Ultraditionalists

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

Ultratraditionalists always bring this part of the Catechism up:
[quote]1782 Man has the right to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions. He must not be forced to act contrary to his conscience. Nor must he be prevented from acting according to his conscience, [b]especially in religious matters[/b].[/quote]
What is the true meaning of this part of the Catechism?

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
7/10 - Fourteenth Saturday

thedude,

St. Thomas Aquinas, in his [i]Summa Theologica[/i], teaches us the moral maxim, "An erring conscience binds." That is, if your conscience tells you to do something, or that some course of action is right, then you must take it - even if your conscience is in error. If my conscience tells me to shout "FIRE!" in a crowded theatre, then I must do so.

[b]However[/b], St. Thomas teaches in the next passage that, though an erring conscience binds, an erring conscience does not always [i]excuse[/i]. This is where the issue of vincible/invincible ignorance comes into play...should I have known better than to shout in a crowded theatre?...did I think that it was not the best course of action?...&c.&c.

So, to answer your question, the Church teaches that no one has the right to force someone to act against their conscience, precisely because a man's conscience is binding upon him. However, Holy Mother Church has never taught that an erring conscience always excuses a man's actions. Hope this helps.

Yours,
Pio Nono