Boycotting Abortion Advocates
Hi Brother,
This question my younger sister asked me and I wasn't sure how to answer so I am hoping that you could help me.
She told me that about 6 months ago she was on www.rockforlife.org a site that she came to know about from a pamphlet she got in the mail. It is a Catholic (or maybe Christian, I'm not sure) site that is very anti-abortion. On that site they have a list of pro-abotion actors/musicians. Ever since she saw that she has stopped listening to their music and watching their moves/TV shows because she says that she doesn't wish to support abortion by doing that (i.e. buying a CD and having them use a portion of the money to support abortionists).
She tells me that she feels bad doing this sometimes because she can hardly ever watch TV with the rest of our family (I don't live at home anymore since I'm married) since they don't seem to mind what the entertainers view on abortion is. She also told me that she tried, for the sake of my brothers and parents, to watch a movie she knew had a pro-abortion actress she felt really 'dirty' after and couldn't do it again. So, what she asked me was, is it her moral obligation as a Catholic to boycott abortion advocates?
Thanks,
Ana
p.s. My sister is 15 years old (in case that affects the answer to this question)
QUESTION from Ana on May 19, 2004
ANSWER by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM on May 23, 2004
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Dear Ana: There is no moral obligation to boycott pro-abortion actors or musicians and the like. This is an issue of personal conscience. If your sister has chosen to boycott any TV, movies, or music of pro-abortion people, this is a laudable thing to do, but it is one of personal conscience. No one else is obliged to do the same thing. Those who boycott and those who do not boycott should both be respected. It is important for your sister to follow her conscience. If she violates her own conscience she could be sinning. For example, my conscience will not let me gamble, even on Bingo. If I were to play Bingo against my conscience I would be sinning. Other people who do not have the same convictions as I have about Bingo are NOT sinning if they play, but if I play I will be sinning. We have an moral obligation to follow our conscience (and an obligation to develop an informed conscience, of course).
God Bless, |