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Wise Judgment: Good conscience in action. Queen. Moral Character . We all have a moral character. That moral character is made up of qualities, virtues, vices, talents and weaknesses that make us who we are. The Christian’s goal is to develop a character that is loving and deeply human. .
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Moral Character • We all have a moral character. • That moral character is made up of qualities, virtues, vices, talents and weaknesses that make us who we are. • The Christian’s goal is to develop a character that is loving and deeply human.
Cardinal Virtues • The four Christian CARDINAL virtues: wise judgment, justice, courage, wholeness. • Wise judgment: prudence or an accurate vision and comprehension of the whole reality (cf. Mt. 7:24-28) • (story from page 96) • 3 dimensions of wise judgment • Seeing reality clearly • Figuring out the good • Knowing her own feelings and motives
Moral Virtues • Those good habits that reveal our inner readiness to do good • The habits of a life of love • Love is expressed through moral virtues • This is acquired through practice and with God’s help • The cardinal virtues of wise judgment, courage, and wholeness are foundational to all other moral virtues
CASE • Take the case of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:2-11). • Jesus understands that the punishment is too severe and that it is gender-biased. • He also knows that they want to trick him into disobeying the Mosaic Law and arrest him. • The answer is to confront them with their own hypocrisy. • Consider reality and the economic bailout we are facing or the global environmental crisis)
Wise Judgment • Traditionally called prudence • Prudence: caution, wise judgment • Comes first in importance because it is the ability to: • Make decisions based on a well formed conscience • Willingness to carry out these decisions The next Step is good conscience in action
A Matter of Life or Death • We often have a mix of motives for what we want to do. Wise judgment excludes false motives. • Case: page 106-107. Which is the wise decision?