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Hi Sean,
I just wanted to add to John's right on comments.
This is why people like Ted Kennedy, John Kerry and
Chris Dodd are so scandalous to the Church Jesus founded
on Peter.
What they say in the public square:
I'm a Catholic.
contradicts their behaviors and actions!
For example:
- voting to protect abortion and
- gay marriage: a term that doesn't theologically exist.
Their reply may be:
But my faith is a personal issue; it has nothing
to do with anyone else and I have no right to enforce my beliefs on others.
My reply:
You obviously have been uncatechized: the Catholic
faith is a pubic issue.
Go forth baptizing, teaching etc. ... (Matthew 28)
The goal of politicians should be to set up laws and policies for the common good of Americans.
- If someone believes that Catholic values are best for him and his family, why shouldn't he or she also wish to pass those same benefits on to the rest of America?
- If people elected a politician knowing his or her values ahead of time, wouldn't they expect them to reflect their values in public office?
Politicians represent their constituents, not all of America.
Unlike these politicians, we must have a formed conscience rather than an uninformed conscience. It also appears you missed two other very important paragraphs in that section on Moral Conscience.
1785 In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path,
(cf. Psalms 119:105) we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. We must also examine our conscience before the Lord's Cross. We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church. (cf. Vatican II, Dignitatis Humanae 14)
.
.
.
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.
But let's remember, the Catechism isn't just for
Catholics. TheCatechism of the Catholic Churchis meant for
all Christians who wish to follow the Lord with
a good heart.
That said, the Church would say that you have an obligation
as a Baptist to follow the Lord where he leads you, and
to form your conscience on a regular basis based on the
Christian principles you are aware of.
As a Protestant, you are under no obligation to accept
any teaching you don't understand or are confused about.
I have a Baptist friend, Fred, in that situation.
Once a Protestant:
- studies
- strives to understand what
the Church teaches, and
- discerns that the Catholic Church
is the True Church
then he is obligated to believe all of what the Church teaches.
When we receive the Blessed Eucharist, we say Amen but this Amen not only means:
Yes, I believe that under the appearance of an unleavened
wheat bread (the host)
I
am receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Himself.
It also means: Amen:
I believe all that the Catholic Church teaches because
it was founded by Jesus who is True God and True Man;
and [Jesus/God] can neither deceive nor be deceived.
The word Magisterium which John referenced
means Teaching Authority.
Hope this answers your question.
Kudos to John!
Take care,
Mike
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