Scripture
Why are Catholic and Protestant Bibles different?
Where does the Bible come from?
How do we know what's true in the Bible?
Jesus
Why is Jesus' crucifixion the centerpiece of the Gospels?
What does Jesus' second coming mean?
What do we know about Jesus' life?
Is Jesus really present in the Eucharist?
How do we know the Resurrection is true?
Sacraments
How does the Eucharist help us become the Body of Christ?
What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit received at Confirmation?
Why do Catholics confess their sins to a priest?
What is a sacrament?
How many sacraments are there and what are they?
What happens when we are baptized?
Why are babies baptized? Aren't they too young to accept Jesus?
What's the difference between Confession and Reconciliation?
What does the Sacrament of Marriage reveal to us about God?
If lay people are now called to minister, why do we need an ordained priesthood?
When should someone receive the Anointing of the Sick?
Morality
Isn't abortion basically a question of personal freedom?
Doctrine
Why do we speak of God as Father, Son and Spirit?
How is God's love expressed?
What is Mary's relationship to Catholics living today?
What does the Holy Spirit do?
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Catholic Moral Teaching
Catholics are called to live out their faith in daily life. As a consequence, our beliefs are more than just an intellectual construct for our lives, they are the rules by which we behave in everyday life. God sent His Son to free us from sin--meaning making us free not to choose whatever we want, but to choose the good for which we are created. This is critical to Catholic moral thinking: freedom means the freedom from things that would hinder our "yes" to God.
From a Catholic perspective, every human action has a moral dimension, and there are moral absolutes, real and revealed standards of right and wrong. When deciding the morality of our actions, we must consider what we do, why we do it and the consequences for ourselves and others. The starting point of moral thinking is that every act is a decision that brings us either closer to God, or farther away. Few of the things we do leave us where we are.
Some actions are ALWAYS wrong, no matter the reason: intentional killing of the innocent (note the qualifiers), torture, rape, sex outside of marriage. These actions are disordered in and of themselves, and will always draw us away from God. Keep in mind that there is no motive or consequence that makes an inherently disordered action acceptable. This is why the Church prohibits abortion: it is the intentional taking of an innocent life. Contrast that position with legislation that limits abortion: nearly all provide exception in the case of rape, incest or for the health for the mother.
Actions that are good can still be morally evil if we do them for the wrong reasons. Thus, an improper motivation can "spoil" an otherwise good act, and a good intention can never "cure" an intrinsically evil one.
In addition, there is an order to moral values. Take a look at the USCCB statement on Forming Conscience for Citizenship. It notes that the basis for all other rights is life, and that Catholic support for life from conception to natural death is something on which Catholics should not compromise. The Bishops have stated clearly that the most important issue of social justice for Catholics remains the issue of life.
More often than not, there are several moral issues involved in any given decision, It then becomes important to order the principles, and to assess not only motivations but outcomes to make a moral decision. This can all sound pretty complicated, but it's really what we do every day. The Church calls on us to do it with a well formed Catholic conscience--meaning a conscience that is educated in Church teaching and values.
One of the principles of moral reasoning you're likely to hear about is the principle of the double effect. Read "Muddled Moral Reasoning" for a detailed explanation, but the short version goes like this: if an act in itself is not intrinsically evil, it can still be permissible (though it is not required) even when the outcome of the action is negative, if the motivation for the action is morally acceptable. For example, it is morally permissible to attempt surgery on a baby in the womb, even though the procedure carries a risk of losing the pregnancy. The action (surgery) is not intrinsically evil, the motivation is proper (to save a life). Thus, in such a situation a pregnant woman could decide to go ahead with the procedure, but she would not be obligated to.
