Obedience and Blind Obedience (audio only)

A Sermon by Father Gavin P Blitzer OSJ

Playing time: 30 minutes

BLIND OBEDIENCE ? 

Many people believe that true obedience is blind. That is, they believe if a person in authority makesa decision or gives a command, that decision or command should be followed without question simplybecause a person in authority gave it. Within the Catholic Church, many laity believe that whatever a priest or bishop says should be followed without question.

 Matthew 17– 15,16

 [15]Beware of false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
 [16]By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles ?

THE PROBLEM OF OBEDIENCE 

Blind Obedience is the complete obedience without thought or question.
It is used when one does something which he has been told
without even questioning about the consequences or if it is right or wrong.

CATHOLIC OBEDIENCE IS ALWAYS OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH
It is the teaching of the Church that obedience is part of justice, one of the
four cardinal virtues, which are in turn subordinate to the theological virtues
of faith, hope and charity. Faith is greater than obedience ! Therefore, if
obedience acts to harm the faith, then a Catholic has a duty not to obey his
superior.

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