RS

• Evaluative knowledge

  Knowledge of the heart; knowledge involving quality and values and is a personal knowledge
• Imagination

  Most needed in applying universal moral norms to specific actual cases
• Affectivity


  Uses human affections in making moral judgment; our interpersonal relationships will help us see more truly and be compassionate with others
• Moral discernment


  To discern is to think, reflect, and analyse until what is obscure becomes clear. It includes the elements of STOP (Search, Think, consult Others, and Pray)
• Moral demand


  Applying moral norms to a particular situation. The person thinks very well of what his/her moral beliefs demand of him/her and the pertinent moral norm becomes the basis of our consciences to formulate their dictates on what we must do
• Judgment or decision stage


  Judgment of the conscience we make on the morality of any proposed action and our consequent decision to follow this dictate or not
• Moral acts


  Any human act done with knowledge and free will
• Three essential aspects conscience must decide on


  • Object/nature of an act or act chosen
  • Intention
  • Circumstances
• Nature/object of the act

  The act or action done. It determines the morality of an act. The object is evil if it violates human dignity or destroy the innate goodness in human nature
• Intention or end


  The motive for which a person commits a good or evil act. A good act becomes evil if the intention is evil. The malice of an evil act increases with an evil end
• Circumstances


  Situations that occur with the act and that contribute to the morality of the act. Some circumstances can lessen the gravity of the sin. But no circumstances can alter the intrinsic evil of a bad action
• Six sources of morality traditionally cited

  • Who (the subject acting)
  • What (the thing done)
  • Where (the circumstances of the place)
  • Why (the immediate reason or some additional purpose)
  • How (the manner in which the act is done)
  • When (time affects the morality of an act)
• Intrinsically evil acts


  Acts which are always wrong in all circumstances such as abortion, divorce, among others
• Intrinsically good act


  Also called morally good acts; requires the goodness of the object act chosen of the end intention and of the circumstances
• Principles in judging moral acts

  • An act is morally good if the act, the purpose, and the circumstances are substantially good
  • If an act is intrinsically evil (evil in its very nature) the act is not morally permissible regardless of purpose and the circumstances
  • If an act is intrinsically good, its morality will be judged by the purpose or circumstances upon which the act is carried out
  • Circumstances may create, mitigate or aggravate sin
  • If all three elements (the act, purpose, and the circumstances) are good, then the act is good. If any one element is evil, the act is evil
• Situation ethics


  An ethical theory that derives good and evil from the circumstances that accompany the acting agent. (The rightness or wrongness of an act depends on the situation)
• Consequentialism


  An ethical system that determines good and evil from the consequences that follow an act. (The morality of an act depends on the consequences)
• Proportionalism


  An ethical system that deduces the moral value of an act from the proportion of good and evil effects. (The morality of an act depends on the proportion of good and evil)
• Human suffering and death

  Part of the plan laid down by God's providence that we should struggle against all sickness to seek the blessing of good health. Not a sign of a particular personal sin but of the oppressive presence of evil in our human situation
• Sin


  Any deed, word or desire against eternal law. The voluntary transgression of the law of God. A turning away from God, to create in a disordered way. A guilt that alienates/separates us from our true selves, our neighbours and God
• False idea of sin

  Sin is merely breaking some impersonal law in a book. Sin is a guilt feeling, or something we cannot avoid
• Sin as presented in sacred scripture

  Missing the Mark – we miss the standard by failing to meet one's obligations to God and neighbours. Depravity and perversity – sin is a disorder of character or a defect weighing down the sinner. Rebellion against God – sin is a conscious choice of violating God's commandments
• The seven capital sins

  • Pride
  • Envy
  • Greed/Avarice
  • Lust
  • Anger
  • Gluttony
  • Sloth
• Images of sin


  Stain – unclean before the all holy God. Crime – wilful violation of the covenant. Personal rejection – of love relationship
• Classification of sin in the broadest sense

  • Personal – committed by the individual, but always in relation to others and the community
  • Social – as common negative moral attitudes and acts; refers to situations and structures that destroy basic human rights (torture, genocide, and death penalty)
  • Structural – as economic, social or political patterns or systems that produce injustice and harm (realm, gender inequity, and healthcare, and climate change)
• Classification of sin as a personal act

  • Origin: Original sin – disobedience of the first parents at the beginning of human history and every person is born with its effect on his/her soul. Actual sin – committed by each one of us
  • Gravity: Mortal sin – a violation of grave matter, with full knowledge and complete consent. Venial sin – a violation of less matter, without full knowledge and without complete consent
  • Manner: Sin of commission – a prohibited act is committed. Sin of omission – a required act is omitted
  • Manifestation: External sin – committed with words or actions. Internal sin – found in thought and desire
• Dimensions of sin according to church teaching

  Spiral – evil that ensnares; enslaves us in a contagious or pathological habit or vice. Sickness – that which weakens us. Addiction – that which makes us powerless as it becomes progressively more compulsive and obsessive
• Sin often becomes compulsive or addictive and weakens our power of resistance
• Despite its often glamorous cover, sin actually injures, destroys, dishonours, poisons, and corrupts
• Every sin spawns endless evils for the sinner and society
• Mortal sin destroys charity in the human heart…turns him away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude