Catholic Morality Journal

1)

This week in our study of morality we looked at morality from a Catholic standpoint. We began by looking an article from Fr. Knapp. He wrote about conscience and how it is a power and a process. The Catholic Church says that ultimately we have to listen to our conscience. Fr. Knapp also taught us some methods we can use in the process of making moral decisions especially hard ones. Then we looked specifically at what the Catholic Church teaches in the writings of the Catechism. We not only learned what the church taught about conscience, but we also learned what they teach about sin, freedom, and virtue. Finally we looked at the ten building blocks of catholic social teaching. This gave us an idea at how Catholics should live the Catechism.

2)

Two kinds of sin: Venial sin allows charity to subsist even though it offends and wounds it. Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him.

The Four Cardinal Virtues: Prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it. It is “right reason in action.”

Justice is the moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor. A just man is distinguished by habitual right thinking and the uprightness of his conduct toward his neighbor.

Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in the difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It helps to resist temptation, overcome obstacles, and conquer fear.

Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of the pleasures and provides balance in the use of the created goods.

We cooperate with sin by….

- participating directly in the sin

- by protecting those who are sinning

- by encouraging the sinner

- by not stopping the sinner

It is a sin to help some one vandalize a building. It is a sin to keep watch while someone vandalizes a building. It is a sin to laugh about it and encourage the vandalizer to do it again. It is a sin not to stop the vandalizer from doing it.

3)



http://www.olmc-phila.com/deceased.htm

4) Can someone have a mis-formed conscience? A “bad” conscience?

5)

In trying to become a more moral person I can try to look more carefully at my moral decisions. I should use one of the methods from Fr. Knapp like the LISTEN or OPTION methods. I must realize that ultimately I need to follow my conscience but also looking at all the facts and weighing my options carefully will help me make a better decision a more moral decision if you will.

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