Theology Vocab Quiz- 11/12/26

Sanctity of Human Life

The teaching that every human life is sacred because it is created by God and possesses inherent dignity. Human life must be protected from conception until natural death.

Abortion

The deliberate and direct taking of the life of an unborn child.

Euthanasia

An action or omission that, by its nature or intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering. 

Scandal

An attitude or behavior that leads another person to do evil. This can occur when someone uses their influence or example to encourage another person to sin.

Legitimate Defense

The right and, at times, duty to defend oneself or others against an unjust aggressor. The use of force must be proportionate to the threat and directed toward protecting life.

Capital Punishment

The execution of a person by legitimate public authority as punishment for a crime. The Catholic Church teaches that the death penalty is inadmissible because it attacks the inviolability and dignity of the human person.

Universal Destination of Goods

The principle that God intended the goods of the earth to benefit everyone. The right to private property must be exercised with consideration for the needs of others and the common good.

Commutative Justice

The virtue that requires fairness in exchanges between individuals or institutions. It means honoring agreements, paying what is owed, and respecting the rights of others in economic relationships.

Distributive Justice

The virtue that governs how society distributes goods, resources, and responsibilities among its members.

Restitution

The obligation to return stolen goods or compensate someone for damage caused by wrongdoing.

Stewardship

The responsibility to care for God's creation and use material goods responsibly

Solidarity

The commitment to work for the good of all people, recognizing that humanity forms one human family. It calls Catholics to care especially for the poor and vulnerable.

Subsidiarity

The principle that decisions should be made at the lowest level of society capable of addressing them effectively. Larger institutions should support, rather than unnecessarily take over, the responsibilities of individuals, families, and smaller communities.

Detraction

Revealing another person's faults or failings to people who did not know them, without an objectively valid reason.

Calumny

Making false statements about another person that damage their reputation. This violates truth and justice because it causes others to believe something untrue about that person.

Rash Judgment

Assuming another person's moral fault is true without sufficient evidence. Catholics are called to interpret another person's words and actions charitably whenever possible.

Hypocrisy

Claiming to have moral standards or beliefs that one does not actually practice or hold

Lying

Speaking or communicating a falsehood with the intention of deceiving another person. The Eighth Commandment calls Catholics to respect truth in their words and actions.

Right to Privacy

The moral right to have one's personal life and legitimate secrets respected. The obligation to tell the truth does not mean that everyone is entitled to know every piece of information about another person

Reparation

Making amends for harm caused by wrongdoing. In the context of sins against truth, reparation may include correcting a false statement, restoring someone's reputation, or apologizing for unjustly damaging their good name.