A vasectomy constitutes grave matter.

[churl]

I came across this on catholic.com and wanted to share.
Any comments?


Q: Am I correct in assuming that a Catholic husband who has had a vasectomy cannot receive Communion? If that is true, what is the remedy? Obviously, reversal cannot always be accomplished.


A: A vasectomy constitutes grave matter. Together with full knowledge of the gravity of the action and full and free consent to the action, a mortal sin is committed. Assuming these conditions were met, the remedy is the same as for any mortal sin: the sacrament of reconciliation, through which a person is restored to a state of grace and may again receive Communion. The Church does not require that a sterilized man attempt to reverse the vasectomy. But if he chooses to do so, he might wish to contact One More Soul at www.omsoul.com.

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

Sounds right to me.

 

[geocajun]

yep, its correct. Do you have any questions about the answer Churl?

 

[churl]

yep, its correct. Do you have any questions about the answer Churl?

I have seen this question on the board and wanted to give information that I recently found. Not only should it state "vasectomy", but it should also refer to a "tubal ligation" for women.

I guess the issue that comes to mind is that when men and or woman choose to have this procuedure done, perhaps there thought is - "who cares, God will forgive me once I go to confession".

So there you are...in the confessional confessing that you had this procedure done (with full knowledge that is is wrong in the eyes of the church) yet the priest forgives you and gives you absolution.

 

[Carrye]

So there you are...in the confessional confessing that you had this procedure done (with full knowledge that is is wrong in the eyes of the church) yet the priest forgives you and gives you absolution.

Well sure, but God knows when we're sorry and when we're not.

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

If you are not really sorry, you won't really be forgiven.

Also, doing it with the idea "I'll just confess later" is itself a grave sin.

 

[geocajun]

I have seen this question on the board and wanted to give information that I recently found. Not only should it state "vasectomy", but it should also refer to a "tubal ligation" for women.

I guess the issue that comes to mind is that when men and or woman choose to have this procuedure done, perhaps there thought is - "who cares, God will forgive me once I go to confession".

So there you are...in the confessional confessing that you had this procedure done (with full knowledge that is is wrong in the eyes of the church) yet the priest forgives you and gives you absolution.

That is another grave matter all to itself -its the sin of presumption and it must be confessed as well.
That said, its always great when someone repents and is forgiven.

 

[Benedicta00]

When someone does repent and confesses the sin of sterilization they are forgiven and are not required to have the matter reversed. But if they can- it is good but not every one can.

 

[Isidore_AK]

I came across this on catholic.com and wanted to share.
Any comments?


Q: Am I correct in assuming that a Catholic husband who has had a vasectomy cannot receive Communion? If that is true, what is the remedy? Obviously, reversal cannot always be accomplished.


A: A vasectomy constitutes grave matter. Together with full knowledge of the gravity of the action and full and free consent to the action, a mortal sin is committed. Assuming these conditions were met, the remedy is the same as for any mortal sin: the sacrament of reconciliation, through which a person is restored to a state of grace and may again receive Communion. The Church does not require that a sterilized man attempt to reverse the vasectomy. But if he chooses to do so, he might wish to contact One More Soul at www.omsoul.com.

Speaking as a man who had a vasectomy...

This is exactly what I was told when I reverted to the Church. I was one of those fallen away types for about 10 years, and they didn't exactly cover this stuff in CCD when I was a kid, and I sure as hell never heard it from my parents.

When I was younger, I had a vasectomy. My wife (a Baptist at the time, since converted) had one of those 'power' careers...she was an Air Traffic Controller, and we didn't want to deal with a pregnancy. We figured we'd just adopt if we ever wanted children. Well, it was a big mistake (obviously). In addition to the sin involved, there are medical risks that are really glossed over by the doctors, and a reversal entails even more risks.

The Church prefers that you get the vasectomy reversed, but it is not required. After the side effects that I am dealing with from the original procedure, I am loathe to try a reversal. The worst part is that we really want children now...and can't. Adoption it is! But its so expensive...it'll be another 8-10 years before we can afford it (unless there is a drastic change in our finances).

Anyway, I guess I'm just venting. For all of those out there who want a vasectomy...don't do it. You'll regret it eventually.

 

[Caedmon]

I guess the issue that comes to mind is that when men and or woman choose to have this procuedure done, perhaps there thought is - "who cares, God will forgive me once I go to confession".

