4 5 6 commandments

4th commandment

honor your mother and father

1.      What is the theological value and significance of the family (Trinity, domestic church)?

family is the domestic church and mirrors the trinity

where you learn your first values (respect honor love etc.)

if family cannot fulfill this responsibility others must help

1.      Why is the 4th commandment the first that deals with honoring others?

you must honor those who gave you life, if you don’t how can you be expected to honor anyone else

1.      What are the duties of children?

obedience if it for the good of the family (when you are younger)

respect parents even after obligation to be obedient is filled

material and moral support if something is wrong

helping siblings

1.      What are the duties of parents?

educate on morals, teaching faith and virtues by providing for spiritual needs

physical needs

appropriate school

advice

1.      What does the state owe the family?

must govern properly and act in service to common good

1.      What do we owe all lawful authorities?

you follow laws if they are morally right, laws must meet the four conditions

1.      What are our duties as citizens?

pay taxes, vote, defend country, welcome immigrants, refuse to obey unjust demands, be good citizens for others

5th commandment meaning

thou shall not murder

1.       What does the church teach about the basis of this commandment?

do not be angry

human life is sacret because it comes directly from god and only from him

1.       What is forbidden in terms of killing? 

killing intentionally and directly is gravely sinful

we are also forbidden from having any direct act/failure to act that brings about a person’s death

1.       What do the OT and Jesus say about this commandment? 

human life is sacred, any intentional killing is gravely sinful

jesus said on the sermon on the mount “thou shall not kill” but also said that we should not be given to anger, hatred, or vengeance and we should turn the other cheek

1.       Homicide : What is forbidden? How might this relate to injustices such as famines? What about reckless actions where death is not intended?

direct/intentional killing is forbidden (as is eugenics)

you cannot indirectly bring about the death of someone else

sometimes even reckless actions cause a grave offense (like drunk driving)

famine example: indirect homicide

killing children/spouse is extra grave offense

1.       Self-defense: Is all killing forbidden? Why is self-defense permissible and under what circumstances? When might it be a grave duty? What if death of the other party is directly willed?

principle of double effect: when persons are protecting their own life or coming to the aid of someone else’s life, we have the right to protect ourselves

self defense is allowed and can be a grave duty if we are responsible for the lives of others

only use self defense if killing the person is not directly willed

Know the 4 parts and be able to apply the principle of double effect. 

1. moral object must be good/neutral and not intrinsically evil

2. good effect does not occur as a result of the evil effect

3. evil result is tolerated, not intended—the good effect is what is intended. the evil effect flows indirectly from the good, while the good effect is directly

4. proportionate reason for doing the act/no other alternatives

ex: uterine cancer during pregnancy—must remove the uterus to save the mother

what to do when an action has two effects: one desirable and one unintended evil

7.What are the 4 conditions of a Just war (Jus Ad Bellum)?

1. real lasting grave certain damage inflicted by an aggressor on a nation or a community of nations

2. must be a last resort

3. good chance for success

4. armed conflict must not create even worse evil

1.       What are the 3 conditions of Justice in War, and what is the overarching principle (Jus in Bellum)

1. non-combatants and wounded soldiers must be treated humanely

2. no ethnic cleansing

3. no destruction of whole cities or vast areas

“every act of war directed to the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities or vast areas with their inhabitants is a crime against god and man, which merits firm and unequivocal condemnation”

1.       What does the catechism say about the idea of conscription/draft

its ok to do so

1.       What about those soldiers who carry out their duty honorably?

they contribute to the common good

1.       What about conscientious objectors (those who “for reasons of conscience refuse to bear arms”)?

governments should let them serve in another way if their conscience will not let them serve

1.       How has this doctrine developed?

the church initially thought the death penalty was OK but now they realized that human dignity does not dissolve when you commit crimes so they are anti-death penalty

1.       What are the 3 purposes of punishment?

1.       When might the death penalty be acceptable?  What requirements must be met to insure that it is used morally?

1.       What does the catechism say about the necessity of using the death penalty today?

should not be used

1.       What purpose does the catechism say that punishment might serve when it is voluntarily accepted by the prisoner?

1.       What two reasons does the Catechism give for limiting or omitting the use of the death penalty?

attacks dignity of people and there are more effective methods of detention

1.       What is basic Church Teaching on drugs and alcohol?  Why is this included with the 5^th commandment?

life is a precious gift, and using drugs/alchohol can damage your body

we can endanger others when we used subtances (drunk driving)

1.       Is suicide a mortal or venial sin?  Why?

gravely contrary to live of self and offends god and our neighbor

can be a venial sin because of the circumstances (poor mental health) surrounding it

1.       Can we hope for the salvation of those who have committed suicide?  Why?

yes we can because god can provide for salutary repentance and the church prays for those who have attempted

1.       What if suicide is done as an example for others to follow?

takes on gravity of scandal and opposes moral law

1.       What if one suffers from grave psychological disturbances, anguish, grave fear of hardship, suffering or torture?

lessens responsibility

1.       Why should we not despair the eternal salvation of those who have committed suicide?

god can provide opportunity for salutary repentance

1.       The catechism says we are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it because we are ________ not owners of the life God has given us.

stewards

1.       Is it ever acceptable to end a human life early in order to relieve suffering and pain?

no it is morally unacceptable

god is the only one who can decide those things

1.       What is Direct, Indirect, Voluntary and Involuntary Euthanasia?

direct—doing something to cause death

indirect—witholding something, which causes death

voluntary—done at the request of the person to be killed

non-voluntary—done without the request of the person to be killed

1.       Can the ordinary care owed to a sick person ever be legitimately interrupted?

no. however, using medicine to make people feel better if they are dying, even if it shortens their lives, is not a bad thing as long as death is not what is being willed

1.       What is the difference between ordinary and extraordinary care?  Some examples?

ordinary—food water execersize medical care

extraordinary—very extensive or expensive treatments like radiation that may not help

1.       Can you give a suffering person pain medication if you know the medicine might shorten their life?

yes

1.       What does the catechism encourage us to do for those whose lives are diminished or weakened (in place of Euthanasia)?

