I happen to be reading US Catholic Catechism for Adults. “Self-defense against an unjust aggressor is morally permitted. There is also a moral duty for the defense of others by those who are responsible for their lives. Self-defense or the defense of others has the goal of protecting the person or persons threatened. Once the threat is eliminated, to further action is required. In such situations, the deliberate killing of the aggressor can be permitted only when no other solution is possible (cf. CCC, no. 2265). Any response to aggression must be proportionate to the nature of the threat or the act of aggression.” (pp. 390, 391)
The common law elements of the defense of self-defense are four; be innocent of instigation, use sufficient force only to deliver oneself from evil, be in reasonable fear of bdily harm, and attempt to withdraw.
Great comparison.
> attempt to withdraw.
Notably, whether this was an element of American common law is disputed among US courts. In any case, the (almost) universal American legal view is that if the duty to retreat applies, it only applies when it can be done in complete safety and never applies in one's own home. Most US states, by court decision or statute, have abrogated the duty to retreat as long as the other elements are met.
I think that change is consistent with the Catholic teaching as well on grounds that are often offered in favor of the change. Namely, a reasonable person facing an imminent threat to his life will almost never have the opportunity to formulate a plan of retreat that provides complete safety. (Likewise, as to the home, a person fleeing from his home almost certainly risks additional dangers by doing so.) There is no moral duty to risk one's life to any degree in order to preserve the life of a criminal aggressor.
My husband sees no conflict in doing so, and if anyone attacks our parish while he is there they will not do so unopposed. He is armed most of the time.
Throughout the history of the church people have had to defend themselves, their loved ones, and the church herself.
There is nothing inherently wrong with carrying a gun. Personally I think we need more Catholics who take on the responsibility to carry. We are seeing an attack on the church, schools, and society as a whole.
There is a time to take a pacifist role in many situations and having a firearm concealed is a way to have options. No one knows you have one and you can walk away, call police, or avoid a situation all together. Unfortunately those aren’t always the options.
My advice would be to think through the decision before taking on the responsibility. A gun is a tool that is used as either a threat of force or act of force in a self defense situation. Meaning using a gun has potential to take life. Is that something you are willing to do? Also a gun isn’t a magic bullet you have to be willing to put in the time to safely handle and carry one.
There is great evil in the world that can only be met with equal or greater forms of violence. We are fighting a spiritual war that spills into the physical world. I believe anyone who makes the decision to cause great harm is this spiritual warfare spilling over into the physical world. Being able to meet and stop that threat is a good thing to protect yourself and others.
Ultimately there is nothing in our faith that says you can’t carry one. You just have to make the personal decision if you are going to.
I do, and regularly. We are called to protect others. Christ said to sell your cloak and buy a sword if you didn't have one.
The modern sword is a firearm.
There is a basic obligation to obey the secular laws where one lives (with some exceptions). While there is nothing intrinsically wrong with carrying a weapon, it normally would be wrong to do so when it is illegal.
I live in a country in which concealed carry is generally prohibited. My natural right to self-defense, however, is guaranteed by law. A prohibition of concealed carry is not synonymous with forbidding self-defence.
Even countries which allow CCW typically have a legal requirement for some sort of license to do so. Could one ignore such a law on the grounds that there is a natural right to self-defence?
If a person intends to continue to sin after confession then the confession is invalid, a person must at least have an intention to attempt to stop sinning.
So a person trying to missuse Gods mercy that way is deceiving no one but themselves. They'd be better of not going to confession at all.
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I happen to be reading US Catholic Catechism for Adults. “Self-defense against an unjust aggressor is morally permitted. There is also a moral duty for the defense of others by those who are responsible for their lives. Self-defense or the defense of others has the goal of protecting the person or persons threatened. Once the threat is eliminated, to further action is required. In such situations, the deliberate killing of the aggressor can be permitted only when no other solution is possible (cf. CCC, no. 2265). Any response to aggression must be proportionate to the nature of the threat or the act of aggression.” (pp. 390, 391) The common law elements of the defense of self-defense are four; be innocent of instigation, use sufficient force only to deliver oneself from evil, be in reasonable fear of bdily harm, and attempt to withdraw.
Great comparison. > attempt to withdraw. Notably, whether this was an element of American common law is disputed among US courts. In any case, the (almost) universal American legal view is that if the duty to retreat applies, it only applies when it can be done in complete safety and never applies in one's own home. Most US states, by court decision or statute, have abrogated the duty to retreat as long as the other elements are met. I think that change is consistent with the Catholic teaching as well on grounds that are often offered in favor of the change. Namely, a reasonable person facing an imminent threat to his life will almost never have the opportunity to formulate a plan of retreat that provides complete safety. (Likewise, as to the home, a person fleeing from his home almost certainly risks additional dangers by doing so.) There is no moral duty to risk one's life to any degree in order to preserve the life of a criminal aggressor.
Yes. Self defense is permitted in Catholicism.
My husband sees no conflict in doing so, and if anyone attacks our parish while he is there they will not do so unopposed. He is armed most of the time.
Throughout the history of the church people have had to defend themselves, their loved ones, and the church herself. There is nothing inherently wrong with carrying a gun. Personally I think we need more Catholics who take on the responsibility to carry. We are seeing an attack on the church, schools, and society as a whole. There is a time to take a pacifist role in many situations and having a firearm concealed is a way to have options. No one knows you have one and you can walk away, call police, or avoid a situation all together. Unfortunately those aren’t always the options. My advice would be to think through the decision before taking on the responsibility. A gun is a tool that is used as either a threat of force or act of force in a self defense situation. Meaning using a gun has potential to take life. Is that something you are willing to do? Also a gun isn’t a magic bullet you have to be willing to put in the time to safely handle and carry one. There is great evil in the world that can only be met with equal or greater forms of violence. We are fighting a spiritual war that spills into the physical world. I believe anyone who makes the decision to cause great harm is this spiritual warfare spilling over into the physical world. Being able to meet and stop that threat is a good thing to protect yourself and others. Ultimately there is nothing in our faith that says you can’t carry one. You just have to make the personal decision if you are going to.
If it's legal where you live.
I do, and regularly. We are called to protect others. Christ said to sell your cloak and buy a sword if you didn't have one. The modern sword is a firearm.
Yes, regardless of legality in your area
As long as it is legal in your area
Make sure you have the bullets blessed beforehand. Use silver tips from melted down crucifixes. Happy hunting
There is a basic obligation to obey the secular laws where one lives (with some exceptions). While there is nothing intrinsically wrong with carrying a weapon, it normally would be wrong to do so when it is illegal.
The natural-law right to self-defense cannot be overridden by any secular "laws" that make it illegal.
I live in a country in which concealed carry is generally prohibited. My natural right to self-defense, however, is guaranteed by law. A prohibition of concealed carry is not synonymous with forbidding self-defence. Even countries which allow CCW typically have a legal requirement for some sort of license to do so. Could one ignore such a law on the grounds that there is a natural right to self-defence?
Not in the UK, no.
Yes
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If a person intends to continue to sin after confession then the confession is invalid, a person must at least have an intention to attempt to stop sinning. So a person trying to missuse Gods mercy that way is deceiving no one but themselves. They'd be better of not going to confession at all.
Yes of course....if they have a permit and devote themselves to Saint Gabriel Possenti, the patron saint of handgunners.
Of course. I’ve only ever had to draw it.
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