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![Vatican II Gaudium et Spes (
Art.16)
In the depths of his conscience, man detects a
law which he does not impose upon himself, but
which holds him to obedience. Always
summoning him to love good and avoid
evil, the voice of conscience when necessary
speaks to his heart: do this, shun that. For
man has in his heart a law written by God; to
obey it is the very dignity of man; according to
it he will be judged. [Cf. Rom. 2:15-16.]
Conscience is the most secret core and
sanctuary of a man. There he is alone with
God, Whose voice echoes in his depths. [Cf. Pius
XII, March 23, 1952: AAS (1952), p. 271] In a
wonderful manner conscience reveals that law
which is fulfilled by love of God and neighbor.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/conscienceandfreedom-140410055957-phpapp02/75/Conscience-and-Freedom-5-2048.jpg)
Uploaded byEdbert Prathama
Conscience and Freedom
The document discusses Catholic teaching on conscience. It defines conscience as the inner sense of right and wrong that enables individuals to discern moral choices freely. The Church teaches that conscience is not just a feeling, but rather God's law written on our hearts to help us love good and avoid evil. While we must follow our conscience, we are also responsible for forming it well through prayer, scripture, and Church teaching so it conforms to moral truth and not just our own desires.
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Conscience and Freedom
- 1. CONSCIENCE Catholic teaching onfreedom of Conscience Freedom of conscience is used to justify any belief or behavior inconsistent with Catholic doctrine and dogma
- 2. 1. Definition ofConscience “Con”- With “Science”- Knowledge
- 3. Conscience is NOT… The little voice A feeling A hunch The angel or devil on the shoulder Following the crowd
- 4. Conscience is theinner sense of right and wrong that enables individuals to discern moral choices freely.
- 5. Vatican II Gaudiumet Spes ( Art.16) In the depths of his conscience, man detects a law which he does not impose upon himself, but which holds him to obedience. Always summoning him to love good and avoid evil, the voice of conscience when necessary speaks to his heart: do this, shun that. For man has in his heart a law written by God; to obey it is the very dignity of man; according to it he will be judged. [Cf. Rom. 2:15-16.] Conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of a man. There he is alone with God, Whose voice echoes in his depths. [Cf. Pius XII, March 23, 1952: AAS (1952), p. 271] In a wonderful manner conscience reveals that law which is fulfilled by love of God and neighbor.
- 6. Comparing Catholic doctrine andsecular views Catholic View of Conscience Secular (Humanist) View of Conscience God's law written into a person's very heart. A law which man does not impose on himself, because it comes from God. Love good, avoid evil, love God and neighbor - always. To be obeyed. Offers a person his/her very dignity. Moral sense or inner feeling Emanates from within the person („sense‟ or „feeling‟ No guidance as to what "goodness" means. Therefore, anything goes as long as the "conscience is clear.“ Just another factor which affects behavior. Dignity is ignored.
- 7. Church says about conscience… You must follow your conscience You must act with certain conscience You may not act with doubtful conscience You are very responsible if you act with a lax conscience Not wrong if you act with certain wrong or scrupulous
- 8. Should I alwaysfollow my conscience? Catholic Church says YES but you must make a sincere effort to form and inform your conscience rightly and honestly. Does your conscience talk to you? What does it say? ◦ What you want to hear or what you need to hear?
- 9. What do youdo to change a doubtful conscience to a certain one?
- 10. Check scripture Ask what would Jesus do? Ask parents what they would do Ask an authority Check Church teaching Pray
- 11. How do youfollow your conscience responsibly? Form it well ◦ A well-formed conscience means: research, dialogue, patience, listenin g, praying, reflecting, discipline, trus t.
- 12. Forming your conscience Internal sources: ◦ God speaking to our heart (prayer and listening) External sources: ◦ Moral teaching of the Church, Scripture, talking to theologians ◦ Parent/family/friends‟ behavior and our own experience
- 13. GUILTY Warranted and unwarranted ◦Warranted Guilt a sign of a healthy conscience ◦ Two ways to know your guilt is warranted You know the act is wrong You do it anyway
- 14. Guilt versus Shame GUILT is internal feeling ◦ Focuses on action: what I did SHAME is external ◦ focuses us on „who you are as a person‟ – feeling bad about who you are
- 15. Knowledge of Rightand Wrong Hitting is wrong Sharing is right When in those situations you remember hitting=wrong, sharing=right
- 16. Values and Principles Dad says, “Honesty is good…” Grandma says, “Family is important…” Life, love, honesty, trust, equality, justi ce, mercy, compassion, forgiveness
- 17. Ability to FreelyChoose Free will Choose love Choose what is good and right
- 18. Desire to doGood Sometimes difficult to choose the real good However we desire what we see as good Must put in good information
- 19. Therefore Conscience… Developsfrom childhood until death
- 20. Nature of aConscience Knowledge of Right and Wrong Values and Principles Ability to Choose Freely The Urge to do what is Good
- 21. Can a persondo what is bad yet his/her conscience sees it as a good?
- 22.
- 23. 1. Certain Right Sees good as good Bad as bad
- 24. 2. Certain Wrong Good as good Bad as bad Sometime bad as good
- 25. 3. Doubtful Unsurewhether good or bad
- 26. 4. Lax Knowwhat is good and bad Aren‟t sure what they want to do Lazy about making decision
- 27. 5. Scrupulous Legalistic Sees good things as bad Mental disability Fear they are always wrong
- 28. How do youknow if your conscience is being well formed?
- 29. Child‟s Conscience Performsactions for approval and acceptance Is mainly interested in own goodness Repeats actions without growing or changing
- 30. Responds tothe order of an authority figure Isolates each act from others Is concerned with the past and how it fixes past mistakes
- 31. Adult Conscience Actsout of love for people involved and self respect Is mainly interested in protecting the value at stake Functions creatively in each situation
- 32. Responds tovalues whether or not an authority figure is around Connects each act to a large pattern of living Is concerned with the future and how to grow more capable of judging. Determines the amount of guilt by the harm done to the value.
- 33. What does itmean to use our conscience? Use our head Trying to do the most loving and least harmful thing in a situation
- 34. Making Conscientious Judgments Mustmake moral decisions freely Catholic teaching tells us ◦ When we act according to our conscience, we are living in good faith ◦ We must form our conscience correctly, and then follow it ◦ Catholics must base decisions of conscience on prayer, study, Church teaching
- 35. Conscientious: thoroughand careful about doing what is right Learn from our experiences and the experiences of others Follow a well informed conscience and the truth as we see it
- 36. The Church andIndividual Conscience Pope and other church leaders ◦ Guide Catholics in understanding and applying Jesus‟ message ◦ It is not to make decisions for us We have an obligation to seek what is right and true God has given us free will and the ability to use it by reasoning and acting according to truth