Conscience Morality

conscience (CCC definition)

a judgement of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act that he/she is performing, is in the process of performing, or has already completed

what the church says about conscience

that we are bound to follow our conscience faithfully

erroneous judgement

wrong judgement

sources of erroneous judgement

ignorance, sin, bad example, lack of conversion, enslavement to passions, a sense of moral autonomy, a rejection of church’s authority and teaching

steps to forming conscience

1. resolve to do what is right

2. trust in God, his law, and the church

3. study sources of moral law

4. seek advice of good & prudent people

5. pray and ask for the grace of ongoing conversion

what conscience IS

awareness of God’s call to know and do good; practical judgement and intellect; sacred

what conscience ISNT

a feeling, a superego, a gut feeling, a myth, a Jiminy Cricket

rationalization

making self-serving excuses for one’s behavior

true freedom

gives us the ability to choose and love; “the power rooted in reason and will to act or not to act deliberately on one’s own responsibility”

determinists

reject the idea that humans have choice

self determinists

believe that we can select our goals and make them happen

Obstacles to freedom

ignorance, inadvertence, duress, inordinate attachments, fear, habit