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Avoiding Scandal

Last Revised on January 12, 2012

There will be times when lay employees and lay volunteers who work with young people will desire to be involved in events sponsored by secular organizations that raise money or awareness for diseases, but which also subscribe to beliefs or practices not in keeping with the teachings of the Catholic Church, for example promotion of contraception or support of embryonic stem cell research.  Participation in an event is not intrinsically evil. The moral concern is in the indirect support given to those beliefs or practices that are contradictory to church teaching or to partnering organizations working with the sponsor.

Take, for example, a youth minister whose life has been touched by breast cancer. That individual might wish to participate in the Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure.” He/she should be aware that some will question whether participation in the event is acceptable as a lay employee or volunteer charged with leading ministry to and with young people given the organization’s vocal support for embryonic stem cell research and its links with Planned Parenthood.

Individuals who choose to participate in an event like the “Race for the Cure,” could avoid giving scandal by making it clear to those who may be influenced by their decision that their participation is aimed at fighting the disease, and that they strongly oppose that organization’s support of the immoral practices already noted. There is still a risk of scandal and so participation should be well thought out and well documented. It would also not be inappropriate for an individual to request in writing (and receive written assurance) that funds raised by participating not to be used to support intrinsically evil practices such as embryonic stem cell research.

The possibility of giving scandal is greater for a Church group than it is for an individual, because the Church has a broader sphere of influence. Church groups cannot avoid giving scandal. Therefore, it should be the practice of those who work with young people that organized sponsorship (i.e., a youth group or school club participating in one of the events listed above) be avoided.

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