Moral Theology (Part 1)

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    MORAL

    THEOLOGY

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    Assignment # 1

    What is Moral Theology ?

    Differentiate the 2-

    perspectives of MT

    What are the sources of MT?

    Explain the 3-Models of Morality

    FORMAT:

    -1page for

    every twoquestions

    -1.5 space

    -Text is Arial

    -Font is 12Submission will

    be on

    Wednesday

    June 26.

    Papers

    submitted 15

    minutes after

    the start of the

    class will not be

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    REFERENCE

    S:

    Reason Informed by Faith: Foundations of CatholicMorality

    byRichard M. Gula

    Christian Ethics, Volume 1

    Moral Theology in Light of Vatican II; Volume IGeneral Moral Theology, Third Edition

    ByFr. Karl H. Peschke

    http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49272.Richard_M_Gulahttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49272.Richard_M_Gulahttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49272.Richard_M_Gula
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    VISION

    By 2020, we envision a Christ-inspired, nationally-responsive

    and globally-competitive Colegio de San Juan de Letran at

    the threshold of being a University, evidenced by quality

    academic standard, strong research culture and sustained

    community service.

    Specifically, we see Letran as a leading center on the:

    Creative use and application of information and

    communications technology in education;

    Values-oriented communication and media education;

    Historical studies and research, particularly in Intramuros

    and

    Development of self-reliant communities.

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    What is your understanding of a moral

    life?

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    MORAL THEOLOGY

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    Course Description:

    Aims to develop Christian maturity and positive

    outlook in life of students through the study of

    various theoretical and practical norms and

    principles that deal with issues of morality.

    It envisions inculcating upon the minds and

    hearts of the students the Gospel values that

    Christ wants them to have.

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    The discussions and activities about

    moral issues confronting todaysChristians in the light of the Social

    Doctrine of the Church, will serve as

    opportunities to students in providing

    them guidelines on how to respond to

    those issues in a Christian way.

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    RATIONALE:

    Moral Theology projects a continuousdesire for growth, growing as a real

    person journeying towards union with

    God, which is the ultimate end ofChristian life.

    To help the students recognize the

    needs to respond to Gods call, to betrully Gods children by cooperating

    fully towards sanctification and

    salvation of the whole humanity.

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    MORAL THEOLOGY

    Gen. Objective:

    For the students to have a clear grasp of

    Christian moral principles and perspectives,

    matured in dealing with religious and moraldifficulties in the light of faith.

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    MORAL THEOLOGY

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    Etymological Meaning of :

    Theology= Gk. theo-god + logos

    The term theology

    comes from the two Greek words theos and

    logos which means God and word respectively.

    Theology, therefore in general, is word about

    God or, at least an attempt to talk about God.

    In short, theology is the study of God.In contemporary theological jargon it is

    God talk.

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    Moral = L . mors + theo + logos

    On the other hand, the termmoral comes from the Latinword mors which meansmanner, custom, habit.

    Thus, moral theology isGod talk about manners,

    customs, and habits. Thisetymological definition is

    quite accurate but notadequate.

    Why this definition of MT isaccurate but not adequate?

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    Christian Theology

    In the proper sense, theology is astudy about Christian God and

    everything else related to God.

    For Gula, it is a discipline in whichfaith seeks to understand Godsrevelation of divine love in Christ

    Jesus and through the Spirit

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    Literally, "faith seeking understanding."The

    phrase originated with Anselm in hisProslogion and was used to show the

    relationship of religious faith to human

    reason. For Anselm, matters of religion and

    theology are understood only by firstbelieving them and then proceeding to gain

    an intellectual understanding of the things

    already believed. In other words, faith is

    both logically and chronologically prior to

    reason.1

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    Hence, strictly speaking, theology

    presupposes faith1. and cannot be engaged upon without it.

    The necessity of faith directs theologys

    reflection upon the sources of faith, namely, Scriptures, Sacred

    Tradition and Church Magisterium

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    But since theology seeks to

    understand the mysteries and truths of

    faith, it also employs reason.Theology, especially in the Catholic

    tradition, thus proceeds

    thru faith and reason (RIF).(So, too, with moral theology; it

    proceeds by the light of faith and uses

    reason as a tool of faith).

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    Faith and reason are like twowings on which the human spiritrises to the contemplation oftruth; and God has placed in thehuman heart the desire to know thetruth in a word, to know himself so that by knowing and lovingGod, men and women can come tothe fullness of the truth about

    themselves (n1) Ratio et Fides-

    In essence,theology is at the service of faithitspreservation and sustained proclamation

    and communication.

