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If much of the Church's moral teaching is based on natural law - broadly speaking for things to develope along how their functions are intended to go by nature, why intervention to change the course of events by modern science in some fields are allowed and disallowed in others. Granted that there are many instances that are too obviously morally reprehensible, but there are also many nuanced situations where the teaching seems to rule on the side of caution rather on practical grounds that can alleviate a lot anxiety in ordinary peoples' lives. There seems to be on the one hand the rules of the magisterium, and the pastoral situations of the faithful on the other. In real life they seems to be different rules altogether. Where does the primacy of an inormed consience come in; or is the church having second thoughts on this now?

2007-06-29 00:19:47 · 5 answers · asked by ziffa 3 in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

Good call Granny Annie,
I wish this sort of wisdom comes more often from the pastors!

2007-06-29 01:10:08 · update #1

5 answers

Holy Mother Church almost always chooses the conservative side of any moral issue.
Please remember that the Church has been around for two millennia and thus has learned the value of time and patience.
Sticky moral issues are prayed about, discussed and debated sometimes for centuries before any final ruling comes down. We operate on the bright idea that if God's interested enough, He'll make His will clear when He's ready.
As our Father, He has a moral responsibility to us as a good parent. To give us aid and guidance to reach our full growth and potential. That is, to allow us mistakes from which to learn, to point the way for those who'd rather not learn the hard way and to be there for us when we need His comfort, His love and His support. That's why the Holy Spirit resides within us, you know. To BE that guide, that mentor, that lover.
The stickiest of moral issues requires that each of us inform ourselves, take up sides and live by our decisions. To do that there must be some freedom, so the Church will set in stone only in a minimalist way the paths that lead to righteousness.
Unlike many Protestant denominations the Catholic Church does not seek to keep its people in the bondage of ignorant childhood, amenable to every wolf that falls upon the fold with their own ideas of how one should do each and every little thing in one's life. Mother Church gives us a moral compass, she gives us God's Word, and she gives us Christ in the Eucharist. All of this, along with continuing education in the faith allow the People of God to form their own consciences according to the Mind of God. And to become more truly His children. And as His children, we are supposed to do as any child does, ie, GROW UP and become adults! We cannot do that if there's an eternal nanny standing around making all our decisions for us.
Hope this helped.

2007-06-29 00:45:59 · answer #1 · answered by Granny Annie 6 · 0 0

*Is Catholic*

Well first natural law is different from higher law that is derived from revelation. While the teachings of the Church are based on natural law, they are not based only on natural law.

In general, the Church teaches caution, but she is not against science or learning. Remember it is the Church that created Western Education. All of the sciences were progressed so greatly in the Middle Ages because the Church pushed for them, dumped money and resources into them, and encouraged research and study. The Church still does today. What other religion has a department of science (The Vatican Observatory and others)?

It would be easier to understand what you see as a dichotomy between the magisterium and pastoral situation if you gave examples.

However let me say two things.

American Law/Morality tends to place the bar very low...everything is "this is the basic that you must do". European Law sets the bar very high "this is the ideal that you must work towards" thus it tolerates a higher degree of failure to meet the law. Same with the stuff that comes out of the Vatican because it is written in the European mindset.

Secondly as you correctly said it is an INFORMED CONSCIENCE. A conscience is informed, according to Vatican II, by the teachings of the Church. One is to listen to God. As such, Vatican II says that one is to follow one's conscience when it is informed, not just do whatever you are convicted about.

This doesn't mean "not thinking" but it actually demands more thinking. It demands that all individuals study the Word of God, study the natural sciences, and study the teachings of the Church both current and those of the Fathers. ONLY then can one make a truly informed decision.

2007-06-29 12:44:45 · answer #2 · answered by Liet Kynes 5 · 0 0

Without citing specific examples, it's hard to comment on your question.

Natural Law is important. Nature is a higher power than mankind, but even nature has a Divine Creator - the Divine Divine Creator that created us. The point is, nature doesn't function the way it does "by accident". It functions exactly the way God wants it to function. This is why Natural Law is important to the Church in helping define the moral order of things.

When it comes to people, sentient beings, we are not so much reliant on natural instict as animals are. We have the ability to reason.

Because of this ability to reason, we must concern ourselves with the moral order of things.

A given action might be morally good in one circumstance, morally bad in another. We have to rely upon a properly formed conscience to reason the morally good alternative.

A good litmus test of sorts is the moral rule-of-thub, "The ends do not justify the means." You cannot do evil, even if it is allegedly for the good. The moral judgement of many, many, people have been coulded because of today's so-called "nuanced", "enlightened" way of social thinking.

The Church's official teachings on Faith and Morals are infallible. A conscience, if it is to make the morally proper judgements, must conform to the Catholic Church's official teachings on morals.

It is every Catholic's responsibility to see that their conscience is in sync with morality as defined by the Catholic Church.

2007-06-29 11:53:36 · answer #3 · answered by Daver 7 · 0 0

Catechism of the Catholic Church

159 Faith and science: "Though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason. Since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind, God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth." "Consequently, methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things of faith derive from the same God. The humble and persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all things, who made them what they are."

2007-07-03 21:14:14 · answer #4 · answered by Danny H 6 · 0 0

Let me help you with this..do not believe the catholic leadership. stick to the WORD OF GOD.. You do not need them to interpret what is truth.. learn who GOD is, and you will know in your heart waht to do.. read the gospel of John.. to start.

2007-06-29 07:27:14 · answer #5 · answered by spotlite 5 · 0 2

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