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Two Dilemmas
Basic Laywoman's Perspective on Natural and Civil
Law
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Two Dilemmas
Basic Laywoman's Perspective on Natural and Civil Law
By
HJ Harrington
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Summary: Reflections regarding two agonizing dilemmas in society
today
Keywords: Civil Law, Natural Law, Catholic Church Teachings,
Modern Society, America, U.S., Life, Pro-Life, Right to Life,
'Homosexual Marriage', Soul, Judgment |
First of all I'm not trying to offend any parties
here I'm just attempting humbly if not badly to make reflections
regarding two agonizing dilemmas in society today. Yes, respectfully
there are other pressing things like poverty and the economy. This is
just commentary and layman observance only.
Now I'm going to be as objective as I can be.
First I am a Catholic and probably not a good one either. I have only a
layman understanding of the Civil Rights aspect although I respect all
of our Civil Rights under the law and I also respect the Natural Law of
the Catholic Church (The Catechism of the Catholic Church). People
misunderstand the teachings of the Catholic Church in our modern world.
Mostly disregarding this issue and why we apply it to everyday life
including politics and society. In worldly terms people see the Church
as interfering in their Civil Rights--this is not the case. One thing
that is taught from the beginning at Genesis is that God gave us the
freedom to choose. This choice isn't necessarily interpreted clearly by
the Civil Rights movement today vs. the Natural Law argument.
My point is the Church understands and supports
Natural Law, not that worldly law is disrespected, hence "Give unto
Caesar what is Caesar's and give unto God what is God's." The Church is
trying to preserve LIFE. I say this in all caps because in society
according to the Church this word is very instrumental in our society
whether we understand it totally or not on any plane.
The Church believes in an afterlife. She believes
in a general judgment--this applies to the clergy/religious and the
laypeople who participate. Yes, I know we have many who do not subscribe
to this. Many find the Church interfering but the only problem is she
has to preach this teaching in and out of season no matter what society
thinks. Don't feel I'm qualified to state this, then please consult a
theologian, thank you. This is why the worldly fight the Church's
teaching on the present life and the afterlife. Possibly lack of
understanding.
She also knows that Christ didn't come to change
the law but to fulfill it; this also is a sticking point with some of
the masses. The sad part of it is she is protecting these people as
well, though they do not understand or acknowledge it from the natural
viewpoint (This is why she is called Mother Church. What does a mother
do? She protects.) America is under the individualistic approach
(probably since she signed the Declaration and when she settled it as
colonies when America was first discovered by proud and persecuted
people) which clashes today with some beliefs.
They the Church, Religious and Laypeople alike
know that if they do not state their case for the Natural Law they have
to answer for it at the General Judgment that we and I believe in (Book
of Life mentioned in Revelation for example). So you see to us when the
world accuses us of bigotry and impeding marriage from people it isn't
because were trying to stop someone's rights, it's because were trying to
form our conscience and speak out against an injustice people don't
necessarily fully comprehend to their advantage which to us is a
spiritual and moral conscience in step with the Natural Law.
Most of we people (I'm a guilty American of this
at times to) in modern society only see what is in it for me and what
can I get now without having to work too hard for it or think about it
in terms of the greater good. We know that Natural Family Planning+ is
work as opposed to the Planned Parenthood way of life which is
understood as the most simplest and easiest of supply and demand for
subjugation of the population--NOW FORGET WHAT IT WILL DO TO SOCIETY, IT
DOESN'T AFFECT ME AND WHO CARES IF IT WILL AFFECT SOMEONE DOWN THE ROAD
I'M NOT THEIR KEEPER THEY ARE FREE TO MAKE UP THEIR OWN MINDS AS TO WHAT
THEY WILL DO IN THE FUTURE. (NOTE: Did you know that Natural Family
Planning+ is cost effective, very low cost as opposed to Planned
Parenthood which needs millions of our dollars to supplement it. What
does this tell you because maybe I'm ignorant or something maybe all of
you can educate me on this one? (How many people could this help?) In
other words I am an individual and I don't have to worry about someone
else and how my actions affect another person I'm out for do, re, me.
