1. Law as a Guide to Freedom
CHAPTER THREE
Law as a Guide to Freedom

2. What is the lesson that can be learned from these two stories?
Look to the Law
Open textbook to p. 72
What is the lesson that can be learned from these two stories?

3. Look to the Law Some possible lessons: There are limits to freedom!
a person’s reality is impacted by others;
reality may not be as you perceive;
we are responsible for our actions;
laws help us to be healthy/safe

4. What does rationalization mean?
Look to the Law
What does rationalization mean?
Definition.com: to ascribe (one's acts, opinions, etc.) to causes that superficially seem reasonable and valid but that actually are unrelated to the true, possibly unconscious and often less creditable or agreeable causes.

5. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE EXCUSES THAT YOU HAVE HEARD?
Look to the Law
Making Excuses
Read the statements and decide if it is a excuse or a valid reason for certain behaviour.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE EXCUSES THAT YOU HAVE HEARD?
OR USED??!

6. Look to the Law
Freedom, responsibility and law go hand-in-hand in the moral life
Let’s take a closer look at Freedom.

7. Responsibility How would you define responsibility?
When have you had to take responsibility for an action/choice?
When have you had to take on responsibility?

8. Responsibility
Here are some open-ended cases. Write two conclusions to each:
-One a good, Christian action, the other an irresponsible, immoral response.

9. Responsibility
You have worked hard for your money and for once have a good nest-egg saved for some personal items you want to buy. A classmate approaches you to ask you to sponsor her for a Walk to Fight Diabetes. She wants at least a $25 contribution.

10. Responsibility
You have been told the identity of a classmate who has stolen something of value out of your locker.

11. Responsibility
You have been told the identity of a classmate who has stolen something of value out of your locker.

12. Responsibility
A coworker is teasing another coworker who has a speech impediment.

13. Responsibility Select one of the irresponsible actions described.
Give some of the rationalizations people typically would give
to justify this kind of behavior.

14. Responsibility imputable
Ascribed, attributed, or definitely linked to a specific accountable person or entity
imputable
If an action is imputable, someone can be held accountable for it.
Our actions have consequences, so we have to own up to them.

15. Responsibility
We must accept responsibility for directly willed or voluntary actions as well as not totally voluntary actions that stem from ignorance or negligence.

16. Responsibility Emotions
-Emotions are also known as feelings of passions.
-Emotions are morally neutral.
-We have many emotions, the most basic one is love.
-Passions are morally good when they lead us to do something good; morally bad when they contribute to us doing something bad.

17. Love, Anger, Joy, Fear, Desire, Sadness
Responsibility
Emotions and Morality
Consider the “good side” and “dark side” of the following emotions:
Love, Anger, Joy, Fear, Desire, Sadness

18. Responsibility Jesus is the fundamental norm of Christian morality.
In Union With Christ
Jesus is the fundamental norm of Christian morality.
Jesus is the standard or model on whom we should pattern our lives.

19. Guidelines or laws that can help regulate human freedom
Responsibility
In Union With Christ
A norm is a standard, model, or pattern regarded as typical. We need a model of standard behaviour to help us make good choices.
norms
Guidelines or laws that can help regulate human freedom

20. Process for Formulating Christian Norms
Responsibility
In Union With Christ
Process for Formulating Christian Norms
Christian community states certain beliefs.
Beliefs lead to values.
Values are articulated as principles.
Principles are formulated more concretely into norms (often stated as laws).

21. Responsibility
In Union With Christ
Source of norms are Scriptures, Tradition, and human reason.
Belief Values Principles

22. In Union With Christ Complete p. 80 # 1-4. -Tomorrow: Scavenger Hunt.
Responsibility
In Union With Christ
Complete p. 80 # 1-4.
-Tomorrow: Scavenger Hunt.

23. Law and Morality
Protects us from license (doing whatever we want, no matter the consequences.
Law
Guides human freedom
“An ordinance of reason for the common good, promulgated by the one who is in charge of the community” (Saint Thomas Aquinas, in CCC, 1976).
Rules of conduct
Serve as an objective standard outside ourselves against which we measure what we want to do

24. Law and Morality Elements of Law: Law is reasonable.
Law is for the common good.
Competent authority makes law.
Law must be promulgated
(announced, made widely known).

