Morality - What is morality?
how do we uphold human dignity?
1. Treat people as someone not something 2. Respect every human being even when they lack self respect 3. Treat others as a whole person 4. Stand up to injustice
Catechism
A popular summary, usually in book form, of Catholic doctrine about faith and morals and commonly intended for use within formal programs of catechesis
Covenant
A solemn agreement between human beings or between God and a human being in which natural commitments are made
T
All persons have an instinct to be in right relationship with God, other people, the world, and themselves
F
Because of the gift of free will, we are not obliged to follow moral law
T
Conscience is a gift of God to help us know moral law
T
Conscience prompts us to do good and to avoid evil
New Law
Divine Law is revealed in the New Testament through the life and teaching of Jesus Christ and through the witness and teaching of the Apostles, The New Law reflects the Old Law and brings it to fulfillment. Also called the Law of Attraction
Old Law
Divine law revealed in the Old Testament, summarized in the Ten Commandments. Also called the Law of Moses. It contracts with the New Law of the Gospels
T
Eternal Law is always true and unchanging
T
Fair civil laws reflect natural law
Beatitude
Given at the sermon of the mount by Jesus. Describes the actions and attitudes by which one can discover genuine happiness communication with heaven
Relationship between Law and Covenant
God created us out of love, and God's desire for each of us is to live in true love and happiness
Merit
God's reward to those who love him and follow Christ's Law of Love. To have merit is to be justified in the sight of God, free from sin and sanctified by his grace. We do not earn on our own; it is a free gift from God due to the grace of Christ in us
F
Human beings can fully understand & appreciate Eternal Law through the use of reason alone
Relationship between Law and Covenant
In the New Covenant, Christ guides our hearts toward an ongoing attitude of love, care, and forgiveness and he grants us salvation from sin
Relationship between Law and Covenant
In the Old Covenant, God gave us wisdom through law to teach us and guide us on this path away from sin and total holiness
T
Moral law is an expression of Eternal Law
T
Moral law may be applied to new historical situations by the Magisterium of the Church
F
Moral truth is subjective, meaning we are free to decide what is right or wrong
T
Natural law allows for the development of civil laws that everyone can agree to regardless of faith or religion
T
Natural law is a part of human nature and does not depend on any religion
F
Natural laws are applicable to a particular time and place
F
Obeying moral law decreases human freedom
F
Only Church law has its basis in Eternal Law
Soul
Our spiritual principle is immoral, and it is what makes us most like God. Our soul is created by God, and he unites it with our physical body at the moment of conception. The soul is the seat of human conscience and freedom
Precepts of the Church
Sometimes called the commandments of the Church, these are basic obligations for all Catholics that are dictated by the laws of the Church
Magisterium
The Church's living teaching office, which consists of all bishops, in communion with the Pope.
T
The Church's social teaching relies on reason and natural law
Infallibility
The Gift of the Holy Spirit to the whole Church by which the leaders of the Church ~ the Pope and the bishops in union with him ~ are protested from fundamental error when formulating a specific teaching on a matter of faith and morals
T
The Golden Rule is an example of moral law that is common to all great world religions
Relationship between Law and Covenant
The New Covenant fulfills the Old Covenant, pointing out the spirit of the law and leading us through faith in Christ
Great Commandments
The New Law is LOVE Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength Love your neighbor as yourself
Intellect
The ability to see and understand the order of things that God places. To understand God through the created order
T
The commandments were created at the beginning of time
Free Will
The gift from God. Allows us to choose our actions that we will be held accountable for it is the basis for moral responsibly
Conscience
The interior voice of a person, a God given sense of the law of God. Moral conscience leads people to understand themselves as responsible for their actions, and prompts them to do good and avoid evil. To make good judgements, one needs to have a well formed conscience
Moral Law
The moral law is established by God and is a rational expression of Eternal Law. Moral law reflects God's wisdom ~ It is the teaching that leads us to the blessed life he wants for us
Natural Law
The moral law that can be understood through the use of reason. It is our God given ability to understand what it means to be in the right relationship with God, other people, the world, and ourselves. The basis for natural law is our participation in God's wisdom and goodness because we are created in the divine likeness
Canon Law
The name given to the official body of laws that provide good order in the visible body of the Church
Eternal Law
The order in creation that reflects God's will and purpose. It is eternal because it is always true and never changes. All other types of law have their basis in Eternal Law and are only true if they reflect the truth of Eternal Law
Original Holiness
The original state of human beings in their relationship with God sharing in the divine life in full communion with him
Salvation History
The pattern of specific salvific events in human history that reveals God's presence and saving actions
Justification
The process by which God frees us from sin and sanctifies us
Original Sin
The sin of the first human beings, who disobeyed God command by choosing to follow their own will and so lost their original holiness and became subjected to death AFFECTS EVERYONE AT BIRTH
Original JUSTICE
The state of complete harmony that our first parents had with their inner self, with each other, and with all of creation
Concupiscence
The tendency humans have to sin as a result of Original Sin
Paschal Mystery
The work of salvation accomplished by Jesus Christ mainly through his life, passion, death, resurrection and ascension
Relationship between Law and Covenant
Through the Holy Spirit we receive the grace we need to follow the laws of the covenant and stay on the path to eternal love and happiness, remaining in union with God who loves us
T
To be moral is to be fully human
Sanctify, sanctification
To make holy ~ sanctification is the process of becoming closer to God and growing in holiness, taking on the righteousness of Jesus Christ with the gift of sanctifying grace
object
WHAT a person chooses to do
circumstance
WHO, WHERE, WHEN, HOW?
intention
WHY someone chooses to do something
F
We are not responsible for our failure to follow natural moral law
vices
bad habits
virtues
behavior showing high moral standards
inherent
existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute
What diminishes freedom?
ignorance, inadvertence, duress, inordinate attachments, fear, habit
Aspects of human dignity
inherent, inviolable, inalienable
inalienable
not able to be taken or given away
3 sources of morality
object, intention, circumstance
inviolable
sacred; of such a character that it must not be broken, injured, or profaned
human dignity
the value and worth that we share because God created us in his image and likeness
Types of Virtues
theological and cardinal
