Sacraments and Morality Spring Chapter 2 Study Guide

True or False? A single action cannot be motivated by mixed intentions.

False. A single action can be motivated by mixed intentions

abortion

The deliberate killing of unborn human life by means of medical or surgical procedures. Direct abortion is gravely wrong because it is an unjustified attack on human life.

What are four benefits of self-discipline in sexual behavior before marriage?

• a stronger marriage with a greater chance of success, • a closer friendship with one's spouse, • deeper intimacy and communion with one's spouse, • development of problem-solving and communication skills

List four risks of sexual activity outside of marriage.

• the spread of sexually transmitted diseases • unintended pregnancies that may pose a temptation to seek abortion • emotional pain • the erosion of family life

What are examples of questions we can ask ourselves in discerning our motives for what we do?

"Why am I doing this?" or "Why do I want to do this?"

What is our twofold responsibly in obeying the teachings of the Magisterium?

(1) You must listen and learn God's saving precepts because they "purify judgment and, with grace, heal human reason" (CCC, 2037). (2) You must observe—that is, live by — "the constitutions and decrees conveyed by the legitimate authority of the Church" (CCC, 2037)

What are the two rules governing intentions?

(1.) Keep the intention good. (2) Remember that the end does not justify the means.

discernment

A decision-making process that attends to the implications and consequences of an action or choice. The Holy Spirit aids you in distinguishing between trials (which are necessary for your inner growth in virtue) and temptations (which lead to sin and death).

infallibility

A gift of the Holy Spirit whereby "the pope and bishops in union with him can definitively proclaim a doctrine of faith or morals for the belief of the faithful" (CCC, Glossary). The word itself refers to "something that is preserved without error."

Briefly summarize three harmful effects of the use of marijuana.

Any three of the following are acceptable answers: • Marijuana affects hormone glands, damages the respiratory system, and causes impairment that can lead to unsafe behaviors. • Marijuana has a chemical in it called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC. There are about four hundred other chemicals in marijuana, including many that could damage your health. THC is the primary chemical that affects the brain. THC finds brain cells with cannabinoid receptors and binds to them. THC interferes with learning and memory in the short term. Sometimes these effects persist in the long term as well. • Within a few minutes after smoking marijuana, a person's heart rate increases (by twenty to fifty beats per minute), the bronchial passages relax and become enlarged, and blood vessels in the eyes expand, making the eyes look red. • Amotivational syndrome is the name for another effect of marijuana. Repeat users may become apathetic and lethargic, withdrawing from involvement in academic and social activities. A study from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 40 percent of heavy marijuana users have the symptoms of this syndrome. • Another practical consideration is that driving under the influence of marijuana is dangerous and illegal. Research shows that drivers on marijuana have a slower reaction time, impaired judgment, and problems responding to signals and sounds. About 14 percent of drivers who sustain injury or death in auto accidents test positive for THC

Briefly explain the meaning of this Chinese proverb: "To know the road ahead, ask those coming back."

Everyone relies on others, and everyone can learn from others' experience. That is, when making a tough decision, consult with people who have faced a similar situation, and listen to their advice

True or False? Prayer is nothing more than asking God and him responding to us.

False. Prayer is more than asking God and him responding to us

True or False? Premarital sexual activity may contribute to fidelity after marriage and many people who were sexually active before marriage report problems with intimacy after marriage.

False. Premarital sexual activity may contribute to infidelity after marriage and many people who were sexually active before marriage report problems with intimacy after marriage

True or False? The circumstances of "where" makes no difference in the morality of a case.

False. The circumstances of "where" sometimes makes no difference in the morality of a case

True or False? The circumstances of an action can make an action that is evil good.

False. The circumstances of an action cannot make an action that is evil good

True or False? The moral object - how you do something - is the decisive factor in moral decision-making.

False. The moral object - what you do - is the decisive factor in moral decision-making.

True or False? The why question is the most important question to ask in making a moral decision.

False. The what question is the most important question to ask in making a moral decision.

True or False? Catholics are obliged to confess their mortal sins at least once a month or before receiving Holy Communion.

False? Catholics are obliged to confess their mortal sins at least once a month or before receiving Holy Communion

Explain the process of discernment for Catholics.

For Catholics, discernment involves a keen and insightful judgment about some important choice. It is done in a prayerful atmosphere, taking into consideration Christian values and Church teaching

Making the right decision when facing a moral dilemma involves two things. Write these here.

Making the right decision involves examining various possibilities before acting. It also involves examining the consequences of each possible action.

Write the two definitions of prayer presented by the text.

Prayer is "the response of faith to the free promise of salvation and also a response of love to the thirst of the only Son of God" (CCC, 2561). The Catechism of the Catholic Church further defines prayer as "the living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with his Son Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit" (CCC, 2565)

Magisterium

The bishops, in union with the pope (the successor of St. Peter), who are the living and teaching office of the Church. The Magisterium is entrusted with guarding and handing on the Deposit of Faith and with authentically interpreting God's Revelation in the forms of both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

cardinal virtues

The four pivotal virtues that support moral living: prudence ("right reason in action"), justice (giving God and each person his or her due by right), fortitude (courage to persist in living a Christian life), and temperance (moderation in controlling desires for physical pleasures).

prudence

The moral virtue that inclines you to discern a good, ethical, and moral life and to choose the means to accomplish it.

Briefly note the three major aspects of every moral action.

The three major aspects of every moral action: the moral object (what), the intention (why), and the circumstances (who, when, where, and how)

True of False? Some actions are objectively good while some actions are objectively bad.

True

True or False? Circumstances can diminish or increase a person's responsibility

True

True or False? Fornication is a grave sin destroying the virtue of charity in a person's heart and undermining the original intention of sexual expression.

True

True or False? Geneticists - even some who are nonreligious - have concluded that a unique human life comes into existence at conception.

True

True or False? Prayer can involve struggles and trials because part of Satan's plan is to distract us from praying.

True

True or False? Seeking advice from trusted "elders" is a wise thing to do, and this extends to seeking advice from Jesus as well.

True

True or False? The moral object is the decisive element in morality so much so that a bad intention can make a good act evil.

True

True or False? The question of "when" may or may not make a difference affect the goodness or evil of a moral action.

True

True or False? The teenage years are filled with potentially life-changing decisions.

True

True or False? Thinking of alternatives is part of moral decision-making

True

True or False? Understanding how our actions may affect others is an important part of making good decisions.

True

Write the three questions one should ask in making a moral decision.

• Is the act itself (moral object) for the good? • Is your intention good? • Do the circumstances fit the goodness of the act

Briefly write five of Jesus' teachings about prayer here.

• Jesus said to pray with childlike simplicity. • Jesus said to "'pray always without becoming weary'" (Lk 18:1). • Jesus encouraged people to pray together, promising to be present when "'two or three are gathered together in my name'" (Mt 18:20). • Jesus said to pray with a forgiving heart. • Jesus emphasized that you must pray with faith.

Briefly note the meaning of the letters of the acronym STOP

• Search out the facts. • Think about the alternatives and consequences. • Others can help you make good decisions. • Pray always for guidance