What is Special About Roman Catholic Christian Morality? Sonia Loughenbury

Aims:

Aims: To explore what makes Roman Catholic Christian morality distinctive by considering… - why Roman Catholic Christians act in a certain way the guidance Roman Catholic Christians have to show them how to act

Aims: Keep these questions in mind. We will discuss them towards the end of this session. Can you think of a moral issue where a Roman Catholic might have a different response from other people because of their faith? Can you think of a moral issue where a Roman Catholic might have the same response as others but for a different reason?

What is the difference between the moral choices of a Roman Catholic Christian and an atheist / agnostic / member of a different religion?

Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Christian faith gives us an answer in God. You came from God and will return to him. The ultimate aim in life is communion with God. “This is the Gospel in its simplest terms. It is this good news that gives formal meaning and identity to Christian morality. If a moral system gets force and value from its philosophy of life, from its insight into the meaning of life, it is his supreme understanding of human life which gives Christ his unique warrant as moral teacher and which makes Christian morality so special.” Denis F. O’Callaghan, ‘What’s Special About Christian Morality?’, Contemporary Catholic Theology: a Reader, (1998) p.370

Faith in Christ Gula (Reason Informed by Faith (1989), p.7-8) explains, that, in a Christian context… The “ethics of being” = “What sort of person should I become because I believe in Christ?” The “ethics of doing” = “What sort of action should I do because I believe in Christ?” Willems (Understanding Catholic Morality (1997)) talks of faith as constantly involving conversion. Following Jesus is not a simple task, it is a lifetime’s work. Therefore, it is something we must constantly re-commit to. Faith is not just about learning Christian teachings, or acting in a certain way, there is a level of commitment involved.

Some basic principles… The role of faith View of God as beneficent creator The dignity of the person Centrality of agape Human dignity realised in community The use of reason Rejection of utilitarianism and moral relativism

More than basic principles We can’t simply deduce how one should live morally from basic fact of having a certain faith. There is more than logic involved. The practice of our faith helps us to develop a sense of what is required by our faith. “In short, Christian morality cannot be converted completely into a rational ethics. If it could then the experience of God in Christ, and the mediation of that experience through Scripture, the church and human experience , would have no particular significance for the Christian community. To be a Christian believer carries a particular commitment to becoming a certain sort of person living a way of life which entails certain reasons for being moral and certain practices which follow from Christian beliefs.” (Gula, Reason Informed by Faith, (1989) p.54)

Keenan, Moral Wisdom: Lessons and Texts from the Catholic Tradition Begins his moral teaching with the primacy of love. Distinctiveness of Christian ethics comes from mercy – mercy defined as “the willingness to enter into the chaos of others so as to answer them in their need” (p.124). “Mercy is so important because it is, above all, the experience we have of God. In response to that mercy, we become imitators of the God in whose image we are made. Likewise, in answer to Christ’s call to follow him, we practice mercy. Thomas Aquinas asks the question whether mercy is the greatest virtue (II.II.30.4) and responds that charity is the greatest virtue because by it we are united in love to God, but second to charity, mercy is the greatest virtue because by it we exemplify God in God’s actions, and, therefore, we become like God.” (p.127)

Task Are there any other principles of Christian morality you would add? Do you think any principles of the principles are more important than others? Are there any principles that you ‘use’ more / that you see as more applicable to our ‘everyday’ morality? What do you think about the views of the theologians that have been quoted?

Specific help for Roman Catholic Christians Scripture Magisterium and Tradition

The Magisterium ‘The living teaching office of the Church’ Jesus put Peter in charge of the Church… “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community.” (Matthew 16:18) Peter is seen as the first Pope Since then there has been an unbroken handing on of leadership from Pope to Pope. This is called the 'Apostolic Succession'. The Papal Coat of Arms includes two crossed keys to symbolise Christ's words.

The Magisterium The Magisterium consists of a special Council of Cardinals that meet to decide on moral guidance for the Church. Their task is to interpret and communicate the Word of God for the present day. Yet they must also be faithful to tradition passed on from the first community of disciples through each succeeding generation. Catholics believe that these Cardinals are guided by the Holy Spirit. The Magisterium arrives at its moral guidance by… Studying the Bible Looking at tradition Praying Debating

The Magisterium Teachings can be infallible or non-infallible. Very few teachings are declared infallible. Most moral teachings non-infallible. Non-infallible teachings contain truth and important values but are open to change if there are developments in theology / technology / knowledge. They contain the best knowledge available to church leaders at the time.

Parish Community Faith is lived out in a community. As the Church is the ‘body of Christ,’ all members of the Church share the Magisterium’s task of teaching Christian message and having moral authority. The teaching is ‘handed down’ and those who take on roles on responsibility in the Church share in the moral authority of the Magisterium. The Parish can nourish and sustain. The Priest can educate and support. Practising our faith helps us to understand what is required by our faith. Jesus’ love shown sacramentally through the Eucharist.

Task Do you agree with Willems? Why or why not? “It is important that Christians teach their children not only the moral traditions of the church but also stories of the preservation of the tradition by believers and leaders of the church.” (Willems, Understanding Catholic Morality (1997), p.109) Do you agree with Willems? Why or why not? How could this be done?

Task Can you think of a moral issue where a Roman Catholic might have a different response from other people because of their faith? Can you think of a moral issue where a Roman Catholic might have the same response as others but for a different reason?

What is distinctive about Catholic morality? Task By yourself, write a paragraph (five to eight sentences) answering the question: What is distinctive about Catholic morality?

Essay Question ‘A well-informed conscience is all that is required for Roman Catholic Christians to make good moral choices.’ Discuss.