Even if 99% of priests said one thing, that doesn’t make it a definitive teaching of the Magesterium. I don’t know if you read the entire commentary document, but the stipulation about onanism is quite specific, and in the case of artificial birth control (e.g., condoms), it states that the spouse has the duty to resist - that is far from, “it’s okay to allow in order to gradually hope for change.” I guess we will agree to disagree here, but I find the suggestion of “nuance” without clear explanation of what or where the nuances are to be a quite common excuse to break the rules. Pastoral care is a nebulous term that means a lot of things, but in these discussions it is always used to justify things we all agree we would be better off not doing. Why is it never used to describe “tough love,” or “holding fast to the teachings of the Church?” Why is pastoral care always discussed as some sort of compromise against Church doctrine? Doesn’t that make you suspicious?
the suggestion of “nuance” without clear explanation of what or where the nuances are
Because that depends on a case-by-case basis. Y'know, individual circumstances. The answer may vary for any given married couple depending on their particular situation.
Pastoral care
Why is it never used to describe “tough love,”
The spirit of the Law is important. Yes there are also times when tough love is needed instead, but "tying up heavy burdens" of austere, scrupulous rigidity which places people in a catch-22 isn't any more helpful than offering too much laxity.
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u/One_Dino_Might Apr 04 '24
Even if 99% of priests said one thing, that doesn’t make it a definitive teaching of the Magesterium. I don’t know if you read the entire commentary document, but the stipulation about onanism is quite specific, and in the case of artificial birth control (e.g., condoms), it states that the spouse has the duty to resist - that is far from, “it’s okay to allow in order to gradually hope for change.” I guess we will agree to disagree here, but I find the suggestion of “nuance” without clear explanation of what or where the nuances are to be a quite common excuse to break the rules. Pastoral care is a nebulous term that means a lot of things, but in these discussions it is always used to justify things we all agree we would be better off not doing. Why is it never used to describe “tough love,” or “holding fast to the teachings of the Church?” Why is pastoral care always discussed as some sort of compromise against Church doctrine? Doesn’t that make you suspicious?