So there you are...in the confessional confessing that you had this procedure done (with full knowledge that is is wrong in the eyes of the church) yet the priest forgives you and gives you absolution.

Exactly. This one-time event is not a continuing struggle. It's not like any occasion of sin will open them up to doing it again. So it's sort of like they get off scot-free. [/double entendre] But what can you do? Withold the Sacraments from them until they go in for the surgical reversal that may or may not work?

 

[oat02351]

I actually didn't know. There are still many things I am learning on this site wich is good because I've been Catholic my whole life and some things I should know. My family and those around me are not very religious. I really started going to church regularly a few years ago.

 

[Isidore_AK]

Exactly. This one-time event is not a continuing struggle. It's not like any occasion of sin will open them up to doing it again. So it's sort of like they get off scot-free. [/double entendre] But what can you do? Withold the Sacraments from them until they go in for the surgical reversal that may or may not work?

If you do not honostly repent (ie feel sorrow) of your sin, it isn't forgiven. A confession that is just the form, but doesn't have any real repentance behind it is just another sin (lying to the Priest in confession).

 

[Caedmon]

If you do not honostly repent (ie feel sorrow) of your sin, it isn't forgiven. A confession that is just the form, but doesn't have any real repentance behind it is just another sin (lying to the Priest in confession).

I know this full-well. The thing is, it's so easy to do this, because it's a one-time event, and you can turn around, the day after even, and go straight to confession (with true repentance) and be absolved for it. It seems a bit too easy to me. What is the penance for such an action? What is the temporal punishment? Unlimited baby-free sex? What's happened to Catholic penance over the last few centuries? It seems virtually non-existent these days.

 

[bostonlass]

What is the penance for such an action? What is the temporal punishment? Unlimited baby-free sex? What's happened to Catholic penance over the last few centuries? It seems virtually non-existent these days.

My penance (for a tubal ligation) was five Our Fathers and two Hail Mary's.

 

[ukok]

Exactly. This one-time event is not a continuing struggle. It's not like any occasion of sin will open them up to doing it again. So it's sort of like they get off scot-free. [/double entendre] But what can you do? Withold the Sacraments from them until they go in for the surgical reversal that may or may not work?

I usually agree with you Caed, but I just felt like throwing a spanner into the works...actually, from my own viewpoint, I feel terribly guilty and remorseful that I had a sterilisation. I live with the knowledge that I can no longer enter a marriage with the ability to create our own babies. I long for more children (I ache for them physically, believe it or not).

At the time that I was sterilised, the breakdown of my marriage was at it's peak, daily abuse gave way to a very great weight within me...my two children were already suffering (and on the point of being taken away from me- because I would not leave my husband until the very last moment that it was apparant that we had no future whatsoever). Towards the middle and end of the marriage I absolutely lived in dread that I would get pregnant...we were having unprotected sex (try saying no when you are terrified of the man and know what he is capable of- and also in a crazy way, still love him and crave his affection and attention) and he had already called our son a >insert nasty word for illegitimate child here< when he was only two weeks old...I can catalogue the abuse that is etched on my brain even now.

Anyway, I prayed to God EVERY night. I cried myself to sleep EVERY night. And eventually, I knew that I could not allow another child of mine to be abused by this man. Hence, the sterilisation. I did what I felt was the only thing to do. I was not strong enough to leave and the control that he had over me was immense.

Did I cry after it was done. Yes, I cried. Do I still? Yes, I still cry sometimes. The emotional, psychological and demoralising effect of sterilisation are not neccessarily short lived at all...they remain with me always...and it is a continual struggle for me to accept the horrendous thing that I have done.

God bless.

 

[Caedmon]

When I said "struggle," I was refering to the singular nature of the sin, in that it is not a habitual sin and is (usually) not something that could be committed, and repented of, again. IOW, it is not a sin that you struggle against committing repeatedly, like cursing at people on the road. I am sorry for the pain that you felt, though.

 

[ukok]

When I said "struggle," I was refering to the singular nature of the sin, in that it is not a habitual sin and is (usually) not something that could be committed, and repented of, again. IOW, it is not a sin that you struggle against committing repeatedly, like cursing at people on the road. I am sorry for the pain that you felt, though.

OK

I just think it can be very easy to be flippant and cynical about things that we have no experience of, but I appreciate the point that you were making, I must have misjudged the overtones of your post and therefore, unneccessarily felt called to give my viewpoint

God Bless.