Foundations of Catholic Morality: Law, Conscience, Dignity
The Moral Law in Catholic Teaching
The moral law is the work of divine Wisdom. It prescribes for humanity the ways and rules of conduct that lead to promised beatitude, and it proscribes the ways of evil which turn us away from God and His love. It is universal, extending to all people insofar as it is established by reason.
Natural Law and Divine Wisdom
The natural law expresses the dignity of the person and lays the foundations of fundamental duties. The moral law presupposes the rational order, established among creatures for their good and to serve their final end, by the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Creator. All law finds its first and ultimate truth in the eternal law.
According to the Catholic Church, each of us has natural moral law imprinted in our souls. God gave us the ability to distinguish by reason between good and evil. The natural law is immutable and permanent in history. In the diversity of cultures, the natural law unites peoples, enjoining common principles. If the perception of the universality of the moral law is dimmed, people cannot build a true and lasting communion with others, because truth and goodness are lacking.
Christ as the Fullness of Moral Law
The moral law finds its fullness and unity in Christ. Jesus Christ is in person the way of perfection. He is the end of the law, for only He teaches and bestows the justice of God.
The Role of Conscience in Morality
For acting morally, the Catholic Church takes into account another important element: our conscience. As stated, “Conscience is a judgment of reason by which the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act.”
For Catholics, every person has in their heart a law inscribed by God. With our conscience, we have the ability to decide what is right and what is wrong. Our moral choices usually confront reason and the divine law. A good conscience is one that makes judgments that conform to reason and God’s will.
Forming a Good Conscience
Having a good conscience requires lifelong formation. Each Christian is obliged to form his or her conscience according to the objective moral standards of the Catholic Church. Valuable tools in the formation of our conscience include:
- The Word of God, assimilated by study, prayer, and practice.
- The authoritative teaching of the Church.
- The gifts of the Holy Spirit, combined with regular examination of conscience.
These elements help us to develop a more morally sensitive conscience.
Understanding Human Dignity
The human person is sacred, made in the image of God. We all have God’s life imprinted on our nature. Each person has a human condition and the ability to practice virtues such as prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude, so that we will become the person God wants. However, we are free to decide if we want to follow Him or not.
Human Dignity and Just Society
A just society can become a reality only when it is based on respect for the transcendent dignity of the human person. The person represents the ultimate end of society. Every program must be inspired by the awareness of the inherent primacy of each human being over society.
The person cannot be a means for carrying out economic, social, or political projects imposed by some authority, even in the name of alleged progress of the civil community as a whole or of other persons, either in the present or the future. It is therefore necessary that public authorities keep careful watch so that restrictions placed on freedom or any burden placed on personal activity will never become harmful to personal dignity, thus guaranteeing the effective exercise of human rights.