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Author Topic: can priests/bishops defend themselves with firearms?  (Read 1792 times)

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Offline Ladislaus

  • Supporter
Re: can priests/bishops defend themselves with firearms?
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2023, 04:18:48 PM »
Quote from: Marcellinus on February 19, 2023, 02:19:10 PM
“Clerics shall entirely abstain from all those things that are indecent to their state; they shall not engage in indecorous arts; they shall abstain from gambling games with risks of money; they shall not carry arms, except when there is just cause for fearing; hunting should not be indulged, and [then] never with clamor; taverns and similar places should not be entered without necessity or another just cause approved by the local Ordinary.” - Canon 138, 1917 Code

That's more about unbecoming activity.  It's considered generally unbecoming for a priest to walk around, say, with a 6-shooter on his belt.  But given the bolded above, I think it would be fine to carry one for self defense or to keep weapons in one's home for self-defense, and possibly even conceal carry (since the issue here is what's unbecoming).  But if a priest were attacked, of course he would have the right to self defense.
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Offline SimpleMan

Re: can priests/bishops defend themselves with firearms?
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2023, 05:17:50 PM »
Quote from: Marcellinus on February 19, 2023, 02:19:10 PM
“Clerics shall entirely abstain from all those things that are indecent to their state; they shall not engage in indecorous arts; they shall abstain from gambling games with risks of money; they shall not carry arms, except when there is just cause for fearing; hunting should not be indulged, and [then] never with clamor; taverns and similar places should not be entered without necessity or another just cause approved by the local Ordinary.” - Canon 138, 1917 Code
Every person has the natural-law right to self-defense, regardless of their state in life.

I am assuming by "not carry[ing] arms", this refers to open- or concealed-carry in the course of everyday life when there is no foreseen need for self-defense.  It seems that a priest would be able to engage in shooting practice, as at a gun range, simply as a hobby.  The only thing I've ever shot, aside from a target, was a severely wounded bird in my backyard, to put it out of its misery, and that was with a high-powered .22 air rifle.  (BTW, I am a layman.)  I think our HOA would frown on firearms.
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Offline Cera

Re: can priests/bishops defend themselves with firearms?
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2023, 07:52:38 PM »
I can't beleive this is even a question.
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Offline josefamenendez

Re: can priests/bishops defend themselves with firearms?
« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2023, 09:36:21 PM »
Funny . Our sermon today mentioned  this . The priests that were defended by the Chisteros could not use guns . If they did they were barred from saying Mass . Also  priests that did take up arms and were killed could not be considered for Sainthood because of their use of guns.
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Offline Ladislaus

  • Supporter
Re: can priests/bishops defend themselves with firearms?
« Reply #9 on: February 19, 2023, 11:23:27 PM »
Quote from: josefamenendez on February 19, 2023, 09:36:21 PM
Funny . Our sermon today mentioned  this . The priests that were defended by the Chisteros could not use guns . If they did they were barred from saying Mass . Also  priests that did take up arms and were killed could not be considered for Sainthood because of their use of guns.

Well, I think there's a difference between being an armed combatant and a simple case of self-defense.  I can certainly see it as being incongruous with the priesthood to take up arms in battle.
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