The Morality of the The Morality of the Human Act and SinHuman Act and Sin

MLC: Chapter 3; MLC: Chapter 3;

CCC1749-1775; 1846-1876CCC1749-1775; 1846-1876

Introduction: Three Rational Principles of the Moral Introduction: Three Rational Principles of the Moral LifeLife

Freedom: Makes a person a moral agent Freedom: Makes a person a moral agent (actor)(actor)

Conscience: Gives us the capacity to Conscience: Gives us the capacity to discover God’s will as written in our soulsdiscover God’s will as written in our souls

Law: Does not limit freedom, but allows it Law: Does not limit freedom, but allows it to function properlyto function properly

Explain the ff:Explain the ff:

Right moral conduct perfects Right moral conduct perfects the human being, and wrong the human being, and wrong moral conduct degrades him.moral conduct degrades him.

Man is responsible for his actions Man is responsible for his actions because he possesses an intellect because he possesses an intellect and a will. He can think and and a will. He can think and choose deliberately.choose deliberately.

The responsibility makes sin The responsibility makes sin possible; but it also makes possible; but it also makes holiness possible.holiness possible.

The human act The human act vs.vs. the acts of a humanthe acts of a human

An act carries with it moral consequences when An act carries with it moral consequences when the agent exercises his intellect and will in the agent exercises his intellect and will in performing the act. These are performing the act. These are human actshuman acts..

An act is not moral (amoral) when it is An act is not moral (amoral) when it is accomplished without knowledge or deliberation. accomplished without knowledge or deliberation. These are the These are the acts of a human.acts of a human.

Determining whether an act Determining whether an act is good or evil.is good or evil.

Human acts can be morally evaluated.Human acts can be morally evaluated.

An act is human if it is freely chosen in An act is human if it is freely chosen in consequence of a judgment of conscience.consequence of a judgment of conscience.

They are judged to be good or evil.They are judged to be good or evil.

There is a distinction, although it is slight, There is a distinction, although it is slight, between the morality of an act and the between the morality of an act and the culpability of the actor.culpability of the actor.

The morality of human acts The morality of human acts depends on:depends on:

The object chosen;The object chosen;

The end in view or the intention;The end in view or the intention;

The circumstance.The circumstance.

These are the sources of the morality of These are the sources of the morality of human acts.human acts.

The object chosenThe object chosenIt is a good toward which the will deliberately directs It is a good toward which the will deliberately directs itself.itself.Called the Called the finis operisfinis operis, literally “the end of the work.”, literally “the end of the work.”The goal of the action, not the physical activity of the act.The goal of the action, not the physical activity of the act.When the will chooses an object toward which the act is When the will chooses an object toward which the act is directed, the intellect has made a judgment about directed, the intellect has made a judgment about whether this act is in conformity with the true good.whether this act is in conformity with the true good.There are objective norms of morality that express the There are objective norms of morality that express the rational order of good and evil.rational order of good and evil.The what of an act.The what of an act.

The intention or endThe intention or end

Resides in the acting subject. Also called the Resides in the acting subject. Also called the finis finis operantisoperantis (the end of the worker). (the end of the worker).

The end (object) is the first goal of the intention and The end (object) is the first goal of the intention and indicates the purpose pursued in the action.indicates the purpose pursued in the action.

The intention is the movement of the will towards the The intention is the movement of the will towards the end.end.

The intention aims at the good anticipated from the The intention aims at the good anticipated from the action undertaken.action undertaken.

The Why of an act.The Why of an act.

Object and Intention in relationshipObject and Intention in relationship

In determining the morality of an action it is the In determining the morality of an action it is the object of the action, not the intention of the object of the action, not the intention of the agent that is of primary importance.agent that is of primary importance.

A good intention does not make behavior that is A good intention does not make behavior that is intrinsically disordered (in its object), good.intrinsically disordered (in its object), good.

However, a bad intention makes a good act evil.However, a bad intention makes a good act evil.

CircumstancesCircumstancesThese are secondary elements of the moral act These are secondary elements of the moral act which contribute to increasing or diminishing the which contribute to increasing or diminishing the moral goodness of evil of human acts.moral goodness of evil of human acts.

Circumstances can also diminish or increase the Circumstances can also diminish or increase the actor’s responsibility for an act.actor’s responsibility for an act.

***Circumstances cannot change the moral quality ***Circumstances cannot change the moral quality of an act in itself.***of an act in itself.***

Good acts and Evil actsGood acts and Evil acts

A morally good act necessitates that A morally good act necessitates that allall three three elements (object, intention, circumstance) be elements (object, intention, circumstance) be good.good.An evil end can corrupt a good object.An evil end can corrupt a good object.Act whose object is evil can never be a good Act whose object is evil can never be a good even if the intention and circumstances are even if the intention and circumstances are good. This is because choosing an evil object good. This is because choosing an evil object entails a disorder of the will.entails a disorder of the will.

Situation EthicsSituation EthicsIt is therefore wrong to judge the morality of an act by It is therefore wrong to judge the morality of an act by simply considering the intention which inspire the act or simply considering the intention which inspire the act or the circumstances which supply the context of the act.the circumstances which supply the context of the act.There are acts which in and of themselves are There are acts which in and of themselves are intrinsically evil by reason of their object and can never intrinsically evil by reason of their object and can never be justified by intention or circumstance.be justified by intention or circumstance.One may not do evil so that a good can result.One may not do evil so that a good can result.This type of moral thinking is called This type of moral thinking is called Situation EthicsSituation Ethics and and has been condemned by Pope John Paul II in has been condemned by Pope John Paul II in Veritatis Veritatis SplendorSplendor..