1.       Explain the difference between Quality and Sanctity of life—how does this connect to the Christian (and even non-Christian—Viktor Frankl is Jewish) idea of the value of suffering, and how does all of this tie back to Euthanasia?

quality of life judges the value of a human life by the standard of “quality” (quality is usually determined through a valuation of capacities such as health, intelligence, autonomy, length of life, etc.)

sanctity of life—life is sacred from it’s natural beginning until it’s natural end. it remains forever in relationship with the creator

1.       Basics of church teaching about protection of unborn life

-human life must be respected from the moment of conception because a human has rights the minute it is concieved

-the church has consistently said that abortion is evil

-we must safeguard life

abortion is a crime

formal cooperation in an abortion means a grave offense

embryos must be cared for like all other things

abortion is a mortal sin

1.       Rationale of church teaching and argument from natural law (abortion topic)

best arguments against abortion

-life is initiated from the moment of conception

hierarchy of rights: any right which is necessary for another right to exist is the more fundamental right.

principle of limited freedom: creating a new right for some people is wrong if it becomes an unfair and burdensome duty for other people

does abortion respect these principles?

Hormones associated with sex and their purpose (pair bonding)

oxytocin (cuddle hormone) released during sex and helps create a bond between two partners

vasopressin (controls thirst, released after sex) signifies long-term commitment and forming “pair bonds” with someone else

these hormones signify commitment—which is why “hooking up” is not really biologically about hooking up

1. A key term when considering Catholic sexuality is:  DESIGN.  Why?

design—we can look to the human body to discover god’s design for sex, and we can look to the human body to discover the meaning, purpose, and dangers of sex as well

basic outline (4 basic points) of TOB

-god is love

-we are made in god’s image

-the call to live god’s love is stamped in our bodies

-beware the counterfeits

lust vs. chastity

lust: raw material of true love makes us tempted to use the other person. instead of longing for each other’s good, we long for each other as a good

chastity: helps us preserve powers of life and love

ethics vs. ethos

purity of heart

seeing our bodies and those of our neighbors as temples of the holy spirit

those bound by lust experience god’s law as a burden

purity of heart gives us the freedom to truly love instead of using each other

1. contraception is

use of artificial methods to protect from pregnancy (condoms, IUDs, etc.)

1. What is the Christian history of Contraception

until 1930, every catholic church held that contraception was wrong

christian writings from wayyy back discuss its importance

1. Theological reasons the church opposes contraception

with contraception, you engage in a sexual act and choose to do something else to make it infertile

couples aren’t always obligated to have sex (if you don’t want a child)

couples are free to choose to have sex or not

god designed us to not always be fertile

1. What is NFP and what are the differences between NFP and contraception

choosing to abstain from sex during the time of ovulation or whatever

couples using NFP demonstrate fidelity to their vows no matter how difficult

1. What does the church teach about reproductive technologies? 

methods to allow pregnancy in those who are no longer fertile

such technologies are immoral under the church, although human life should be celebrated if concieved from such technologies

heterologous artificial insemination

inserting sperm from someoen else into women’s uterus

contrary to the unity of marriage, dignity of spouses, and right of child to be conceived and brought into the world in marriage and from marriage

homologous artificial insemination

sperm from partner or husband into uterus by means other than sex

to break unitive and procreative meanings of marital act

language of body—sex is corporeal and spiritual—both bodily and spiritual union

respect for person requires he not be treated as product

repaces or substitutes for conjugal act

1. Where is the line between acceptable and unacceptable, and why?  Give some examples of reproductive technologies the church would approve of, and reproductive technologies it would not—know the rationale for the difference.

church would approve of:

NFP

prenatal diagnosis IF the life and integrity of the embryo is respected without disproportionate risks

experimenting on embryos if it will not harm embryo

church would not approve of:

in vitro, sperm donation, genetic engineering, cloning, heterologous artificial insemination, homologous artificial insemination

abortion because human beings must be cared for

prenatal: immoral if done with the thought of possibly inducing abortion

the Church teaches that reproductive technologies are ok as long as they assist but don't replace sex in being fruitful

1. Explain basic church teaching and rationale on LGBTQ issues—especially know what the Catechism says about discrimination against gay people, and what the church teaches about homosexual acts.

same sex attraction is not morally wrong but sex outside of marriage is wrong

if you are attracted to the same sex you are called to celibacy

no discrimination against gay people

homosexuality is wrong in the bible

sex is unitive and procreative

unitive—humans long for connection with someone to share life, male and female compliment each other

procreative—marriage and sex should be fruitful and children need family

1. Be able to explain the logical connection in church teaching on contraception, reproductive technologies and LGBTQ Issues

in contraception the fruitfulness of sex is removed

in homosexual sex, fruitfulness is also removed by design

sex should always be a communication of union and procreation, and both contraception and homosexual sex mean there will not be fruitfulness

1. What does the church teach about pre-marital sex?

its wrong because it takes away the commitment

can affect bond with your spouse

1. What does the church teach about cohabitation?

sexual based and no scientific data to show that it makes a difference

it is negative to live with someone whom you are not married to because it dissolves the commitment

What does the church teach about pornography and masturbation?

mastrub—wrong because it uses sex in a way that does not promote the church and the church’s values

pornography—bad for relationships, doesn’t promote the values of god