Guilty of Heresy? Thursday, Apr 24 2008
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This is something which caught my eye a while back. The Gabriel Project. The Gabriel Project is a Catholic Organization devoted to helping mothers who are dealing with Pregnancies, in an attempt to provide an alternate route for the mothers than abortion. By all means, this type of idea and project are perfectly in sound harmony with Catholic Teaching, as they are exercising Christian Charity towards our neighbors. But taking a close look at their advertisement pamphlet, I cannot help but notice something which is actually… Heretical? Judge for yourself! (Click the image to open the larger version.)
Ok. What is wrong here? “Were the words of encouragement and hope delivered to the Madonna in announcement of her unexpected pregnancy.” Isn’t Holy Scripture quite clear on the fact that the Angel Gabriel appeared to Our Lady, accouncing, ” Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.” (Douay-Rheims Bible.) Did the angel appear and say “Fear not, for you are with child?” NO! Read the rest of the paragraph from Scripture:
Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. 33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? 35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: 37 Because no word shall be impossible with God. 38 And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.Clearly someone at the Gabriel Project decided to twist things around, as this states nothing about an unexpected Pregnancy. Rather, the angel foretold of the things which were to come, and Our Lady gave her humble consent for them to be so. If she had not consented, Christ would not have come into this world.So my question resides in why the Diocese of Providence hasn’t made any move to ask them to change the title… Unless they’re heretics as well… Does silence indeed give consent?
Master Paul Xavier
Illustrious marceg
Miss Angela Rose
Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Someone got mixed up in that office. How can they call it an ‘unexpected pregnancy’ when Gabriel said those words before she even concieved! Sure, Mary didn’t expect an angel to come and announce that she was to be the mother of God, but like you said, if she had refused, it would not have happend.
Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Yes, but it was unexpected. Even if she consented to it, it was still unexpected (she hadn’t been planning on it). And even after she personally was expecting it (having consented to it) it was still in the eyes of the community around her something unexpected, shameful, and worthy of death. But MARY knew that what she carried within her was the hope of the world. I think that is more the comparison that they are trying to draw.
Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 11:05 pm
P.s. For that matter you could say most pregnancies are unexpected. There is a differance between “unexpected” and “unwanted.”
Friday, April 25, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Basically speaking, yes, it was unexpected. (in the sense that she didn’t know the angel would appear, etc.) But the angel didn’t appear and say “Mary, you are pregnant.” Scripture clearly tells us that the reason for the angel saying ‘Fear not’ was because Mary was startled by his appearance and the greeting “Hail, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!”
And concerning Pregnancies which are unplanned/unwanted/unexpected. The act which causes a woman to conceive always leads Pregnancy. (I.E., adding 2 + 2 always equals 4, no matter how hard you try not to.) So unless there is the use of contraception, the woman will get pregnant. So clearly, in doing the act, she should expect to become pregnant. Unplanned is often due to a failure in the contraceptives, and unwanted may be attributed to the same thing.
Unplanned/unwanted/unexpected pregnancies do happen in this world of ours, and we must help those women who are struggling, since they carry the precious lives of little ones inside of them!
I understand that the Gabriel Project is trying to reach out to people, to make them feel as if even Our Lady had such a trying time; but in being a Catholic organization, they would to try to make things as clear as possible, rather than choosing a motto, which when roughly looked at, can lead one to think something else.
Saturday, April 26, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Um…no…it doesn’t ALWAYS lead to pregnancy. Female cycles aside, there is also the issue of couples who struggle with infertility.
Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 10:25 pm
I think Paul meant it always leads to a possible pregnancy?
Interesting discussion!
Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 10:31 pm
I shouldn’t have hit “Submit” quite so fast.
Another way of phrasing it could be “always has the potential to lead to pregnancy”.
In that sense, a pregnancy can only be so “unexpected”… at least for a couple keeping in mind the ever-present procreative aspect of their union!
You are right that today, an “unplanned” or “surprise” pregnancy often means failed contraceptives. Sadly, the procreative aspect (and GIFT!) of the marital embrace is so often treated as some kind of curse or disease… part of the mindset of the culture of death.
Monday, April 28, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Sorry if I was a bit ambiguous in my statement. What I meant to say, is that 2 and 2 is for. In going through those actions, you should ‘expect’ to become pregnant and have a child. Because isn’t that what the purpose of the marital embrace is? (as Claire puts it perfectly.)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Let’s try to stick on topic. It gets pretty easy to wonder off.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 3:26 pm
This from Catholic Answers:
http://www.catholic.com/library/Great_Heresies.asp
“Heresy is an emotionally loaded term that is often misused. It is not the same thing as incredulity, schism, apostasy, or other sins against faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Incredulity is the neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent to it. Heresy is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him” (CCC 2089).
With this definition and explanation in mind, is it charitable to say that something that may be worded less than precisely is “heresy” or that a charitable Catholic organization that operates under the guidance of its local bishop and is approved by the Church is “heretical”?
To object to the wording and to inform the author or the organization about your objections is honorable; to dissuade persons from supporting the good works of the Church, inviting them to “judge for themselves” whether Her servants are guilty of heresy, is not an innocent act.