SinSin

Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by perverse attachment to certain neighbor caused by perverse attachment to certain goods.goods.It is any utterance, deed, or desire against the eternal It is any utterance, deed, or desire against the eternal law. It is an offense against God.law. It is an offense against God.At the heart of sin is disobedience, a revolt against God At the heart of sin is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will.through the will.Sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus.Sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus.The root of sin is in the free will. Sin wounds charity in The root of sin is in the free will. Sin wounds charity in the heart.the heart.

Kinds of SinKinds of Sin

Distinguished according to their objects, or according to Distinguished according to their objects, or according to the virtues they oppose, or according to the the virtues they oppose, or according to the commandments they violate.commandments they violate.

They can be classified according to whom they offend: They can be classified according to whom they offend: God, neighbor, oneself.God, neighbor, oneself.

They can be divided into spiritual and carnal.They can be divided into spiritual and carnal.

They can also be divided into sins of thought, word, They can also be divided into sins of thought, word, deed, or omission.deed, or omission.

Gravity of SinGravity of Sin

All sin is serious!All sin is serious!There are two main distinctions according to gravity: There are two main distinctions according to gravity: Mortal and Venial.Mortal and Venial.Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart and necessitates Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart and necessitates sacramental reconciliation with God.sacramental reconciliation with God.Venial sin offends and wounds charity, but allows it to Venial sin offends and wounds charity, but allows it to subsist. Venial Sins weaken charity and manifest a subsist. Venial Sins weaken charity and manifest a disordered affection for created goods.disordered affection for created goods.Deliberate and unrepentant venial sins disposes us to Deliberate and unrepentant venial sins disposes us to committing mortal sin.committing mortal sin.

Conditions for a mortal sinConditions for a mortal sin

Three conditions must be met.Three conditions must be met.

1. Grave Matter: specified by the 10 1. Grave Matter: specified by the 10 CommandmentsCommandments

2. Full Knowledge of the sinful character of the 2. Full Knowledge of the sinful character of the act.act.

3. Full Consent sufficiently deliberate of a 3. Full Consent sufficiently deliberate of a personal choicepersonal choice

Unintentional ignorance can diminish or even remove the Unintentional ignorance can diminish or even remove the culpability for a grave offense. (culpability for a grave offense. (invincible ignoranceinvincible ignorance))No one should be ignorant of the principles of the moral No one should be ignorant of the principles of the moral law which are written into the heart of man. (law which are written into the heart of man. (vincible vincible ignoranceignorance))Feelings and passions can diminish the voluntary and Feelings and passions can diminish the voluntary and free character of the offense; external pressures or free character of the offense; external pressures or pathological disorders can also mitigate culpability for an pathological disorders can also mitigate culpability for an action.action.Sin committed through malice (deliberate choice of an Sin committed through malice (deliberate choice of an evil) is the gravest sin.evil) is the gravest sin.

Mercy and ForgivenessMercy and Forgiveness

There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit.the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit.Such hardness of heart can lead to final Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss.impenitence and eternal loss.““Where sin increased, Grace overflowed all the Where sin increased, Grace overflowed all the more.” Rom 5:20more.” Rom 5:20

The Proliferation of SinThe Proliferation of SinSin creates a proclivity to sin.Sin creates a proclivity to sin.Sin engenders vice by repetition of the same acts.Sin engenders vice by repetition of the same acts.Vices are called capital sins because they engender Vices are called capital sins because they engender other sins and other vices.other sins and other vices.The seven deadly sins are: pride, avarice, envy, wrath, The seven deadly sins are: pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, sloth.lust, gluttony, sloth.Sin gives rise to social situations and institutions that are Sin gives rise to social situations and institutions that are contrary to the divine goodness.contrary to the divine goodness.““Structures of sin” are the expression and effect of Structures of sin” are the expression and effect of personal sins. The constitute social sin because they personal sins. The constitute social sin because they lead their victims to do evil in their turn.lead their victims to do evil in their turn.

Cooperation in SinCooperation in SinSin is a personal act, but we do have Sin is a personal act, but we do have responsibility for sins committed by other when responsibility for sins committed by other when we cooperate with them by:we cooperate with them by:

A. participating directly and voluntarily in them;A. participating directly and voluntarily in them;

B. ordering, advising, praising, or approving B. ordering, advising, praising, or approving them;them;

C. not disclosing or not hindering then when we C. not disclosing or not hindering then when we have an obligation to do so;have an obligation to do so;

D. protecting evil-doers.D. protecting evil-doers.

Fortifying oneself against SinFortifying oneself against Sin

The practice of Virtue.The practice of Virtue.

Prayer, in particular asking for the grace to Prayer, in particular asking for the grace to overcome temptation (Our Father).overcome temptation (Our Father).

The Eucharist, which has as one of its effects The Eucharist, which has as one of its effects the protection against committing Mortal sin.the protection against committing Mortal sin.

Removing from one’s life those things or Removing from one’s life those things or persons that lead one into sin.persons that lead one into sin.