Aaron Poelker's Journal: Section 4
1.One paragraph summary of the key idea summarizing the topic of the week. The main idea of this section is Catholic morality: how we form our conscience, the tools we use to form our conscience, and the marks of a good conscience. Catholics have many ways to form their consciences and they include: reading the Catechism of the Catholic church, using the OPTION and LISTEN methods described in Fr. Knapp’s article, and also just examining ourselves daily through prayer and personal reflection. The morality of Catholics are hinged upon many factors found in the Catechism and also through the Ten Building Blocks of Catholic social teaching. As Catholics we are called to live the Gospel message of helping the least amongst us. As Catholics, together battling immorality in a society saturated in immorality, we need to remember to build uprightness, interiority, and responsibility within consciences.
2. List and explain three of the most important ideas you want to remember from this week. The OPTION method. the OPTION method as described in Fr. Knapp’s article is one way for Catholics to educate their consciences. This six step method can be used any time an individual is found facing a tough moral dilemma. The OPTION method is hinged upon reflecting on yourself and founding new alternatives after that reflection. The OPTION method most simply means founding options to your situation, praying and asking for guidance, testing those options you have against different circumstances, getting more information from authority figures or any other means of gaining knowledge, asking yourself if the options you have go against any moral obligations you already have, and finally gaining new options from the previous 5 steps. The Magisterium. The Magisterium is the official teachers of the Catholic Church, namely the Bishops in accordance with the Supreme Pontiff the Pope. The Catholic church can share its teachings universally through the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This Catechism is not the only way for the Catholic Church to share its teachings, it can also issue Papal letters or official letters from the Bishop in your diocese. The Catholic Church is revolutionary in its method of spreading the official teachings of the church, many other religions world wide only have their sacred book to convey their message leading to many different sects within religions. The Magisterium can convene at Bishop councils or even on a larger scale when the entire Magisterium convenes and is presided over by the Pope at an Ecumenical council. The three necessary aspects of a good and upright conscience. There are three necessary aspects of a good and upright conscience as defined by the Catechism of the Catholic Church and they are: uprightness, interiority, and responsibility. Uprightness of conscience is defined as the understanding of moral truths and applying them within your own life. Interiority is defined as living an examined life, being in touch with yourself. Finally, responsibility is defined as being able to own up to what you do and take whatever consequences that may follow your actions. All three should be striven for, for not only Catholics but also all mankind.
4. One good question you should keep with you to ponder.
Am I living out the messages found within the Ten Building Blocks of Catholic Social Teachings? Also I need to ask myself if I am forming my conscience in a way which will be beneficial to myself and to the people around me? I do not believe I am really do either of these. I am aware that both areas need vast improvement within my own life. I know the gospel message and should be striving for social justice more than I am in my life now. I also need to form my conscience better, particularly in the area of uprightness of conscience.
5. What should you try to do to make you a better person, a more moral person, from this study of other moral systems? Anything real and practical you can learn from other religions?
I need to improve upon the area of conscience within my own life. I should try to practice the OPTION method especially when faced with a difficult situation regarding morality. My conscience, like most teens, needs improvement. All I can do is keep examining myself and reflecting upon the choices I make in my own life to become a better person. Also, I really should think about how I am treating the least amongst us. The principle of Protecting the poor and vulnerable tells me to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable even before my own needs and wants. I really should strive to do this through CSP opportunities and donating my money to charitable organizations.
