Principal Sources of Morality

• Holy scripture:

  • All scripture is inspired by God and can be used for teaching and guiding people's lives
  • The gospel is the source of all saving truth and moral teaching
• Sacred Tradition:

  • Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture are closely bound together
  • Tradition transmits the word entrusted to the apostles by Christ and the Holy Spirit
• Magisterium:

  • The teaching authority of the Church
  • Intervenes in the sphere of faith and morals, discerning specific precepts for believers
• Signs of the times:

  • Rational reflection on human experiences in light of true human flourishing
  • Associated with Gospel values and natural law doctrine
• Models of Christian Moral Life

  what are those?

  Theological, Deontological, Relational Model
• Theological model:

  • Views Christian moral life in terms of the goal of eternal union with God
  • Something is good if it leads to the achievement of the goal
• Deontological model:

  • Views Christian moral life primarily in terms of duty, law, or obligation
  • Emphasizes law as the objective norm of morality and conscience as the subjective norm
• Relational model:

  • Views Christian moral life primarily in terms of multiple relations with God, neighbor, world, and self
  • Does not exclude the teleological and deontological models in moral theology
• Prayer for inspired souls who followed their vision of the shining city of God

  • Make us determined to live by truth and righteousness
  • Cast down the throne of Mammon and set up God's throne