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    Division of Christian Catholic Theology

    Positive Theology

    tries to find and state the

    true and full meaning of

    the normative sources offaith

    Biblical studies are the

    most

    important part of positive

    theology, and are in factthe starting point of

    theological reflection.

    Systematic TheologyDogmatic Theology

    is also called doctrinal

    theology or simply

    systematics.

    Moral theologyis a particular expression of

    systematic theology which

    focuses on the implications of

    faith

    for the way we live because we

    are disciples of Jesus Christ

    a. Fundamental Moral Theo.

    b. Special Moral Theo.

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    The different focus of both dogmatic and

    moral theology is further expressed in

    characterizing the

    former as descriptive and the latter as

    prescriptive.

    Dogmatic theology deals with the truths

    and doctrines of our faith

    while moral theology deals with how we

    ought to respond to Gods invitation fora fuller life

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    Moral Theology

    Definition and Nature

    2- PerspectivesSourcesMorality

    Models of Morality

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    A. DEFINITION AND NATURE OF

    Moral Theology:

    Is a branch of theology that studiesthe interrelationship of faith and life.

    It is to be understood and

    appreciatedin light of Christian discipleship,rooted in the Word of God andin the context of Church and human

    society.

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    MTs focus is the Response to revelation (theimplications of faith in Jesus Christ for the way in

    which we live).

    MT attempts to find the meaning of the relationshipbetween Christian Faith and moral action (Life).

    The norms of MT are not only those given by

    reason but also by faith which includes the datafrom the Tradition and the Magisterium of the

    Church

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    MT seeks to give a systematic, organized account

    of the requirements of Christian vocation toholiness (cf. Mt 5:48).

    MT has existed in continuous dialogue with the

    Church and the world.

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    B. TWO PERSPECTIVES

    (Lat. Agere sequ itur esse, Doing follows

    being; or, To do is to be and to be is to

    do.)

    1. Ethics of Being . It focuses on goodcharacter/d isposi t ions of the agent; What sort

    of (good ) person shou ld I become (Human

    Person)

    2. Ethics of Doing . It focuses on r ight act ions to

    perform; What sort of (good) act ions shou ld I

    perform? (Human Conduct)

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    The sort of person that you becomedepends to a great extent upon the

    sort of decisions and actions you have

    taken or performed The sort of decisions and actions you

    have taken or performed depends

    upon the sort of person you willbecome

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    INTERDEPENDENT RELATION

    OF:

    Ethics of doing

    Ethics of being

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    Sources

    Sacred Scriptures the Bible which isthe deposit of the word of God (written

    tradition). Sacred Tradition the unwritten

    tradition of the Church that has been

    handed down from the apostles to theirsuccessors

    Magisterium the teaching authorityof the Church

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    Morality

    It is a question of whether a certain act

    is right or wrong according to the

    standards or norms in a particular

    society.

    It is a question between what is good

    and what is evil.

    But How Do We Judge Whether ACertain Act Is GOOD Or EVIL?

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    What is really GOOD?

    What is really EVIL?

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    Three Principal Moral

    Models/Methods

    There are a number of ethical systemsand methods employed in making

    moral decisions and forming

    judgments.

    Three methods are principal by which

    other methods can be related to

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    Methods/Models of Morality

    Deontological

    Act

    What does thelaw require?

    What is myduty?

    The Relational-Responsibility ModelA HOLISTIC MODEL

    Virtue

    Agent

    What is fitting?

    How do Irespond?

    Teleological

    Ends/Consequences

    What is mygoal?

    What ends do I

    seek?

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    1.Teleological Model/Method

    From the Greek word telos, which means, end orgoal, teleological method is goal-oriented. This

    method asks what decisions and actions will bring

    about the goal being sought

    The question what is my goal? answers

    what ought I to do?

    The goal, therefore, becomes the basis of moral

    decisions.

    Thomistic teleology posits that all human acts are

    directed to some goal, purpose or end.

    This built-in purpose is embedded in nature and

    therefore must be fulfilled

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    How does teleology relate to

    morality?

    the disadvantages are serious. Here

    the end justifies the means and the

    consequences determine the full moral

    significance of an action.

    the rightness or wrongness of an action is

    decisively determined by the good or evilconsequences which an action produces.

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    In Thomistic teleology, there is clarity of

    moral basis. What is morally right is acting

    according to the intended purpose designed

    by nature.

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    2. Deontological Model/Method

    From the Greek word deon, which means dutyor obligation, deontological method is rule-

    oriented.

