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Catholic Conscience
Investigation Presented by Alex Redondo Conscience in Catholicism • Conscience is the sacred inner core of a person, where God's voice teaches us to recognise and choose good over evil. As our "most secret core and sanctuary," conscience reveals our creation in God's image which helps motivate us and to love and act responsibly like god intended to. • It is more than just an emotion or a personal choice, it's a God-given gift that permits us to understand and practice ethical truth in our everyday lives. Personal Responsibility and Conscience Conscience is a personal guide that helps us make ethical choices It involves: We must develop our • Autonomy: Making choices conscience by: that align with our values • Learning right from wrong
• Accountability: Taking • Practising moral decision-
responsibility for our actions making
• Integrity: Acting consistently • Using God's laws to guide
with our beliefs our actions Why is our Conscience considered essential in decision-making? Conscience is essential for decision-making as it guides us toward what we believe is right or wrong.
It helps us: - Navigate moral dilemmas - Take personal responsibility - Connect with God - Build character - Promote the common good Natural & Divine Law Natural Law • What It Is: Natural law is our built-in sense Divine Law of right and wrong, though it can be clouded • What It Is: Divine law is given through the by sin. Ten Commandments and Jesus' teachings, which clarify moral truths when our natural • How It Works: People can figure out these understanding falls short. rules using reason and common sense. • How It Works: These rules are given • Main Idea: Do good and avoid doing bad. through religious texts or teachings.
• Examples: Taking care of yourself and • Main Idea: Follow God's commands and others, being honest, and treating people guidance. fairly. • Examples: The Ten Commandments in Christianity. Gaudium et Spes, para. 16 Explanation • Gaudium et Spes 16 explains that a "man detects a law which holds him in obedience" and "he's alone with God, whose voice echoes in his depths." The safest place of all is where you can hear God's message which calls you to reject the power of desires and avoid evil. Catholic Importance of Conscience Catholic View on Conscience • Conscience is seen as God's voice in our hearts • It's shaped by Catholic teachings and moral principles
Why Catholicism Matters
• Provides a specific framework for understanding conscience • Offers guidance on how to form a "good" conscience • Links conscience directly to God's will and Church teachings God’s Plan and Holy Spirits Role in Temptation God's Plan • God has a loving Holy Spirit's Role purpose for each • The Holy Spirit Conscience and individual's life. leads and Temptation • This plan includes strengthens • A well-formed living honestly and believers. conscience helps getting closer to • Helps assist in discern right and God. resisting wrong. • Following temptations and • The Holy Spirit your conscience making wise strengthens our aligns with God's decisions. desire to follow our plan conscience. Chat GPT Dilemma 4 Principles of Conscience applied to dilemma 1. Do Good, Avoid Evil: Keeping the money benefits them but harms the owner. Reporting it is the "good" choice.
2. Follow Natural Law:
Taking the money goes against fairness. Reporting or leaving it respects ownership.
3. Respect Others' Rights:
The owner has the right to their money. Keeping it ignores that but reporting respects it.
4. Act According to Reason:
Reporting avoids guilt and legal issues. Reason suggests the safest, most responsible action. How the 3 Elements Apply Action: The friends can take, report, or leave the money. Reporting it is the right action.
Intention: Keeping the money for selfish reasons is wrong. Reporting it shows good intentions.
Circumstances: Even though they’re in a remote area, the right choice remains to report the money. Reflection and Personal Insight on Dilemma Considering and reflecting on the dilemma of finding the money in a remote area with no one else around, I would choose to leave it as my conscience would remind me that taking the money would be wrong and unfair to the person who mistakenly lost it. I would feel responsible and guilty for taking someone else's money. My conscience also reminds me of my intentions, keeping the the money would be a selfish act even in a remote area which would make it even more tempting. Reference List • Johnson, A. (2020). Natural Law vs. Divine Command Theory. Convincing Proof. https://convincingproof.org/natural-law-vs-divine-command-theory/ Date accessed 7th October
• Kirk, P. (2020). Conscience and action.
Catholicidentity.bne.catholic.edu.au. https://catholicidentity.bne.catholic.edu.au/scripture/SitePages/Conscie nce-and-action.aspx?csf=1&e=M4qvq1 . Date accessed 7th October
• Simon, M. (2022). Understanding Conscience | USCCB. Www.usccb.org.
https://www.usccb.org/prolife/understanding-conscience Date accessed 9th October