25. Law and Morality moral law -ultimately, all law derives from moral law
God’s wisdom & goodness
God’s instructions to live a good life
conduct that leads to eternal happiness
4 expressions of moral law:
- natural law, revealed law, civil law, church law
Example: Making good moral choices

26. Law and Morality natural law
The reasoned participation of humans in God’s eternal law that reveals what God intends us to do and to avoid according to his wise and loving plan.

27. Law and Morality Natural Law
Natural law is our participation in the divine law.
Natural law teaches us what to do and what to avoid.
Natural law corresponds to three basic human drives and needs:
Preserving life
Developing as individuals and communities
Sharing life with others
Natural law is universal, permanent, and unchanging throughout history.

28. Law and Morality Natural Law Examples of Natural Law
“Do good & avoid evil.”
“Love your neighbour.”
“Care for your precious life.”
“Don’t commit adultery.”
“Don’t murder.”
“Don’t steal.”

29. Law and Morality Also known as the Law of Moses
The Old Law
Also known as the Law of Moses
Ten Commandments summarize the moral prescriptions of the old Law
Example: 10 commandments

30. Law and Morality Divine Law has four purposes: The New Law
It helps us stay on the right path on our journey to God.
It helps us discern what is right when there are conflicting ideas of right and wrong.
It speaks of motivation (intention).
It indicates what is sinful.

31. Law and Morality The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the new law.
It helps us understand the core attitudes that precede our actions.
Example: Can be summarized in two Gospel teachings:
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” (Mt 7:12)
“Love one another as I love you.” (Jn 15:12)

32. Law and Morality evangelical counsels The New Law
Vows taken to poverty, chastity, and obedience in order to live the Gospel more fully. The evangelical counsels were typically embraced by those in religious life.
evangelical counsels

33. Law and Morality Civil Law laws in a society, made by government
is a particular application of natural law for members of a given society.
Societies apply natural law differently according to custom & circumstances

34. Law and Morality Civil Law not always good
in the past many societies legalized slavery, some countries legislate an inferior position for women
Catholics believe that civil law is morally good only if it conforms to God’s divine law & revealed law. We aren’t required to obey evil civil laws & must try to change them

35. Law and Morality Civil Law Examples: Driving laws
“Don’t drink and drive”
“Stop at a red light”
Tax laws
Abortion laws
Corporate laws
Charter of Rights

36. Law and Morality Good or Bad Laws?
-The state may not inflict the death penalty on anyone
-No driver may use a hand-held cell phone while driving the car.
-The government may not give any state aid to private (including Catholic) schools except for nonreligious textbooks.

37. Law and Morality Good or Bad Laws?
-All passengers must be willing to submit to a personal search before boarding an airplane.
-No one may be permitted to smoke in a public restaurant, including all restaurants.
-Any vendor selling pornography to a minor is subject to a year in prison.

38. Law and Morality Good or Bad Laws?
-Desecration of the Canadian flag is an exercise of free speech and not punishable as a felony or misdemeanor.
-Couples must be sterilized if they have more than one child.

39. Law and Morality Divine Law Examples Same as revealed law 4 purposes:
helps us stay on the right path
helps us discern what is right from wrong
it speaks to our motivation
indicates what is sinful, therefore stifles our relationship with God and others
Highest Norm of human life
Same as revealed law
Examples

40. Law and Morality Church or Canon Law Examples Precepts of the Church
is the complete body of rules about the Catholic Church. It was revised in 1983 by Pope John Paul II.
is the civil law of the church
they are decreed by our church leaders (magisterium)
they are minimal obligations to God and each other
Precepts of the Church
Examples

41. Law and Morality Church Law Six Precepts of the Church:
You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
You shall confess your sins at least once a year.
You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.
You shall keep holy the holy days of obligation.
You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.
The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his abilities.

42. Sermon on the Mount Complete Handout.
Law and Morality
Sermon on the Mount
Complete Handout.

43. Vocabulary Freedom Determinism Imputable Law Natural law
Evangelical counsels
Precepts of the Church
Canon law