too much and taking away their opportunity to offer more to Him who offered His entire Self for us!