WordPress.com



Dear parents,It was good to be back in the 9th grade CCD classroom last night to see your students. Gerri and I had a very blessed Christmas and New Year solely with our local family. I hope that you were able to have a time for celebration, for prayer, and for socializing. This is a lengthy report. The topic last evening was “Making Moral Decisions.” We discussed the different kinds of law, rights and duties, conscience and truth. Gerri told me I would never get through the material because your students would be very engaging asking questions, discussing points, etc. Well, she was right! I covered much of the material except for all of the scenarios which I had prepared. So, we will take up where we left off this coming week. Much of the material is from Called to Happiness, Guiding Ethical Principles, Third Edition by Sr. Terese Auer, O.P. The textbook is used by students at St. John Paul the Great High School in Dumfries, VA. Your students will receive a more detailed treatment of these topics in the 11th-12th grade CCD program at St. Raymond’s, but we thought that they needed a brief (two class) introduction now. They are all great students, and we are both very happy to be teaching them.For those parents whose students were not at the class, I framed this email in such a way that they can review the material along with the handout on the kinds of law. For everyone, we covered much material in this presentation, and I wanted to be sure that you and your students had a copy of it.Aquinas’ Definition of Law -- Law is nothing else than an ordinance of reason for the common good, promulgated by him who has the care of the community. (see 1 St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, I-II, q.90, a.4.)An ordinance – “an order or a command given by someone who is in a position of authority…. It imposes an obligation and has binding force.”Of reason – “must be reasonable; must be just.” It can’t contradict higher laws. It must be observable, enforceable, and useful for achieving the ends that are designated.For the common good – not given to an individual; but given to a community as a whole.Promulgated – made known. By him who has the care of the community – the one who gives the law must have the authority to do so. He must be a legitimate superior within the jurisdiction to make the law.As a classroom exercise, we looked at the following example to see if it met all of the requirements of Aquinas’ definition of law. On May 29th, the following announcement was made: “As DC begins reopening today, Mayor Murial Bowser announced that the city will lower the default speed limit on local roads to 20 MPH, down from 25. The change will go into effect on Monday, June 1.”What is ”truth”?Truth: “Conforming the mind to reality: I know the truth when What I have in my mind matches objective reality. St. Thomas argues that truth is universal, immutable and can be known by human beings who diligently seek it.”Truth is reality conforming with nature.“Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32)That brought us to the infamous statement of Justice Anthony Kennedy in the majority opinion Planned Parenthood v Casey (1992) -- “At the heart of liberty is the right to define one’s own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life.” Your students picked up quickly why this opinion made absolutely no sense because it permits individuals to define their own concept of truth.This is the basis for much of the chaos in our schools, colleges and universities where individuals are mistakenly allowed to determine what is right or wrong based on their own concept of truth.Kinds of Laws (See Hierarchy of Law document handed out to your students)What is a “right”?The word “right” has two meanings, both of which stem from the same basic idea referring to what ought to be the case:Right as morally good – that which is in line with the moral norm. How I ought to act: “I am right in paying a just wage.”Right as corresponding to duty – that which is just.How others ought to act toward me: “I have the right to an annual vacation.”Because we have an obligation to obey the moral law, we must be guaranteed the means we need in order to do so. Components of a RightThe one possessing the right (the Subject)The one obligated to respect or fulfill a right (the Term)That to which a person has a right (the Matter)The reason why this subject has this right (the Title)Let’s use the example of a homeowner selling his house.The owner is the subject of the right to a just payment.The buyer of the house is the term of the right for he is obligated to make the just payment.The just payment for the house is the actual matter of the right.The conferring of ownership for the house from the owner to the buyer is the title of the right.Only a person can be the subject and the term of a right.Only persons are able to know the law and only we have free will whereby we can heed it. All other earthly creatures, because they act without freedom or responsibility, have no need of rights. Nor are they able to fulfill a right.A person may never be the matter of a right.No person may be subordinate to another, to be merely used by him as a means to is own end. All persons are equal in dignity.“A person should not be treated merely as an object of use and, as such the means to an end. The only proper and adequate way to relate to a person is with love, which means that we must treat him as an equal.” (Karol Wojtyla, Love and Responsibility, pp. 40-41.(This led to an extensive discussion of “loving people and using things.” If we begin treating people as things (an object of our use), then it opens up all possible immoralities such as slavery, prostitution, abortion, etc.)What is ‘conscience’Comes from Latin conscientia meaning “knowing within.Psychological term: “state of a person who is aware of his own knowing.” Awareness of surroundings – unconscious when sleeping – not knowing surroundings.Ethical term: ”refers to a person’s act of knowing the moral quality of his free acts.” Answers the question, “Is this act good for me right now?”St. Thomas defines conscience as ‘the act of applying moral knowledge to a particular act. (Summa Theologiae, 1, 79, 13.)“My (objective) knowledge (subjective) of the moral truth of my free choices (actions).” Conscience is an act of judgment and is not in the mind.Three stages of conscience:Awareness of the moral principles (involves the intellect) “Do good; avoid evil!”Reasoning from principles to conclusions.Judgment made on the conclusion based on the choice made.One must act according to his/her conscience. Conscience can be erroneous. (see 11 below and more next class)Conscience must always be informed.Examples of Conscience in Operation - Syllogistic Reasoning: an argument expressed in the form of two propositions containing a common or middle term, with the third proposition resulting necessarily from the other two.It is wrong to lie. (major premise)My explanation of where I was and what I was doing is a lie. (minor premise)It is wrong for me to give this explanation of where I was and what I was doing. (conclusion)Here’s another example:It is wrong directly to take the life of an innocent human being. (moral norm)Abortion takes the life of an innocent human being. (particular act)Abortion is wrong. (moral judgment)More examples:Should I go out with my friends when my parents told me to stay home?It is wrong for a young person to disobey his parents.My parents told me to stay home.I should not go out with my friends.Should I help a mother with several children get her groceries into the car if I have the resources to do so?It is good to help someone in need if I can.I have the resources to help this family.I should help this family.Correct and Erroneous Judgments“Follow your conscience…once you have informed it.” (Quote by JPII)We are always required to follow our conscience – whether it is correct or erroneous.“Conscience…a window through which one can see outward to that common truth which founds and sustains us all.” (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, “Conscience & Truth.”HOW DOES ONE FORM A CORRECT CONSCIENCE? Or HOW DOES ONE CORRECT A DOUBTFUL CONSCIENCE:Reflect on human nature itself and draw conclusions from its reflection. “The habit of basic moral awareness, is present in every human being.” (Romans 3: 14-16 “…what the law requires is written in their hearts.”)Divine revelationTeachings of ChristThrough the Catholic Church This is the beauty of the Catholic Church. We Catholics have four sources to turn to in helping us to inform our consciences. Non-Catholics don’t have the 12.4 above and often 12.3 above. It is another reason to be a Catholic.We are going to pick up here next week with several scenarios where your students can resolve moral issues that they often deal with. We will then look at moral acts to determine when an act is morally good, morally neutral, or morally evil. You can find a recap of the material at . Feel free to contact us with any questions or suggestions.Many blessings to you and your family during this coming year. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download