Perhaps the Project Gabriel brochure should be rewritten to more clearly reflect the Church’s teachings on the Blessed Mother. It is certain, however, that it was written with regard for the mother who finds herself in an overwhelming situation, the mother who might find comfort in the sympathy of Her Blessed Mother and thus find hope and mercy in Jesus.
By comforting and supporting pregnant women in crisis (or unexpected) pregnancy despite any fault one could find in the cause of her condition, Project Gabriel extends mercy and saves lives. How many lives (or souls) will be saved by armchair criticism?
That said, I can see how reference to Mary’s “unexpected” pregnancy could be misleading, especially considering our modern use of that term. At least one diocese is rethinking the brochure’s text because of this posting. You have made some valid points. Thank you.
Peace,
A Gabriel volunteer
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Thank you for your comment. Actually, the word ‘heresy’ often does get abused, or rather, re-defined by the modern world. My use of it is simply as the definition states. A heresy is a deviation (rejection of 1 or more beliefs, yet retaining certain others,) from the Church’s teaching. The wording on the pamphlet gives me the impression that their view of things is somewhat different than the Church’s teaching; though the views of each and every member of the Project holds may indeed be different than what the phrase suggests. I am in no way trying to dissuade anyone from participating in such a Project, but rather pointing out that if the Gabriel Project is supposed to be ‘Catholic,’ it ought to act so in every way possible. The Gabriel Project’s intention is to reach out to woman who may be considering abortions, etc; thus such a reach out to them would be necessary, but the only thing that really bothers me, is how the statement ’seems’ to take away from Mary’s title. Thanks for the info! It’s great to see that some dioceses are actually noticing it. There are many things which the Bishops have failed to put their foot down on.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Really, now. Do you think Mary is rejoicing or calling her lawyers (assuming there are any in heaven) over the fact her name is being used to save the lives of the unborn?
Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Paul X,
I didn’t give you the world’s definition, Paul X, but the definition from the Catholic Catechism. My point is that your use of it deviates from Catholic teaching, and that you are using your casual definition in criticism of a Catholic ministry which is not only for potentially abortive women (in great need of mercy) but for any pregnant woman who needs assistance. That includes married mothers in difficult circumstances.
The Gabriel Project is certainly Catholic in its foundation and its actions, therefore Marian as well, whether or not one author failed to be precise in his/her theology when writing the brochure. You see poor theology and denial of truth where there was none intended.
All heresy is error, but all error is not heresy. You have mistakenly abused the Catholic definition of ‘heresy’. Does that make you a heretic? The word ‘obstinate’ is a key word in discerning heresy. I see that you are not obstinate; already you are reconsidering your views and comparing them to the truth as taught by our Church. I don’t suspect you of heresy, nor do I announce publicly that others should judge whether or not you are a heretic. If I did, our Blessed Mother, Virgin most merciful, Mirror of Justice, Queen of Peace would not be pleased.
Again, I do agree that some audiences might flinch and misunderstand the use of “unexpected pregnancy” as used in the brochure. I still think that your best course of action, therefore, is to write a respectful letter communicating your concerns to:
Gabriel Communications
Box 283
Cheltenham, PA 19012
or send a charitable email to:
Mail@GenerationLife.org
For more information about Gabriel, please see the website, http://www.gabrielproject.com/
I am sure the national Gabriel Project organization can address your objections effectively. You may even find you’d like to become involved with the Gabriel Project yourself! I hope you do. God works in mysterious ways.
Peace,
A Gabriel volunteer
Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Basically speaking, I wasn’t openly condemning the Gabriel Project, but rather posing the question of “What is this, some heretical gesture?” I have family and friends who also volunteer in the Gabriel Project, so this isn’t a personal vendetta against the project, but my intention is simply raising the question of ‘why’ such a statement is the logo of a Catholic Organization. In the issue of helping mothers in such situations, I am all for it, as we all are human beings, and Christ said Himself “What you do to the least of my brothers, you do to me.” Such works of Charity and aid must go on. As I said before, there may not have been failure of theology intended in the title, but one is suggested. And in simply reading the brochure, that is the idea which enters my mind. We must constantly be aware of such statements, as the are what make the first impressions on the reader, to draw them in. (Which it does to mothers and women in such situations.) But is it proper to word it in that manner? Not so; they could easily have used:
“Rejoice, Fear Not!” These were the words of consolation the Angel Gabriel declared unto Mary at the Annunciation.
(At least that wouldn’t arouse the confusion about the term ‘unexpected pregnancy.’
Indeed, all heresy is error, and all error is not heresy. So though the brochure suggests something which may ’sound’ heretical, it may indeed be accidental, and unintended. But from a quick glance, that is the impression I receive.
I probably should have written a letter concerning it before I posted such an article, but the reason I hesitated was for fear of being given the runaround. I have written letters to other Catholic Organizations, and it all ended indisappointment. Thank you for being charitable in your comment!
And regarding Jay Charles’ comment, I’ll get back to that one soon.