MORAL THEOLOGY.

Course Outline

This course will consist of a mere nine hours. The aim of the course is to introduce the students to the complexities of Moral Theology in our contemporary environment and to provide them with some of the appropriate hermeneutical keys that can be used in approaching moral challenges today. Each two hour session will involve a reading assignment to be covered for the next week; and at each session all students will be asked to give a contribution. The course will aim to strike a balance between foundational issues and practical issues, i.e. specific moral questions.

I.Thursday 14th May, 7 to 9 pm

Our opening session will consist of an overview of the whole course and our method of approach.

  • To what extent is Moral Theology properly theological? What is the difference between moral theology and ethics? Why does this difference matter?
  • A brief look at the definition of moral theology as given in Optatam Totius 14.
  • How do we ensure that morals are an intrinsic part of theology? What are the connections that need to be made between morals, liturgy, revelation, scripture and Trinitarian theology?
  • What are the dangers of an overtheologised moral theology? The necessity of dialogue with the contemporary world.
  • The importance and impact of Gaudium et Spes 22, 36, 16.

The role of scripture in moral theology. Why fundamentalism does not and cannot work. The role of the Old Testament in morals. The role of the New Testament in morals: the Gospels, the epistles, the Apocalypse. In particular we shall look at some of the following passages:

  • The condemnation of homosexual behaviour in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13; the story of Sodom (Genesis 19: 1-29); a very quick look it the similar story in Judges 19.
  • The second account of creation (Genesis 2:5- 3:24)
  • The story of David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11 and 12).
  • The story of Tobiah, Sarah and the Angel (Tobit 6-8).
  • Psalm 50
  • The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 29-37)
  • The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11- 32)
  • Is there a Biblical teaching re the death penalty? (The various Passion accounts and John 8:3-11, Luke 23:43, Matthew 14:13, Hebrews 13:12-13).
  • St Paul’s moral teaching (e.g. Galatians 5 or any other parenetic passage).
  • Does the Apocalypse have anything to add?

Sean Freyne, “The Bible and Christian Morality” in Introduction to Christian Ethics, edited E. Hamel and K. Himes, Mahwah, Paulist Press, 1989, 7-30.

William Spohn, “What are they saying about Scripture and Ethics?” in Introduction to Christian Ethics, edited E. Hamel and K. Himes, Mahwah, Paulist Press, 1989, 313-321.

Barry Birch and Larry Rasmussen, “The Use of the Bible in Christian Ethics”, in Introduction to Christian Ethics, edited E. Hamel and K. Himes, Mahwah, Paulist Press, 1989, 322-331.

II Thursday 20th May, 7 – 9 pm.

The role of conscience in moral theology.

  • How does the Church define conscience? A discussion of GS 16/ CCC 1776.
  • What does the Old Testament say about conscience?
  • What does the New Testament say about conscience?
  • The teaching of John Paul II on conscience: VS 54-64.
  • How consciences are formed, and the importance of conscience-formation.
  • Conscientious objection, and its practical implications.

The role of Law in Moral Theology, and the various types of moral law.

  • St Thomas Aquinas defines law: ST I II, 90, art 4. An essential definition, and why?
  • St Thomas defines what is meant by eternal law and natural law.
  • Objections to Natural Law theory.
  • Is Natural Law biblical?
  • Natural law in practice. How does Humanae Vitae deal with the question of Natural Law?

Summa Theologiae, I II, questions 90-97.

FC Coplestone, “Objections to Natural Law” in A Textbook of Christian Ethics, by Robin Gill, Edinburgh, T & T Clark, 1995, 120-127.

Gerard J. Hughes. “Natural Law”, in Christian Ethics, an Introduction, edited by Bernard Hoose, London, Cassell, 1998, 47-56.

III Thursday 27th May, 7 - 9 pm

The role of Norms in Moral Theology.

  • What is a norm?
  • Are there exceptionless moral norms?
  • The principal of double effect
  • The difference between deontology and ontology
  • The concepts of consequentialism and proportionalism
  • Does intrinsic evil exist?

Moral choices and decision-making with particular reference to the theory of the fundamental option.

  • What does it mean to be free? What is the meaning of free choice?
  • The concept of liberty in the teaching of John Paul II (VS 32-34; 35-42).
  • Moral autonomy, theonomy and theonomous autonomy? Which?
  • What is the theory of the Fundamental Option trying to tell us?

Sin and structures of sin.

  • What exactly is sin?
  • What is a structure of sin?
  • The role of repentance and prayer in the Christian moral life.
  • Moral teaching and the encounter with culture(s).
  • Two test cases for moral theology from the past – usury and slavery.
  • Test cases for moral theology in the future: question of homosexual relations; questions to do with development.

Peter Knauer, “The Hermanuetic Function of the Principal of Double Effect”, in Readings in Moral Theology No 1, Moral Norms and the Catholic Tradition, edited by C. Curran and R. McCormick, New York, Paulist Press, 1979, 1-39.

Richard McCormick, “Killing the Patient”, 14-20.

Nicholas Lash, “Teaching in Crisis”, 27-34.

John Finnis, “Beyond the Encyclical”, 69-76.

Josef Fuchs, “Good Acts and Good Persons”, 21-26.

All in Understanding Veritatis Splendor, edited by John Wilkins, London, SPCK, 1994.

Reconciliatio et Paenitentia, 14-18

Kevin Kelly, “The Inhumanity of Sin and the Humanity of Foregiveness” in New Directions in Moral Theology, London, Geoffrey Chapman, 1992, 118-137.

IV Saturday 5th June, 9.30-12.30 pm.

Different models of moral theology.

  • God as the supreme legislator.
  • The role of narrative and tradition, scripture and liturgy.
  • The part to be played by human reason.
  • The specificity of Christian Morality.

Applying this to specific questions chosen by the students from the following.

  • The status of homogenital relations in Christian morality.
  • The status of the embryo in Christian morality.
  • Environmental questions and Christian morality.
  • When is it right to kill, from a Christian point of view?
  • Can a Christian take interest on a loan?
  • Others may be added, subject to agreement.

Kevin Kelly, “The Christianity of Human Morality” in New Directions in Moral Theology, London, Geoffrey Chapman, 1992, 104-117.

Stanley Hauerwas, “A Qualified Ethic: the Narrative Character of Christian Ethics, in The Peaceable Kingdom, Notre Dame, Notre Dame Press, 1983.