Catholic guilt

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Catholic guilt is the feeling of remorse, self-doubt, or personal responsibility that results when a Catholic or lapsed Catholic engages in sinful acts. Habitual obsessive guilt over trivial or imagined sins is the error of scrupulosity.^[1]

It must be noted that the term Catholic Guilt is controversial: for some Catholics, lapsed Catholics and even non-Catholics, the term is used to express a sense of "liberation" from what they see as a misguided, outdated, or misinterpreted moralism; for others, it connotes a dismissive or belittling attitude toward traditional Catholic moral teachings, or an attempt to "psychologize" or "secularize" what they see as authentic spirituality. The term is often seen, therefore, as either a disparagement of traditional Catholicism or as a statement of self-proclaimed psychological maturity.

Contents 1 Catholic guilt in context 2 See also 3 References 4 Other reading

[edit] Catholic guilt in context

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Catholic guilt may be particularly acute where there is an especially stark juxtaposition of widespread cultural acceptance (in the 21st century "Western" / developed world) and Catholic condemnation of a particular sin. The following is a list of such 'hot topic' issues.

• Abortion: The shame and guilt surrounding this perceived sin is sometimes blamed on Catholic morality. (The implication being that such feelings are irrational and are in fact Catholic guilt).^[2] Many however argue that 'abortion guilt' is not distinctly Catholic but universal and under reported.^[3]

• Birth control: Catholic hospitals and health care professionals are forbidden to dispense contraception and abortifacients. This inconvenience is sometimes derided as an attempt to inflict Catholic Guilt on others and to see these things criminalized.^[4]

• Divorce: Catholicism generally forbids divorce (as well as remarriage) without an official annulment.^[5]

• LGBT: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people who are raised Catholic or Protestant can view Catholic Guilt as an obstacle.^[6]

• Interfaith marriage: Catholicism requires permission for mixed marriages, though priests are allowed to grant licenses to baptized non-Catholics.

• Masturbation

• Original sin

• Pornography

• Premarital sex

On the other hand, such activities were not only socially unacceptable but may have even been illegal at the start of the 20th century. Thus, this is a relatively new phenomenon which affects those who wish to hold on to "traditional" values in an increasingly liberal society (at least those with access to and influenced by Western media, etc.)

[edit] See also

• Lapsed Catholic
• Scrupulosity
• Religion and sexuality
• Guilt society

[edit] References

1. ^ "Scruple". Catholic Encyclopedia. 1917. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13640a.htm. Retrieved on 2008-08-24. 
2. ^ "I, too, want to be excommunicated". The Disenchanted Forest. 2005-10-04. http://cockamamieideasinc.blogspot.com/2005/10/i-too-want-to-be-excommunicated.html. 
3. ^ Burke, Theresa; David C. Reardon (2000). "Forbidden Grief". Elliot Institute. http://www.afterabortion.info/Resources/FGflyer.htm. 
4. ^ Helman, Scott (2005-12-09). "Romney says no hospitals are exempt from pill law". The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/12/09/romney_says_no_hospitals_are_exempt_from_pill_law/. 
5. ^ "Remarriage in the Church: Pastoral Solution". Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church. 2008-08-04. http://astro.temple.edu/~arcc/marriage.htm. 
6. ^ Peters, Julie (2002-01-28). "Self-esteem, the Transgender Catch 22". http://home.mira.net/~janie/essays/tg-self-esteem20128.html. 

[edit] Other reading

• Sheldon, Kennon M.; University of Missouri-Columbia (2006). "RESEARCH: Catholic Guilt? Comparing Catholics' and Protestants' Religious Motivations". International Journal for the Psychology of Religion (Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.) Vol. 16 (No. 3): 209–223. doi:10.1207/s15327582ijpr1603_5. 
• Mallon, John (2006-04). "The Primacy of Jesus, the Primacy of Love". Inside the Vatican. http://www.insidethevatican.com/articles/status-ecclesiae/status-ecclesiae-apr-2006.htm. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.