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Forming a Moral Conscience
What is a Moral
Conscience?
According to the Catechism of the
Catholic Church, a human person “has in his heart a law
inscribed by God,” “calling him to love.” This is a
person’s moral conscience.
(#1776)
The moral conscience urges a person “to do
good and avoid evil;” it also judges particular choices,
approving those which are good and disapproving those which are
evil.
(#1777) Our conscience enables us to understand the
principles of morality, decide how to apply those principles in
specific circumstances, and judge the moral status of concrete
acts. (#1780)
The human person "has the right to act
in conscience and in freedom" and “must always obey the certain
judgment of his conscience.”
(#1782, 1790)
The Catechism
says a person’s moral conscience must be informed and enlightened so that it
“formulates its judgments according to reason, [and] in
conformity with the true good" willed by God.
(#1783) Shaping a
well-formed conscience is a lifelong task which is rooted in the
Word of God, assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by
the witness or advice of others, and guided by the authoritative
teaching of the Church. (#1784-1785).
Ignorance of Christ and his Gospel, bad example by others,
enslavement to one's passions, a mistaken notion of autonomy,
rejection of the Church's authority or teaching, lack of
conversion or charity may all be a source of errors in moral
judgment. "One must therefore work to correct the errors
of moral conscience."
(1792, 1793)
The Catechism
says that individuals are “sometimes confronted by situations
that make moral judgments less assured and decision difficult.”
In such situations, a person “must always seriously seek what is
right and good and discern the will of God expressed in divine
law.” (#1787) In this effort, a person “strives to interpret the
data of experience and the signs of the times” with the
assistance of “the virtue of prudence, … the advice of competent
people, and … the help of the Holy Spirit….”
(#1788)
• • •
How to Form a Moral
Conscience
Here are some guidelines for how to form a moral conscience,
particularly in a situation where you may disagree with a specific truth or teaching of the Church:
• Consult with a pastor, pastoral staff member
or spiritual guide who understands and can explain the
Church's teaching clearly and correctly. Identify the
fundamental truths or values on which this teaching is based and
determine how essential this teaching is to the core of Catholic
faith.
Beware of making decisions based on information you read in
books or online which may not accurately explain the
Church's teaching.
• Assume that the Church's understanding of God's revelation and
human nature is fuller, deeper and more reliable than any individual's.
Even though the Church's teaching may seem ideal, unrealistic
or wrong to you, start from the assumption that it is correct
and applies to
your personal circumstances.
• Evaluate your personal
opinions, feelings and circumstances carefully. Honestly
assess the reasons why you are
unable or unwilling to agree or comply with the Church's
teaching.
This is best done with the assistance of an trusted companion
such as a pastor, confessor or spiritual guide who understands
the Church's teaching as well as your personal circumstances.
• Pray for the
grace to understand and appreciate the underlying truth or
values which are reflected in the Church's teaching and for the
grace to discern what is possible for you in your
particular circumstances.
Be patient, and allow time for God's inspiration to guide you
directly or through others who know and love you.
• Consult with your pastor, a confessor or reliable spiritual
guide before making a final decision. The goal
here is to determine to what extent you can or cannot understand
or follow the Church's teaching. To what extent is it
possible to honor the teaching in part? To what extent is
it possible to honor the underlying truth or value which is reflected in
the teaching?
• Continue to pray for the grace to understand or comply with
the Church's teaching more fully, in spite of your personal
circumstances. Pray for the grace to appreciate and honor
the underlying truth or value reflected in a particular
teaching.
Be open to changing your decision as your understanding or
circumstances change.
• Consult with
your pastor, a confessor or reliable spiritual guide if you are
troubled by your decision.
• Remember that God knows you are an imperfect and sinful
person and loves you nonetheless.
Trust in God's mercy and love even if, after careful
discernment, your decision does not agree with the Church's
teaching.
If we decide that
we cannot understand or comply completely
with the Church's teaching, we should avoid coming to the
conclusion that the Church must be wrong. Although at
times prophetic individuals and groups within the Church come to
different conclusions which the Church officially accepts at a later
date,
most of us are not prophets.
If we are led by a
morally responsible conscience to believe or act in a way which
is contrary to what the Church teaches at the present time, we
should continue to assume that the Church is correct and that
for more or less legitimate reasons I am unable or unwilling
to agree or comply. We should continue to participate as
fully as possible in the sacramental and spiritual life of the
Catholic Church, being careful not to give scandal to others who
may be confused by our belief or behavior.
If we are led by a
morally responsible conscience to believe or act in a way
which is contrary to what the Church teaches at the present
time, we should do so with a spirit of humility and respect, a
desire to remain in communion with the Catholic faith community,
and the intention to believe and obey as fully as possible in
what the Church believes and teaches.
We should proceed
cautiously and with patience, aware of our own limitations and
sinfulness, always desiring to be transformed by God's love
and mercy.
-- Dave Cushing (02/12)
• • •
Prayer for
Conscience Formation
(U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops)
I praise you
Lord for creating me in your divine image. Thank you for giving
me a free will to know you and love you. Open my heart to your
teachings and help me to form my conscience according to your
will.
Please
strengthen me with the virtues of faith, hope, love, and
especially prudence. Grant me your loving guidance each day and
send me the graces to always do your will, even when most
difficult. Amen.
• • •
Click here
to read what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says
about conscience
Posted 02.17.12 •
Last Update: 03.24.12
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