Understanding Moral Conscience

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Created 8/28/24

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The Moral Agent: Understanding the

Nature of Man

The Human Person in Reason and Faith

• The moral life is centered around the human

person, encompassing body, soul, heart,
conscience, mind, and will.
• In Christianity, the dignity of every person is
rooted in Jesus Christ, emphasizing the
awareness of human worth and existence.
• The doctrine of the Holy Trinity underscores
the belief in one God in three distinct
Persons, shaping the understanding of
human dignity.
• The concept of Imago Dei (image of God)
highlights that every person is not an object
but a unique individual.
• The Triune God is the origin, meaning, and
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 destiny of human dignity, emphasizing the
divine creation and purpose of each
individual.

Grounds of Human Dignity in Christian Faith

• Created in God's Image: Human beings are

considered God's masterpiece, stewards of
creation, endowed with free will and
intellect.
• Redeemed by Christ: Jesus sacrificed
himself to save humanity, expressing love
and forgiveness.
• Sanctified by the Holy Spirit: The presence
of the Holy Spirit provides strength, gifts,
and guidance in moral living.
• Children of God: Believers are destined for
eternal life, with a special place prepared in
heaven.
• CFC Descriptions: Human persons are
open, relational, conscious, embodied
spirits, historical realities, and unique yet
equal individuals.

Characteristics of Human Persons

• Relational Beings: Grounded in the Genesis

account, humans are naturally inclined
towards relationships, community, and
stewardship.
• Consciousness: Endowed with intelligence
and freedom, humans have the capacity to
think, choose, and understand moral order.
• Embodied Spirits: The unity of body and
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 soul enables humans to connect with others
and with the divine.
• Historical Realities: Each person has a
unique story, emphasizing the significance of
personal history and experiences.
• Unique Equality: While individuals are
unique, they share fundamental equality in
nature, divine calling, and rational soul.

Freedom and Authenticity

Understanding Human Freedom

• Authentic freedom is not merely the ability

to do as one pleases but the capacity to
choose and pursue the good.
• It involves aligning one's actions with moral
values and principles rather than
unrestricted autonomy.
• True freedom lies in the ability to discern
and act upon what is morally right and just.
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church
emphasizes that freedom is oriented
towards choosing the good.

Freedom in Christian Morality

Authentic Freedom

• Authentic freedom is not merely doing what

one wants but entails 'doing the good' as
emphasized in Christian teachings.
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 • It is a shared freedom within the community,
rooted in truth and not in selfish inclinations.
• Christ's statement 'the truth will set you free'
highlights the importance of truth in
achieving authentic freedom.
• True freedom involves making decisions
based on judgment, truth, and responsibility.
• Pillars of authentic freedom include the truth
about Jesus, the Church, and man's dignity.

Freedom From and For

• Freedom from refers to liberation from

obstacles like ignorance, disordered
passions, and external forces, with sin being
the greatest obstacle.
• Liberation from sin is crucial for attaining
true freedom.
• Freedom for involves growing as individuals
and children of God, sharing in Christ's life
through love.
• It includes the freedom of choice in moral
acts and the fundamental freedom of one's
self.
• By consistently choosing the good,
individuals progress towards becoming free-
loving persons.

Exercising Freedom Responsibly

• Christians discern moral good through the

Gospel and human experience, guided by
conscience.
• Conscience, the core of moral decision-
:
 making, reflects divine law and directs
individuals towards loving God and others.
• Moral conscience judges behavior,
distinguishing between good and evil based
on God's commandments.
• Faith illuminates moral life, leading to
solutions that are fully human.
• Conscience guides daily actions in alignment
with love for God and neighbors.

Conscience Formation and Types

Formation of Conscience

• Conscience is shaped through various

factors like family upbringing, education,
cultural values, and social interactions.
• The relational dimension of conscience
highlights its development through
interactions with others.
• Christ and the Church play a central role in
forming the conscience of a disciple.
• Formation occurs through faith, prayer,
engagement with Scripture, Church
teachings, and responsiveness to the Holy
Spirit.
• Critical reflection on life events aids in moral
judgment formation.

Types of Conscience

• Correct conscience aligns with objective

moral values, while an erroneous conscience
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 mistakenly judges evil as good.
• Conscience bears witness to truth and the
supreme Good, guiding individuals towards
moral decisions.
• Listening to one's conscience allows for
hearing God's voice and discerning right
from wrong.
• Conscience formation involves a
combination of heart factors (e.g., reflecting
on Jesus' teachings) and mind factors (e.g.,
adherence to Church doctrine).
• Moral conscience directs individuals on how
to love God and neighbors through
thoughts, words, and actions.

Works of Conscience

• Every moral act involves three dimensions:

the chosen act, the intention behind it, and
the circumstances surrounding it.
• The Church emphasizes considering these
dimensions together for making sound moral
judgments.
• Understanding the 'what,' 'why,' and 'who,
when, where, how' of moral acts is essential
for ethical decision-making.
• Conscience plays a pivotal role in guiding
individuals towards virtuous actions and
moral integrity.
• Integrating faith, prayer, and reflection on
moral experiences aids in the formation of a
well-informed conscience.
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 Discussion questions

5/6 6/6

Explore the relationship between Discuss the pillars of authentic

freedom from and freedom for in freedom and their significance in
the context of authentic human guiding moral actions and
freedom. decisions.

Difficulty: Hard Difficulty: Easy

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