1. Forming a Catholic Conscience

2. Discussion What is your conscience?
Who is the voice of your conscience?
Why might it be difficult to listen to your conscience?

3. The Components of Moral Problems
Every moral problem consists of:
The moral object (what) – the action being contemplated
The intention (why) – the motive, the one doing the action, had in mind when performing it
The circumstance (who, where, when, and how) – which gives colour and texture to the moral object

4. Two Important Principles
1. The end does not justify the means.
A good end does not justify an evil means
Example: robbing a bank to give money to the poor
2. If any of the elements in an act are evil, the action itself is considered wrong.
The moral object, intention, and circumstances must be good

5. The See Judge Act Evaluate Model
Is there a decision to be made?
Who will the decision affect?
Is it a moral decision? (Does it have anything to do with loving God, myself, or others?)

6. The See Judge Act Evaluate Model
Analyze the options – use your conscience
Ask what the Church teaches using the Catechism
Learn from the experience of committed Catholics: the Tradition of the Church
Determine what the bible says: the Magisterium (Teaching authority of the Church)

7. The See Judge Act Evaluate Model
Determine what the most loving thing to do is.
Evaluate
How did my decision affect my relationship with God, myself, and others?