California Catholic Daily: Bishop McElroy, “Many Catholics tend to think of our moral life as being rule-oriented,” McElroy said. “Rules are important primarily as a check on rationalization. The real core of Catholic teaching is and always was a decision of conscience.”
The Catholic Church long has taught that you must follow your conscience, even if it is contrary to church teachings, McElroy said.
McElroy said: “Our rules are not universalized in that they are meant to be guides in a great majority of circumstances.”
Conscience takes into account a person’s circumstances and their belief that “God is asking me to do the opposite” of church teachings, he said. “It’s in major decisions in our lives that conscience can be helpful.” More here.
