Ch 2 Review

#1 In morality we have to work hard to search for truth , and then we should act on it. One of the reasons we live in a world that has difficulty discerning right from wrong may be that people do not take the time to think.

#2 What is prudence and how is it related to other virtues? Prudence is “right reason in action.” It is related to other virtues because it guides them by setting rule and measure.

#3 What are the four major steps of the “STOP Sign” approach to moral decision-making? S- Search out the facts T- Think about alternatives and consequences O- Others- Consult them and consider how your actions will affect them. P- Pray to the Lord for guidance.

#4 Explain what is involved in a process of discernment. A decision-making process that attends to the implications and consequences of an action or choice.

#5 Catholic morality is based on reality, on the way things are, on how God made them and intends them to be. It is not based on wishful thinking.

#6 What is the meaning of the quote from Rudyard Kipling? The foundation of all knowledge we acquire comes from answering questions beginning with who, what, when, where, why, and how.

#7 What are the three major aspects of every moral action? The moral object (what) The intention or motive (why) The circumstances (who, where, when, and how)

#8 A what question helps us to determine if the matter of our action is good or bad, if it is directed to our true good or is harmful and destructive. Human reason helps us recognize and judge which actions correspond to our true good.

#9 What does it mean to call an action “intrinsically evil?” Actions that go against God’s will and destroy human good. They can never be justified.

#10 What does Pope John Paul II mean in the Gospel of Life when he says, relating to abortion, that we have to have the courage to look the truth in the eye and call things by their proper name? No word has the power to change the reality of something.

#11 What we do is incredibly important because God calls us to become fully human by putting him above all and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

#12 What are the various elements of an action? Actions… -Express who we are -Make or form us into the persons we are growing to be -Impact the world around us, doing good or bringing about harm

#13 True or False? According to The Splendor of Truth, “the morality of the human act depends primarily and fundamentally on the responses of others to the action.” False ..depends on the ‘object’ rationally chosen by the deliberate will.

#14 The answer to the why question gets to the motive or intention for performing an action. Because intention resides in the will of the subject acting, it is often called the subjective dimension in morality.

#15 What is an example of the importance of intention in the legal system? When it distinguishes between first and second-degree murder and manslaughter.

#16 True or False? Your motive or intention is a significant factor in judging the morality of the objective act. True

#17 What are the two rules for governing intentions? -Keep the intention good, -The end does not justify the means if the means are immoral.

#18 True or False? A bad intention cannot contaminate a seemingly good act. False

#19 What examples did Jesus teach to illustrate the importance of good intentions? -Giving money to the poor anonymously -We should fast and pray out of sincere hearts

#20 What does it mean to say that the end does not justify the means? What is one example of this? Good intentions do not make an act good if the means being used are evil. Examples: Cheating to get good grades, lying to help someone get a good job, etc.

#21 What are some motives or intentions people use to justify abortion? Fear of not being able to support the child.

#22-26 True or False? The questions of who, where, when, and how help reveal the intention of a particular moral action. False True or False? Circumstances can increase or decrease the moral goodness or evil of an act. True   True or False? Circumstances always make a difference in judging the morality of a case. False True or False? Time may or may not affect the goodness or evil of a case. True True or False? The how question (the means) may or may not make a difference in the rightness or wrongness of an action. True

#27 Taking the right action involves examining various possibilities before taking action. It also involves examining consequences of each action.

#28 What is the message of the ancient proverb about the blind men trying to describe an elephant? We have only partial grasp of the truth and we need to look at various vantage points to arrive at the whole truth.

#29 What virtue is the foundation of all human relationships? Honesty

#30 We should never act without considering the consequences of our actions. The moral object is the decisive factor but we should look at the possible effects of our proposed actions.

#31 What are some of the unfortunate consequences of sexual indulgence outside of God’s plan? STDs, unplanned pregnancy, emotional pain, and erosion of families.

