1. Law as a Guide to Freedom
CHAPTER THREE
Law as a Guide to Freedom

2. Freedom, responsibility and law go hand-in-hand in the moral life
Look to the Law
Freedom, responsibility and law go hand-in-hand in the moral life

3. Freedom and Responsibility
Characteristics of Freedom
Freedom
“The power, rooted in reason and will, … to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility” (CCC, 1731)

4. Freedom and Responsibility
Characteristics of Freedom
The philosophy that holds that every event, action, and decision results from something independent of the human will.
Determinism

5. Freedom and Responsibility
Kinds of Freedom
External freedom freedom from factors outside of ourselves that threaten to destroy our power to exercise choice.
Internal freedom freedom from interior factors that limit choice.

6. Freedom and Responsibility
Limits of Freedom
Human freedom is not absolute but limited.
True freedom is not license.

7. Freedom and Responsibility
Abuses Against Freedom
Abuses of freedom results in sin.
Major impediments to the exercise of true freedom:
Ignorance – not knowing what we should do or not do
Inadvertence – not paying attention or being distracted while acting
Duress – freedom is impeded when someone tries to force us to do something
Inordinate attachments – money or other possessions enslave us and we do not act with full freedom
Fear – panic in the face of danger
Habit – repeated behaviors that are good (virtues) or bad (vices)

8. Responsibility imputable
Ascribed, attributed, or definitely linked to a specific accountable person or entity
imputable

9. Responsibility Emotions and Morality
Emotions are morally neutral. However, to the degree that they engage our reason and will, we can find moral good or evil in them.

10. Responsibility Jesus is the fundamental norm of Christian morality.
In Union With Christ
Jesus is the fundamental norm of Christian morality.
Jesus is the standard or model on whom we should pattern our lives.

11. Guidelines or laws that can help regulate human freedom
Responsibility
In Union With Christ
norms
Guidelines or laws that can help regulate human freedom

12. Responsibility
In Union With Christ
Source of norms are Scriptures, Tradition, and human reason.
Belief Values Principles

13. Law and Morality
Law
“An ordinance of reason for the common good, promulgated by the one who is in charge of the community” (Saint Thomas Aquinas, in CCC, 1976).

14. Law and Morality Elements of Law: Law is reasonable.
Law is for the common good.
Competent authority makes law.
Law must be promulgated.

15. Law and Morality natural law
The reasoned participation of humans in God’s eternal law that reveals what God intends us to do and to avoid according to his wise and loving plan.

16. Law and Morality Natural Law
Natural law is our participation in the divine law.
Natural law teaches us what to do and what to avoid.
Natural law corresponds to three basic human drives and needs:
Preserving life
Developing as individuals and communities
Sharing life with others
Natural law is universal, permanent, and unchanging throughout history.

17. Law and Morality Also known as the Law of Moses
The Old Law
Also known as the Law of Moses
Ten Commandments summarize the moral prescriptions of the old Law

18. Law and Morality Divine Law has four purposes: The New Law
It helps us stay on the right path on our journey to God.
It helps us discern what is right when there are conflicting ideas of right and wrong.
It speaks of motivation.
It indicates what is sinful.

19. Law and Morality The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the new law.
It helps us understand the core attitudes that precede our actions.
Can be summarized in two Gospel teachings:
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” (Mt 7:12)
“Love one another as I love you.” (Jn 15:12)

20. Law and Morality evangelical counsels The New Law
Vows taken to poverty, chastity, and obedience in order to live the Gospel more fully. The evangelical counsels were typically embraced by those in religious life.
evangelical counsels

21. Law and Morality precepts of the Church canon law The New Law
The minimal obligations for members in good standing of the Catholic faith community
precepts of the Church
The full body of officially established rules governing the Catholic Church, which was last revised in 1983.
canon law

22. Law and Morality Church Law Six Precepts of the Church:
You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
You shall confess your sins at least once a year.
You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.
You shall keep holy the holy days of obligation.
You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.
The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his abilities.

23. Vocabulary Freedom Determinism Imputable Law Natural law
Evangelical counsels
Precepts of the Church
Canon law