    The method seeks to establish the law,

    duty, right, or obligation in moraldecision

    What is the law or my duty? answers

    what ought I to do? Morality, therefore, is determined

    by ones faithfulness to laws and normsfound in the Bible and Church teachings.

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    The deontological approach tomorality supports the so-calledmoral absolutes.

    These are prohibitions ofactions on account of their objectconsidered absolutely and intrinsically

    evil.Intrinsically evil that no intention orcircumstances can ever justify them.

    Catholic moral theology is fundamentallyteleological in its basic orientation butdeontological in making a moral decision.

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    As long as one follows church teachings and

    norms, moral life is on the right track. Another

    strength of deontology lies in preserving

    consistency and stability in moral lifeDISADVANTAGES:

    Deontological method has the tendency to reduce

    moral life to a juridically determined list of dos and

    donts. This juridical understanding of morality can lead,

    on the one hand, to self-righteousness where one

    feels justified by keeping the law and on the other

    hand, to moral minimalism failure to account the context and the complexity of

    circumstances inherent in every moral situation

    which can change the moral reality of an action or

    decision.

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    3. Relational-Responsibility

    Model/Method

    This method comes with contemporarytheologizing.

    Moral life is seen in relational terms, that is,

    of

    relationships held together by an ongoing

    interaction with God, others, self, and the

    world.

    The basis of this outlook is theunderstanding ofhuman persons as by

    nature relational beings

    No man is an island!

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    This method looks at morality in terms ofwhat is properly harmonious with the full

    relational context

    the full relational context. The right thing to

    do is what promotes a harmonious

    relationship in every respect of the whole

    relational context.

    What promotes life-g iv ingrelationship?

    answers the question What ought I to

    do?

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    Thus, every moral decision mustrespond to the responsibilities found in

    various relationships.

    Every fo rm of relat ionsh ip carr iesw i th i t responsib i l it ies to be

    ful f i l led , i f i t is to be authent ic .

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    For moral life to be responsive to the whole

    relational context, all relevant factors to m oral

    s i tuat ion must be considered inc lud inglaws

    and norm s and con sequences.

    An important component to relational/responsible

    approach is the use ofproport ionate reasonin

    determining the objective rightness or wrongnessof actions.

    This is especially true when obligations and

    responsibilities conflict.

    Proportionate reason attends to the ambiguitiesand complexities of life.

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    Holistic Model

    DiscernmentLeading to a moral decision

    ContextNorms and situation analysis

    PersonFundamental option

    Intention

    ACT and its EFFECTS

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    Seatwork #1

    1. If God is good why is there evil in the world?

    If God is powerful, then, why He cannot

    annihilate evil? If evil is a reality God is neithergood nor powerful. If evil is not a reality then why

    do we experience it in our life? (Maximum of ten

    sentences).

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    The GOOD

    Good is anything that contributes to

    the full realization of the human

    person

    Th EVIL

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    The EVIL

    Evil is privation of good St. Augustine

    Evil is anything that frustrates or acts

    against the proper growth and

    development of the human person

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    Types of EVIL

    1. Ontic Evil - (onta real)

    anything that frustrates

    human life and development

    Examples are death,

    pain, deprivation offreedom,

    deprivation of

    pleasure,

    deprivation ofopportunity

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    2. Physical Evil evil broughtabout by the forces normally

    outside human control

    Examples are natural

    calamities, flood,sickness

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    3. Moral Evil

    Evil brought about by humanacts and are within the controlof reason

    Other types of evil may become

    Moral evil if resulted from ourown actions

    Death (Murder, Genocide, Abortionetc.)

    Pain (Abuse, exploitation,

    manipulation, deprivation etc.) Flood/Volcanic eruption (Abusive

    cutting of trees, stubbornness, etc.)

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    Conclusion

    In every decision we make, there mustbe discernment first

    In every act we do, there is always

    responsibility to whatever resultthere is for our act Do we discern first before we make any

    decision?

    Are we responsible enough to anyconsequence of whatever we do?

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    Assignment #2FORMAT:

    -1page for every

    two questions

    -1.5 space

    -Text is Arial

    -Font is 12

    Submission will be

    on Tuesday July.

    Papers submitted

    15 minutes afterthe start of the

    class will not be

    accepted.

    1. Explain the differentcharacteristics of the human

    person.

    2. What is moral life for theChristian?

    3. Is there any connection between

    human dignity and humanfreedom? Why?

    4. Explain the connections of

    authentic freedom from the

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    Does beingResponsibleto any evil effect

    of an evil act committedmake you a