#32 What’s an excellent question to ask when considering consequences? “Would I be willing to allow everyone in a similar situation to act this way?”

#33 What are two good rules to apply when considering the consequences of proposed actions? -Do only those things that you think would be morally acceptable for all people at all times -Always respect others as persons of incomparable worth who are made in God’s image

#34 Christian morality is very sensitive to the impact our actions have on others and recognizes that as human beings we live with others, and as Christians we live for others.

#35 What are two ways we show our consideration for other people? -Always ask how our proposed actions will affect others. -We must look to and heed the advice of those who are wiser than us.

#36 When people are involved, we need to take extra care to guarantee that our actions mean what we want them to mean and that they do not hurt others or ourselves.

#37 What is one common thread in several of the sayings quoted on page 61? “No one goes alone.”

#38 What are some of the guideposts the Church provides to help us make moral decisions? -The Magesterium -10 Commandments -Catechism of the Church

#39-41 True or False? The Magisterium of the Church refers to the Holy Father and the bishops as authentic teachers who have Christ’s authority to teach. True True or False? Jesus gave the Magisterium the gift of perfection which preserves them from error in matters of faith and morals. True   True or False? According to the CCC we are not obliged to observe the constitutions and decrees conveyed by the legitimate authority of the Church. False

#42 How does the CCC define prayer? The living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with his son Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit.

#43 What are some examples of Jesus taking time to pray? -Retreating to this desert after baptism -Before choosing the apostles -When he went to the hills/seashores after performing miracles. -During the dark hours of Gethsemane -When he was dying on the cross

#44  In the Our Father, Jesus invites us to call God “Father” and he asks us to petition that God’s will be done. If God is our Father, then we are brothers and sisters to one another treating everyone with respect and love.

#45 When we pray to do God’s will we achieve happiness by doing what is good for us and strengthening our faith to do God’s will for which we pray.

#46 What simple definition of prayer is given here? What are the two parts? “Conversation with God” Two parts: Talking and Listening

#47 What are the benefits of slowing down and quieting down to listen to God? We may discover new ideas or possible solutions to problems that we have not considered before.

#48 What secret does the Fox reveal to the Little Prince?

#49 According to Deus Caritas Est what does a Christian seek through prayer? …seeks an encounter with the Father of Jesus Christ, asking God to be present with the consolation of the Spirit to him and his work.

#50  Prayer is very practical because it enables us to meet Jesus Christ, who tells us of his great love and empowers us to see our neighbor as someone worthy of our love.

R and R (Pg 57) What six questions help us to discover the facts of moral cases? What, why, who, when, and where

#2 What are the three sources, the constitutive elements, of moral acts? Define each. Moral Object (What) The Intention/Motive (Why) The Circumstances (Who, Where, When, and How)

#3 Of these three sources of morality, name and explain the most important element: The moral object is the most important because some actions are intrinsically evil, going against God’s will and destroying human good.

#4 “The end does not justify the means.” What does this statement mean? To be a good action, the means must be moral. Good intentions do not make an act good if the means used are evil.

R and R Pg 60 Why is it important to consider alternatives and consequences in thinking about the actions you may take? Looking at alternatives is important because rearely is there just one possible way out of moral dilemmas. Considering consequences is important so that we can take responsibility for our actions, as most of our decisions affect others.

R and R Pg 63 #1- Describe the qualities of a person who is a good source of moral wisdom- Positive, loving, Christ-like, not afraid to speak the truth

#2 Define Magisterium. Why must Catholics heed its teaching in the areas of faith and morals? The Magisterium is an authentic teacher within the Church, comprised of the Holy Father with the bishops. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would always guide and preserve the Church.

#3 What is the Golden Rule? “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

R and R Pg 65 What is prayer? How can it help us to make moral decisions? “The living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with his son Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit.” Prayer can help us listen to God and help God guide us through our minds, feelings, imaginations, emotions, and memories.