Morality Journal: Week 4

1.) One paragraph summary of the key idea summarizing the major idea of the section.

This week in class we have been studying the basic moral teachings of the Catholic Church throug the Catechism of the Catholic Church and other articles concerning morality. In the Catechism, we talked in depth about the church's view on subjects like passions, morality, and sin. We learned the definition of each of these things, learned the church's view on each and learned how to live our lives accordingly. Morality was also presented in Fr. Knapp's article as a process and a power. Fr. Knapp used the LISTEN and OPTION methods as examples of good morality as a process. Conscience is also a power, because it is in our conscience that our human freedom dwells. Through the Catechism and Fr. Knapp's article we can try and model our own consciences around them and compare out important decisions to the methods we have to choose from. We also studied the "Ten Building Blocks of Catholic Social Teaching to help us better understand the church's view on subjects like helping the poor and the respect for human life and how to live like a Christian on each of the building blocks.

2.) List and explain three of the most important ideas you want to remember from this week.

1. The first thing that I want to remember is the LISTEN method. Out of all the methods this one seemed to make the most sense to me and is a great process for solving problems and making wise decisions.
Look for the facts- We need to understand the reality of the situation, because we can't determine "what really is so" when we dont know all the facts. We can't risk drawing bad conclusions from faulty information.
Imagine the possibilities- This is a way for us to imagine all the possible consequences from making a certain decision, and all the choices we have. Through this we need to remember short term and long term affects that a decision or choice might have.
Seek beyond your own insight- We cannot truly know everything about every issue, so we must get help from others who know the nest on the subject
Turn inward- This step involves reflection of our ownself. The Catechism tells us that "interiority" is a good quality when forming a moral conscience. This is our best oppurtunity to know ourselves.
Expect God's Help- We need to believe that God is present in our lives and he cares about us, so he will assist us in a time of turmoil.
Name your decision- When we can finally accept a decision and even be comfortable sharing it with another person then we can finally say that we have closure on the process and we "own" the decision.

2.Another thing that I want to remember is the three qualities that I need to have a form a good conscience. They are: uprightness of conscience, interiority, and responsibility. I need these qualities, because having a misguided conscience is like not even having a conscience. I need to be upright and be aware of the church's moral laws and teachings, so that I can make the best decision in the eyes of the church. I also to to possess interiority and turn inward to discover myself, because before making a decision I need to know what kind of person I am. Responsibility is also very important, because if I am to embarrassed to take responsibility for my own actions then the decision I just made will probably be a bad decsion.

3. I also want to remember the Catechism's teaching about freedom. We are truly free to make any decision we want, but we are not free from the consequences of that action and we can't escape what will happen to us if we make the wrong decision. These decisions that we make are either good or evil. We can't however do whatever we want, because we have limitations on our human self that we can't achieve or breakthrough. We have the freedom to try whatever our limits have set on us, but sometimes we do not have the free will to do whatever.

3.)Images that remind you of key ideas.

4.)One good question you should keep with your to ponder?

Am I making moral and conscience decisions with some kind of process involved, if not the LISTEN and OPTION methods?

5.)What should you try to do to make you a better person, a more moral person, from this study of the key moral teachings of the Catholic Church?

I can become a more moral person by having an upright conscience that will lead to more moral decisions, and I should try out the LISTEN or OPTION methods when it comes time for me to make a decision