The Church & Moral

TeachingHow do you think it works?

Church continues the

mission of Jesus & the

Holy Spirit

• Churcho imperfectoAgent of meeting

Jesus• Acts of love• Outreach• Preaching• Teaching

o What Jesus taughto Preserving doctrine

Richard Gula’s Three tasks of the Church in guiding moral

life

1. Shaping moral character

2. Guarding and maintaining moral tradition

3. A community of moral deliberation when & where moral issues emerge

The Church Shapes Moral

Character

• Church’s position on ethical & moral issues reported:oChurch publicationso Presso InternetoChurcheso Schools/universitieso homes

Shaping Moral Character

• Imagination important• Church teaches through

o Ritualso Imageso Arto Architectureo Symbols o Storieso Liturgy

• Eucharist the source & summit of our faith

The Church Guards & Maintains

Moral Tradition

• Reflecting on moral issues over its historyo Large body of moral

teaching to assist in helping us to inform our conscience

• Different levels of authority of teaching

People not documents!

• Groups of people help carry the tradition forward:oThe faithfuloTheologiansoPriests & pastoral ministers

oTeaching authority of the Church

The Faithful

• Our baptized parents & friends

• Catechists & schools• Standing up for

issues:oD&Po Soup kitchensoHospicesoVolunteering

• Witness mercy & justice of God!

Theologians

• Interpret moral tradition for our time

• Ancient tradition of o Scriptureo Tradition of Church

• Contribute to Magisterium

• Present in continuity with pasto See page 120 margin

notes

Priests & pastoral workers

• Priests (presbyters)o Preside over liturgy &

sacraments

• Deacons• Pastoral assistants• Administrators• Catechists

o Teach

Official teaching authority

• Magisterium• Bishops & Pope

o Instruction in schoolso Theologians,

imprimatur (it may be printed)

oDefinitions of faith• Ecumenical councils• Encyclicals• Pastoral letters• Declarations

Levels of the Magisterium

• Extraordinaryo Ecumenical council

pronounces solemn decree

o Solemn decree of Pope (ex cathedra)

• OrdinaryoDaily teaching of

bishopsoNot necessarily

infallible yet binding

The Church is a community of

moral deliberation

• Church responds to events in world

• Bishops consult expertsoDialogue & debateo See page 121o Pick one:• Summarize key points• Reflect on the impact

the teaching has on you.