Theo Vocab 3-8

abortion

The deliberate termination of a pregnancy by killing the unborn child.

euthanasia

Any act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering.

personalistic norm

The principle that maintains that a person is to be treated as a unique individual, never a means to another's end.

physician-assisted suicide

The process of ending one's own life with the help of a doctor rather than directly by the doctor's hand.

principle of double effect

A formula used for evaluating the permissibility of an act that is morally good when the act causes an effect one is normally obliged to avoid.

adultery

Marital infidelity, or sexual relations between two persons, at least one of whom is married to another.

artificial contraception

The use of mechanical, chemical, or medical means to prevent conception from taking place as a result of sexual intercourse.

artificial insemination

A fertility technique in which a man's sperm and a woman's egg are united through clinical means—most commonly by injecting sperm into a woman's cervical canal.

chastity

The moral virtue which provides for the successful integration of sexuality within the one's whole identify, leading to the inner unity of the physical and spiritual being

cohabitation

Living together in a sexual relationship without the lifelong commitment of a sacramental marriage.

domestic church

A name for the Christian family. In the family, parents and children exercise their priesthood of the baptized by worshiping God, receiving the sacraments, and witnessing to Christ and the Church by living as faith disciples.

fecundity

Fruitfulness. In relation to marriage, fecundity refers to procreation and education of children as one of the purposes of marriage.

fidelity

Faithfulness. In relation to marriage, fidelity refers to one of the purposes of marriage. Both spouses give of themselves definitively and totally to one another. They are no longer two; from now on they form one flesh. The covenant they freely contracted imposes on the spouses the obligation to preserve it as unique and indissoluble

fornication

Sexual intercourse between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman.

in vitro fertilization

The fertilization of a woman's ovum (egg) with a man's sperm through a clinical procedure, then implanting the fertilized egg in the woman's uterus. In vitro fertilization violates the dignity of procreation.

pornography

The written or visual depiction of sexual acts or nudity with the purpose of stimulating and gratifying lustful desires. Pornography debases human dignity by turning people into objects to be used for selfish gratification.

prostitution

The act of providing sexual services in exchange for money or other material gain.

rape

The forcible violation of the sexual intimacy of another person

surrogate motherhood

A medical process in which a woman becomes pregnant through artificial means, and carries the child for someone else. The procedure separates intercourse from the act of procreation and is morally wrong.

anarchy

A state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority.

civil authority

Leaders of public groups—particularly government leaders—or institutions that make laws.

civil allegiance

Duty of respect and obedience owed by every person to the state of which he is a member. In the light of Christian principles this does not mean that one must support his country in morally wrong ideologies or practices.

civil law

Laws of society.

civil society

The sum of relationships and resources, cultural and associative, that are relatively independent from the political sphere and the economic sector.

conscientious objection

The moral right to refuse to follow laws or other social constructs based on moral or religious grounds. An example is choosing not to fight in an unjust war.

law

The body of rules and regulations of the Church that applies revealed law to the lives of Catholics.

participation

The voluntary and generous engagement of a person in society.

relativism

Believing that truth is dependent upon one's own perception or opinion; holding that there is no absolute or objective truth.

revealed law

God's law made known in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

totalitarian

A society in which the state exercises total control of the life and conduct of the citizens.

almsgiving

Freely giving money or goods to the poor as an act of penance or fraternal charity. Almsgiving, together with prayer and fasting, are traditionally recommended to foster the state of interior penance.

evangelization

The proclamation of Christ and his Gospel (Greek: evangelion) by word and the testimony of life, in fulfillment of Christ's command.

humility

A virtue that avoids extreme ambition and pride and focuses rather on the acknowledgement that God is the author of all that is good.

preferential opinion for the poor

A preferential love for the poor that allows one to give priority to the needs of the poor and to make a commitment to transform unjust social structures that are the causes of poverty.

works of charity

Actions that provide an immediate response to a person or group who is suffering or in need of the basic necessities for a dignified life.

works of mercy

Charitable actions by which we provide for the physical and spiritual needs of others.

capital

The natural resources God has given people to use as well as to all the means of producing and developing them

consumerism

A social and economic order that encourages the purchase of goods in ever greater amounts.

greed

Also known as avarice; the desire for earthly goods beyond what we need. Greed is a sin against the Tenth Commandment.

just wage

Also called living wage, the basic wage needed to ensure wage earners' basic needs—such as food, shelter, education—are met, and that they and their families can live with dignity.

objective dimension of work

The product or outcome of work.

subjective dimension of work

The human person and his or her involvement in work.

vocation

The call to holiness emanating from Baptism to live out your Christian destiny in this world and the next. Vocation also refers to a special call to share in the mission of the Church, especially as a priest or consecrated religious.

work

In the broad sense, an activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something. More specifically, it is the labor, task, or duty that is one's accustomed means of livelihood.

affirmative action

Policies and programs established to correct past discrimination in educational and employment opportunities directed against women, African Americans, and members of other minorities.

conscientious objectors

People who refuse to join the military or participate in a war based on moral or religious grounds. Conscientious objectors must be open to other forms of service.

prejudice

A preconceived opinion formulated without consideration of known factors and usually based on erroneous knowledge.

principle of proportionality

The rule that requires the damage inflicted and the costs incurred in a war (or a particular action in war) to be commensurate with the good expected.

prudence

The moral virtue by which a person is inclined toward choosing to do good and avoiding evil.

racism

A belief that race determines human traits and abilities and that a particular race is inherently superior or inferior to another, and the discrimination that stems from those beliefs.

scandal

An attitude or behavior that leads another person to sin.

terrorism

A systematic use of subversive strategies aimed at the destruction of material goods or the killing of people in order to coerce certain actions or decisions.