Denver, Colo., Apr 20, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Conscience is never just a matter of personal opinion or “a pious alibi for doing what we want, or what might get us elected,” says Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver.
In a recent column in the Denver Catholic Register, the archbishop tries to clarify the teaching on conscience in the documents of the Second Vatican Council and what it actually means.
Often, laments the archbishop, Catholics do not understand the teaching and interpret it to justify their personal opinions and preferences.
“Catholics, who appeal to the ‘spirit of Vatican II’ and claim to be following their consciences when they ignore Catholic teaching on issues of vital public importance, would be wise to revisit what the council actually said,” wrote the archbishop.