The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

1. The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology Chapter 1

2. Pop Quiz • According to the textbook, what are at least 2 of the other things that Catholic moral teaching deals with besides sexuality and marriage? • List the Cardinal virtues. • List the Theological virtues

3. Definitions • Morality: the _______ by which we ______ human actions to be _____ or _______ • Moral Law: _______ norms; standards of human behavior _________ by God and ______ by the Catholic Church 1

4. Definitions • Objective Morality: Standards of conduct that are ______ rather than conditioned by ________ or personal preference • Subjective Morality: one that can _____ from situation to situation and from one __________ opinion to another 2

5. Definitions • Moral relativism: the view that there is no ______ or universal moral law or_____, resulting in a morality determined by cultural factors or personal preference • Those who have a _______ morality are moral relativists 3

6. What is moral law? • It is law that governs our entire lives not just sexuality and marriage • Moral law and teaching reflect _____law • Natural Law: objective order established by God that determines requirements to reach fulfillment. Innate to human nature and discernable to our reason. 4

7. What is moral law? • It is not just rules but leads to _______ • It puts us in position to achieve happiness • We were made to live in communion with God - this is where we find happiness 5

8. What is moral law? • Moral law is based on love of _____ and love of _____ • Not just about living by the “checklist” of morals but that we have the _____ of the moral law • Difference between following the _____ and living the _____ 6

9. Ethic vs. Ethos • Ethic refers to the norm or law • The 10 Commandments express the Ethic • E.g. “Thou Shall not Kill” • If you follow the law because it’s the law you are following the Ethic 7

10. Ethic vs. Ethos • Ethos refers to the ______ desire of the ______; what ______ and repulses you • E.g. having no desire to kill • Calls us to _____ our heart, not just _____ the law 8

11. Characteristics of Moral Law • Moral law is a ______ of our faith • As Christians we are required to follow the moral law • It is essential to live out holiness 9

12. Characteristics of the Moral Law 2. Moral law is ______ by the virtues • At baptism we receive virtues to help us live the law • Counteract the effects of Original Sin • Must be ______ by human effort by repeating virtuous actions 10

13. Cont. • Cardinal Virtues: • ______: to choose the right course of action inspired by the moral law • ______: to render what is due to God and neighbor • ______: to perform good actions amid obstacles and difficulties 11

14. Cont. • _____: to control our passions in order to maintain a clear mind and a strong will • These virtues _______the effects of Original Sin • These virtues must be _____ to draw us closer to God 12

15. Cont. • Theological virtues: • _____: enables us to ______ the truths _____ by Christ and transmitted by the Church • _____: assists us in ______ that God will give us the means to ________ and holiness • _____: enables us to ______ God and others with the love of Christ. 13

16. Characteristicsof the Moral Law • Moral law is based on Divine Wisdom of God. • Moral law reflects the dignity and equality among all persons • Natural law reflects this • God revealed the 10 commandments to express that natural law. 14

17. Aristotle and Happiness • How does a person achieve happiness? • To determine we must ask, “What makes humans _______ from other things?” • _________ - (Intellect and Will) • Our purpose is found in what makes us ___________ 15

18. Aristotle vocab • Telos (τέλοϛ) - end; _________; function • Our telos as humans is _______ or to use correctly our intellect and will • Eudaimonia (εὐδαιμονία) - fulfillment or happiness 16

19. Aristotle and Happiness • A thing achieves εὐδαιμονία or fulfillment/happiness when it performs with excellence according to its telos • According to Aristotle, the telos of a human being is to reason or choose with excellence. • Happiness is achieved with right moral choices 17

20. Morality and Free Will • Because of original sin our ability to reason well has been damaged • We now suffer concupiscence - tendency toward sin b/c of Original sin. • We have clouded mind, weakened will and disordered passions 18

21. Morality and Free Will • Free will is our potential or capacity to choose the good • To fulfill our function we must use our Free will to choose good • In as much as you choose good, you are experiencing freedom • Evil choices destroy freedom 19

22. Sin diminishes freedom • Evil choices are contrary to reason and therefore diminish our freedom • It also further clouds our ability to reason and choose the good • Weakened ability to choose good represents a restriction in our freedom 20

23. Grace • In order to aid the soul in choosing good God supplies us with Grace • Grace: the divine life of God in the soul that is freely given to us by God • We cannot deserve or earn it • Two Kinds of Grace: • Sanctifying Grace and Actual Grace 21

24. Grace • Sanctifying Grace: a grace given to us through the sacrament that gives new life to our souls • It is given in Baptism, nourished by Eucharist and restored in Reconciliation 22

25. Grace • Actual Grace: a temporary grace given by God given to obtain, preserve and grow in holiness • Gives us knowledge and strength to do the good • We can choose to ignore or refuse the grace and act contrary to it. 23

26. Our Actions • Aristotle: “you are what you repeatedly do” • What we choose to do expresses our moral dispositions • Our actions reflect the soul • Interiorly our passions, thoughts and words also begin to reflect our choices and reflect the interior 24

27. Moral life • The moral law shows us what a person who loves God ought to do • Commandments are the minimum threshold for morality • Jesus’ moral teaching focuses mostly on what we must do 25

28. Moral Life • Humans are a composite of body and soul • Therefore, moral law reflects laws that effect both • Sacraments help to build up the soul 26

29. Man in society • Man is by nature a social being • The moral law also calls us to safeguard human dignity for all • It also calls us to serve and love one another • Social morality seeks to distract from the tendency to focus on ourselves only 27

30. Sources of Moral Theology • Draws from Divine Revelation also known as the Deposit of Faith • Scripture, Tradition, interpreted by the Magisterium • Natural Law 28

31. Sources of Moral Theology • Sacred Scripture • Both Old and New Testament are used in moral law • New Testament is used more because: • Some OT laws were temporary • Jesus was the fulfillment of the OT and therefore, brings the fullness of the law 29

32. Sources of Moral Theology • Scripture cont… • Christ’s life provides examples of how a believer should live the moral life • Jesus’ teaching, preaching and precepts give us the “moral rule” 30

33. Sources of Moral Theology • Tradition: • This is the living transmission of the Gospel of Jesus Christ • Transmitted both orally and in writing • The Church passes on her doctrine, life and worship. 31

34. Sources of Moral Theology • Magisterium: • The pope and the bishops united with him teaching the faithful in matters of faith and morals • The pope can define truths of the Faith and of Morals • These teachings are infallible (without error) 32

35. Sources of Moral Theology • Natural Law: • The basic moral principles that are engraved in our hearts • Linked to the basic dignity of the human person • Natural Science: • Also aids in morality but only to enhance or elaborate on moral doctrine • It can only supplement moral theology 33