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What are the extents and limits of the Commandment to Honour Thy Father and Thy Mother? - Update 2

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JMJ

For reference attached is a table outlining the logical summaries of the authors cited in the  article on Honouring Thy Father and Mother that I posted last year (link)

P^3

 

ID

Source

Year

Excerpt

Summary

Logical Formula

1

Handbook of Moral Theology – Prummer

1955

There are two limits to be placed to the obedience due to parents even in lawful matters: I) one of duration, in so far as the duty ceases once the child after attaining his majority or emancipation begins to live away from the parental home; b) in the choice of a state of life, and therefore even minors are free to choose in this matter and parents commit sin by compelling their children to embrace any particular state of life.

  • Obedience due to parents

  • Ceases once the child

  • Attains majority or emancipation

  • begins to live away from the parental home

(Age of Majority [OR] Emancipation) [AND][NOT] (living at home) = Duty of obedience inactive


In the case of an adult (age of majority) or emancipated child living at home the formula logically changes to:


(Age of Majority [OR] Emancipation) [AND] (living at home) = Duty of obedience active

2

Moral Theology (Fr. Heribert Jone, Transl. Fr. Adelman)

1955, 1961

Disobedience is a grievous sin if it concerns an important matter and the parents have given a real command. In educational matters the obligation of obedience lasts until the children come of age. ... Even adult children, as long as they stay at home, must obey in all things necessary for domestic order, e.g., to return home at a reasonable hour at night.

  • Even adult children

  • as long as they stay at home,

  • must obey in all things necessary for domestic order,

(Age of Majority) [AND] (living at home) = Duty of obedience active

3

A Brief Catechism for Adults (Fr. Cogan)

1951, 1958

3. How long is a child obliged to obey his parents? Until approximately the 21st birthday, or until he or she leaves home to be married or to become a priest or sister.

  • child obliged to obey his parents?

  • Until approximately the 21st birthday,

  • or until he or she leaves home

  • to be married or to become a priest or sister.

(Age of Majority ) [OR]([NOT] ((living at home) [AND] (married [OR] priest [OR] sister))) = Duty of obedience inactive


Alternative Logical Presentation is complicated by the conditions under which a child below the age of majority is released from the duty of obedience. In order for this to be true, they have to leave to be either married or enter the religious life.


([NOT](Age of Majority)) [OR] ((Lives at home) [AND] [NOT] (married [OR] priest [OR] sister)) = Duty of obedience active.


Leaving aside the change in a state of life, the logic is simplified to:


[NOT](Age of Majority) = Duty of obedience active.


4

Catechism of the Catholic Church

1992

2217 As long as a child lives at home with his parents, the child should obey ... As they grow up, children should continue to respect their parents. ... Obedience toward parents ceases with the emancipation of the children ...

  • As long as a child lives at home with his parents,

  • the child should obey

  • Obedience toward parents ceases with the emancipation of the children ...

(Age of Majority) [AND] (Living at home) = Duty of obedience active


If it is ‘or’ as noted by Cogan, then a contradiction arises in certain cases and the true meaning of the means by which the statements are combined must satisfy all conditions without creating an incongruity.







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