It is by such reasoning that the Church develops her answers to moral problems that arise over time, and when you understand the logic, the continuity of the Church's teaching becomes clear. If you are interested, check out the following link for questions and answers on Church teaching and moral reasoning.
http://forums.catholic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=4
A final note: Judging the morality of actions is necessary for us to direct our own lives to God and His will for us. It should not be confused with judging the state of the soul of anyone else. This we are not permitted to do; that sort of judgment is for God alone (remember "judge not lest you be judged?") Even when an action is morally wrong, the culpability of the individual depends not just on the action but on the individual himself. Personal and external circumstances can mean that an individual is less culpable for a morally impermissible act that it would otherwise appear. Bottom line: be prepared to understand Catholic moral principles in order to direct your own life choices and to instruct, assist and confirm those around you--don't fall into the trap of using those principles to criticize and condemn. With God's grace, strive to live the truth in love.
From a Catholic perspective, every human action has a moral dimension, and there are moral absolutes, real and revealed standards of right and wrong. When deciding the morality of our actions, we must consider what we do, why we do it and the consequences for ourselves and others. The starting point of moral thinking is that every act is a decision that brings us either closer to God, or farther away. Few of the things we do leave us where we are.
Some actions are ALWAYS wrong, no matter the reason: intentional killing of the innocent (note the qualifiers), torture, rape, sex outside of marriage. These actions are disordered in and of themselves, and will always draw us away from God. Keep in mind that there is no motive or consequence that makes an inherently disordered action acceptable. This is why the Church prohibits abortion: it is the intentional taking of an innocent life. Contrast that position with legislation that limits abortion: nearly all provide exception in the case of rape, incest or for the health for the mother.
Actions that are good can still be morally evil if we do them for the wrong reasons. Thus, an improper motivation can "spoil" an otherwise good act, and a good intention can never "cure" an intrinsically evil one.
In addition, there is an order to moral values. Take a look at the USCCB statement on Forming Conscience for Citizenship. It notes that the basis for all other rights is life, and that Catholic support for life from conception to natural death is something on which Catholics should not compromise. The Bishops have stated clearly that the most important issue of social justice for Catholics remains the issue of life.
More often than not, there are several moral issues involved in any given decision, It then becomes important to order the principles, and to assess not only motivations but outcomes to make a moral decision. This can all sound pretty complicated, but it's really what we do every day. The Church calls on us to do it with a well formed Catholic conscience--meaning a conscience that is educated in Church teaching and values.
One of the principles of moral reasoning you're likely to hear about is the principle of the double effect. Read "Muddled Moral Reasoning" for a detailed explanation, but the short version goes like this: if an act in itself is not intrinsically evil, it can still be permissible (though it is not required) even when the outcome of the action is negative, if the motivation for the action is morally acceptable. For example, it is morally permissible to attempt surgery on a baby in the womb, even though the procedure carries a risk of losing the pregnancy. The action (surgery) is not intrinsically evil, the motivation is proper (to save a life). Thus, in such a situation a pregnant woman could decide to go ahead with the procedure, but she would not be obligated to.
It is by such reasoning that the Church develops her answers to moral problems that arise over time, and when you understand the logic, the continuity of the Church's teaching becomes clear. If you are interested, check out the following link for questions and answers on Church teaching and moral reasoning.
http://forums.catholic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=4
A final note: Judging the morality of actions is necessary for us to direct our own lives to God and His will for us. It should not be confused with judging the state of the soul of anyone else. This we are not permitted to do; that sort of judgment is for God alone (remember "judge not lest you be judged?") Even when an action is morally wrong, the culpability of the individual depends not just on the action but on the individual himself. Personal and external circumstances can mean that an individual is less culpable for a morally impermissible act that it would otherwise appear. Bottom line: be prepared to understand Catholic moral principles in order to direct your own life choices and to instruct, assist and confirm those around you--don't fall into the trap of using those principles to criticize and condemn. With God's grace, strive to live the truth in love.
Final Impenitence
Msgr. Charles Pope always have interesting, thoughtful and challenging posts on his blog. The most recent one posted on links is a meditation on the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man. Take time to read it; I think you will find it worth your while. Among other things, he discusses final impenitence, and how repentance and being ordered to God and His will are linked. It gave me some very new insights on a familiar story, and it might be worth taking time to discuss n class.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
I Goofed!
