Catholic Vision of Morality

Human Nature

• Inherently good

  • Children of God

• created by through and for love

• even though we are inherently good we are fallen—original sin

• Good and communal

  • Image of God

  • reflect communal nature of God

  • need in order to develop as people and the virtues

Original sin

our inherited nature and sins

actual sin—the choices that we make

WHY: Adam and Eve were told that if they eat the apple, they will become like God. Adam blames Eve blames the snake—they thought being human was not enough

Sins of omission

neglect to do something required

sins of commision

something we choose to do

personal sin

when an individual knowingly does or doesn’t do something against God

social sin

society, group, or institution participates/ continues a process that is harmful or sustains a system or institution

venial sin

lower level sins; still causes harm

mortal sin

higher level sins; cutting our relationship with God and others

freedom

from: restrictions can make choices, can become bad with too much

for growth: aids our growth to become ourselves (feel restricted)

ex: going to the movie vs studying for a test

God reaching out to Humanity

• Gods plan

• right relationship

• Gods action

Forgiveness

• Sin

• Response to sin

• grace

Grace

• God is with us

• God is triumphant over sin

• more powerful

• Grace empowers us for good

• our response to sin

Reconciliation

• Healing

• reality

• be reconciled

• God, ourselves, and others

Sacraments as Healing

Signs that god is with us

• Sacrament of reconciliation

• sacrament of the Eucharist

Gods Love

• Unconditional: God will always love us.

• Unearned: We don’t have to earn his love.

• Universal: God loves everyone equally.

• Marginalized: God has a soft spot for people who are marginalized

  • highest law

  • the Great Commandment

  • basis of Christianity

Human Love

imitates God’s love—love God, love all, to love your neighbor is to love yourself

Theological Virtues

Faith, Hope, and Love

Faith

Trust in God

• reign of God

• demands

• questions

• Mary’s response to the Angel Gabriel

Hope

Working towards the Reign of God

• Responsibility

• heaven

• victory

• resurrection

Love

Participation in God’s life

• living it all out

• influence

• sacrificial

• the passion

Jesus as our Model

• Truth

• Goodness

• marginalized

• Judgment and forgiveness

Basic Catholic Moral Principals

• universals

• do good avoid evil

• do unto others as you would have them do unto you

• the end does not justify the means

• follow what nature intends

teachings from scripture

• ten commandments

• the sermon on the mount

• commandments of Jesus

Cardinal virtues

prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance

Prudence

able to make decisions according to well-formed conscience aligned with a willingness to act in that way; Good conscience in action

• challenges the wisdom of the world: safety, convenience, assess the risks, ultimate choice

Characteristics of Prudence

1. Seeing reality clearly: recognizing the reality and personal public lives

2. Discovering the Good: what is most needed, circumstances, conscience formation, choose between 2 goods

3. Knowing Personal motives: self awareness, positive and helpful or negative and hurtful, rationalization, difficult decisions

Justice

Working towards the well-being of all

• based in our inherit value

• meeting our rights

• injustice comes from omission

Types of Justice

1. Individual Justice: simplest form; based on a relationship; rights; family

2. Social Justice: a society where it is easier for people to be good; common good; give from our own capabilities

3. Distributive justice: global, national; individual levels, burdens and benefits shared fairly with all; shared responsibility; reality

Just Society

Creating—common good and community service

destroying—disrespect and competition

Civil Laws and a just Society

Laws help minimally, morality, obeying civil laws, unjust laws, civil disobedience

Civil disobedience

purposefully breaking an unjust law in order to change it for the greater good

Fortitude

Doing right in the face of danger, facing our fears, taking risks, consistency in actions

NOT: risk taking for its own sake, being fearless, proving oneself, going alone, saving the day in one bold stroke

Overcoming fears

1. seek alternatives

2. be resourceful

3. plan

4. challenge yourself

5. try a different perspective

Temperance

Balancing of all the parts of the self to create a dynamic and harmonious order; we are multidimensional beings

Freedom from temptations

influence by our society, focus on different kinds of goals/pleasures, and our understanding of happiness

Breaking free from Addictions and compulsions

1. freedom isn’t easy

2. we will struggle

3. hard work

4. community

5. God

Community

Kingdom of God: praying our experiences, expectations, gradual adjustment, grace, God surrounds us, our response, freedom

Journey with Others: fully human, love, lifetime journey, community, journeying with others, relational, experiencing God through relationships

Rugged individualism

• individualism: working on your own

• separation: individualism causes this

• interdependence: dependence of two or more people or things on each other

Family

• first community

• formation

• teenage years

Friendships

• peer pressure

• challenge us

• honesty

Faith community

• two dimensions

• local level

• larger faith

• community

Mentors

• a caring adult

• need

• availability

Heros

• values

• lifestyle

• model

Organizations of support

Power of connection and empowerment