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Law

MoralMora awl

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A rule of conduct enacted by

competent authority for the

sake of the common good[St. Thomas Aquinas, STh I-II, 90, 4].

An ordinance of reason that

is promulgated by competent

authority for the sake of the

common good [CFC: 801].

Definition

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Ordinance of reason

Promulgated / enacted

By competent authority

Purposecommon good

Definition

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The work of divine wisdom.

Prescribes ways & acts

leading to mans goodness.

Proscribes ways of evil

that turn man away fromGod.

Definition

MOR

AL

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1. Eternal Law

2. Natural Law

3. Revealed Law

4. Human Law

Expressions of the Moral Law

MOR

AL

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Law2Natural

- Arises from mans nature & creation.

- Can be recognized by human reason.

- Natural ability to discern what is

right and what is wrong.

Expressions of the Moral Law

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1Law

Eternal

- The Source is God, source of all laws.

Expressions of the Moral Law

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Law3Revealed

- Old law of the OT covenant (Scriptures).

- Form: 10 commandments thru Moses.

- Sin is transgressing the law and

breaking the covenant.

Expressions of the Moral Law

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Law3Revealed

- New law or law of the Gospel (NT).

- 1. Love God w/ all your heart. . .

- 2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Expressions of the Moral Law

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Law4Human

- Immediate origin is human authority.

- Subdivided into two:

- Civil lawlaw of the land

- Canon lawlaw of the Church

Expressions of the Moral Law

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Relationship : Moral Law &

Human Law

Moral acts are generally

legal, but not all legal acts

are moral.

There maybe moral acts

which are rendered illegal

or against the law.

E.g. Abortion

E.g. Alms giving

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Subjective & Objective Morality

Subjectivethe way things are perceived.

Realitymay beObjectivethe way things are, in fact.

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Subjective & Objective Morality

Subjectivethe moral judgment of an act

as it appears to a person, based on

how ones conscience is formed.

Moralitymay be

Objective the moral judgment of an actbased on the true nature of the act and

the precepts of the natural law.

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Subjective & Objective Morality

Thus, the proper standard for moral

judgment is objective morality,basing on objective truths and

principles.

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Sally was raised in a family where

she has been taught that a woman

has a right to control her ownbody. Abortion is part of that right.

She lives in a country where

abortion is legal, and her religion

regards abortions as regrettablebut not wrong. She already has

four children and her family is

stretched financially. When she

gets pregnant for the fifth time,

she decided, in conscience, tohave an abortion.

CASE 1:

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Jennifer was raised in a family

where she was taught that human

life is a sacred gift from Godwhich begins at conception.

Abortion, therefore, is wrong. She

is Catholic. Her church opposes

abortion. She accepts the sanctityof life in the womb and the

teaching of her church. Her family

is also financially hard up, but

when she gets pregnant for the

fifth time, she decides, inconscience, to have the baby.

CASE 2:

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Subjective & Objective Morality

A person is bound to follow

his/her conscience. Does this

mean that a persons conscienceis always correct? What does

Sally and Jenniferhave to say?

WHO IS RIGHT?