Confession is March 25 5:30-6:30 at OLM and * at St. Gerard's. Given that I have managed to confuse this, check the Sunday Bulletin to make sure I got it right!
Monday, March 1, 2010
March 1
Next week we will continue the discussion of confession. Please read the linked material and try to listen to Fr. Larry's video. It's long but well worth it.
March 14, I will be out of town and Corinne Hennen will cover. The topic will be Catholic Moral Teaching. Please take a look at the links posted (and check again before class to see if there are new ones). We'll start with a discussion of the formation of a Catholic conscience and then move on to how moral reasoning works in the Catholic faith. Feel free to bring questions for discussion!
Confession at OLM is 5 to 6 on Wednesday, March 24. Fr. Lyness and Fr. Coyne will be there as will Msgr. Herbert. The three of them will also be at St. Gerard's in Ft. Oglethorpe from 6-7 the same evening.
Stations of the Cross are 6 PM on Fridays at OLM. This is a wonderful Lenten devotion, please try to come at least once during Lent.
If you have not called Msgr. Herbert to touch base about Easter Vigil, please do so. If you do not have your baptismal certificate, please let me know. Practice for Easter Vigil will be April 3 at 11 am. It lasts about an hour.
Last but not least, I am hoping to have a reception after the Easter Vigil at my home. Stay tuned for details.
March 14, I will be out of town and Corinne Hennen will cover. The topic will be Catholic Moral Teaching. Please take a look at the links posted (and check again before class to see if there are new ones). We'll start with a discussion of the formation of a Catholic conscience and then move on to how moral reasoning works in the Catholic faith. Feel free to bring questions for discussion!
Confession at OLM is 5 to 6 on Wednesday, March 24. Fr. Lyness and Fr. Coyne will be there as will Msgr. Herbert. The three of them will also be at St. Gerard's in Ft. Oglethorpe from 6-7 the same evening.
Stations of the Cross are 6 PM on Fridays at OLM. This is a wonderful Lenten devotion, please try to come at least once during Lent.
If you have not called Msgr. Herbert to touch base about Easter Vigil, please do so. If you do not have your baptismal certificate, please let me know. Practice for Easter Vigil will be April 3 at 11 am. It lasts about an hour.
Last but not least, I am hoping to have a reception after the Easter Vigil at my home. Stay tuned for details.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Saints' Names
Check out the links to the side for suggestions about confirmations saints. Remember--this is your chance to undo all the psychic damage your parents did by saddling you with a name you don't like! :-)
Folks choose their patrons for various reasons--and for nor particular reason. Prayerfully consider what you want to do, and your saint will probably find you.
Folks choose their patrons for various reasons--and for nor particular reason. Prayerfully consider what you want to do, and your saint will probably find you.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
February 28
Next week we will discuss the four Marian dogmas: Mary, the Mother of God, the Immaculate conception, Mary's perpetual virginity, and the Assumption. Keep an eye out on the blog for additional postings and links to read. In the Catechism, pp 251-254 are a good place to start. Keep in mind that Mary always points us to Jesus and the Marian dogmas all point to an essential truth of Christ. More later!
If I do not already have your Baptismal certificates, please get them to me. Also let me know your sponsor and saint name, when you have decided. Please also make sure you have touched base with Msgr Herbert to ensure that all your bases are covered.
Last but not least, check out the link tot he right: Undercover Boss. It is a great homily to keep in mind as we go through our Lenten journeys together.
All the best--BHG
If I do not already have your Baptismal certificates, please get them to me. Also let me know your sponsor and saint name, when you have decided. Please also make sure you have touched base with Msgr Herbert to ensure that all your bases are covered.
Last but not least, check out the link tot he right: Undercover Boss. It is a great homily to keep in mind as we go through our Lenten journeys together.
All the best--BHG
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