My question is this, how does every individual
affect the world selfishly or unselfishly, or do we just go about
everyday life and take up space without it affecting anyone at all? The
question is do we contribute something in our lifetime knowing or
unknowing to society? Do the decisions we make now affect the future
generations and how they will deal with society either negatively or
positively? Do our actions today preserve the culture of tomorrow to be
passed on for posterity of future generations? Does every individual
count for something? These are hard questions we have to think about and
look at in the long term.
I know people will say you have no right to the
detriment of my soul or body, but I say back we in society are our
brothers' and sisters' keepers. We do feel responsible for the souls we
encounter even if we have nothing to help that person or feel powerless
to change a situation. We feel our hands are tied whatever the case
may be because of circumstances. The question is what are we capable of
doing at the time in the simplest and safest terms in a real situation?
Some would say, "How dare you, you're single - what do you know about
everyday life and struggle". We all struggle everyday single, married,
rich and poor alike.
Our Pope has been chosen as leader and keeper of
the deposit of faith and handed down by Jesus through the seat of Peter
be it Traditional or Oral. Some agree with this and some disagree--it
doesn't matter. What matters is does he teach truths, that is the
question - or does he teach lies? This is what the conscience has to
determine. He feels he has a grave responsibility for everyone's soul in
the world be it believer or non-believer because he knows as do the
flock, he and they will stand before the Great Judge-Christ who will
judge the living and the dead and his conscience and theirs will be
read. He knows he answers for a billion plus souls under his care.
Whether you believe this or not this is his responsibility and ours. He
the Pope see Jesus in everyone--this is his vocation. Like his
predecessors, he has a destiny and it's not made up.
What people don't realize is that in the Sacrifice
of the Mass that we believe as Catholics, we know we walk with the
Supreme Pontiff up this Calvary everyday. We and he do not force this on
anyone - it's a choice we have to except or reject as our teaching. This
we voice what we believe to be a truth of the Natural Law and the
general care of the spirit and soul. Something I suspect at this time we
don't fully understand or comprehend, if you want to get a little
technical here theologically, scientifically, philosophically and
creatively--please do. (After all I repeat I'm only a laywoman with an
idea for an article.)
We know this of abortion as well. We as Catholics
know if our conscience isn't well formed and shaped and we do nothing,
we know that it is a strike against us for not attempting to try to do
the just thing in this lifetime. The strike is against us at the General
Judgment for not heeding the care of our brother or sister for what they
do and what were asked to understand and answer to in the end. We don't
have to be giants of learning - it's a simple understanding. (Keep in mind
we are human and we do make mistakes.)
Yes, we forgive these actions among ourselves but
we also must voice out against what is injustice in the Natural Law and
these negative actions against it. We also worry that the person who was
aborted may be detrimental to society on a philosophical, spiritual and
scientific level and to us and to society in general--everyone does
count whether we like it or not.
You can rip me and this article apart and you say
to me, "I'm an agnostic, atheist or humanist and I don't plainly believe
in anything like this or subscribe to your way of thinking." (Doesn't
matter: He believes in all of us believe or not.) That's ok but remember
when I voice my opinion for life I'm saying you count to in society and
you do affect all or everywhere in the web of time and day-to-day life.
You contribute to this world.
Many feel this way about a person who has Same Sex
Attraction. We worry about him or she and what will happen to their
spirit and soul. In the long run and into the afterlife not so much in
worldly terms but on a spiritual plain that transcends ordinary means.
I'm sorry some of us don't see this love of truth
we try to teach and understand. I'm sorry they only see bigotry and
hatred from the Church and not a transcendence of the soul barring the
understanding of the present world in terms of life. (Yes, the Church
respects science and her achievements as long as they are ethical. What's
wrong with that?)
We don't have all the answers but we try to have
something to contribute through the teachings. My attempt was to
contribute profoundness and understanding to some very hard decisions we
all have to make. I hope I humbly achieved something good here. (Yes, I
am very much an amateur writer here so feel free to criticize
positively. If anything my spelling and grammar are atrocious. My hope
was to humbly get some thinking across like Christ would have liked.)
 Signature:
HJ Harrington, first time writer and poet, receptionist
My work can be seen at WWW.Triond.com
as Holly Jean/User
Please feel free to visit my work and comment there.
+ Reminder: NFP should not
be used illicitly as birth control. For more information,
click here
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