Reader's Question

A reader writes asking me:

Our sister is working at Wal Mart and is burdened by the fact that she, at times, must sell contraceptives and prophylactics. She handles them and takes money for them. She is a cashier.

She also has some deep regret about using so called 'contraception' in the past and is burdened by the fact that they are abortafacients. She feels grief when walking past empty swings and has talked about her grief with others.

Is this sin? Is this mortal sin? If it is should she quit her job and trust the Lord and His providence for new work?

For many years I have held the opinion that it is important ask ourselves to what degree we are cooperating in sinful activity, and to question ourselves regarding what we can do about it.  However, we must also take care not to assign guilt to ourselves where none exists. 

True, we bear responsibility in the sin of others when we cooperate in it.  However, it is my opinion that simply working as a cashier where contraceptives are sold, and consequently taking money for them, is not direct participation in sin.

Nevertheless, we must always follow the voice of our conscience.  Therefore, if your sister's conscience speaks to her against something, she should unquestionably follow the voice of her conscience.

Concerning your sister's regret regarding the use of artificial contraception, I have found the best recourse when suffering from guilt or regret in any situation to be the Sacrament of Penance.  Once something has been confessed and penance has been done we do ourselves a favor by having a forward-looking attitude in which the mistakes of the past have no place any longer in our lives. 

While not all contraceptives are abortafacient, it may be that your sister might find help with Project Rachel.  Certainly talking through the problem is a start.

Concerning whether something is or is not mortal sin, keep in mind that in order for sin to be mortal sin three conditions must be met: it must be 1) a grave matter, 2) committed with full knowledge, and 3) with deliberate consent.

If your sister's conscience speaks to her against the work she does, she would be well-advised to begin looking for something else while also weighing the current need that she and her dependents have for her continued employment.  In her decision she should also consider that simply working as a cashier where contraceptives are sold is--depending on her degree of involvement--perhaps indirect participation only, and therefore not something for which she would necessarily bear moral culpability.

Comments

[CO]

I've often found that asking the Lord to provide the proper job is exactly what He will do. I've had my qualms about places of employment, not that they might result in sinfulness, but that I might. I worked in many offices, which had meant dressing nicely, which had necessitated hair and makeup to match, etc. etc. etc.. what money wasted, but also, what self-love can be masked as "need to do this," which can be so blinding. I am not one to snub anyone even then, but a less well-heeled I will find the ones who are hoping for eyes to do so, because if I look like them, they will look at me. (Well, that likely didn't make any sense, lol, but it does to me.) I literally turned down a wonderful administrative asst. job on the day that I was to fill out my W4 forms! I was already in the system.. but the Director, after my half-hour of riding around praying about this, understood beautifully. And then came a job I could live both well with and from.

At best, one may avoid retail of any kind, most especially the Walmart kind, who uses slave labor and also puts Mom and Pop out of business, and helps to spoil us rotten. We can ask God our Father for any help, even that of employment.. it will come.