Transcript Look to the Law

CHAPTER THREE
Law as a Guide to Freedom
Look to the Law
Open textbook to p. 72
What is the lesson that can be
learned from these two stories?
Look to the Law
Some possible lessons:
There are limits to freedom!
a person’s reality is impacted by others;
reality may not be as you perceive;
we are responsible for our actions;
laws help us to be healthy/safe
Look to the Law
What does rationalization
mean?
Definition.com: to ascribe (one's acts, opinions, etc.) to causes
that superficially seem reasonable and valid but that actually are
unrelated to the true, possibly unconscious and often less
creditable or agreeable causes.
Look to the Law
Making Excuses
Read the statements and decide if it is a excuse or a valid reason
for certain behaviour.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE EXCUSES THAT YOU
HAVE HEARD?
OR USED??!
Look to the Law
Freedom, responsibility and law
go hand-in-hand in the
moral life
Let’s take a closer look at Freedom.
Responsibility
How would you define
responsibility?
When have you had to take
responsibility for an action/choice?
When have you had to take on
responsibility?
Responsibility
Here are some open-ended
cases. Write two conclusions to
each:
-One a good, Christian action,
the other an irresponsible,
immoral response.
Responsibility
•You have worked hard for your
money and for once have a good
nest-egg saved for some
personal items you want to buy.
A classmate approaches you to
ask you to sponsor her for a
Walk to Fight Diabetes. She
wants at least a $25 contribution.
Responsibility
•You have been told the identity
of a classmate who has stolen
something of value out of your
locker.
Responsibility
•You have been told the identity
of a classmate who has stolen
something of value out of your
locker.
Responsibility
•A coworker is teasing another
coworker who has a speech
impediment.
Responsibility
•Select one of the irresponsible
actions described.
Give some of the rationalizations
people typically would give
to justify this kind of behavior.
Responsibility
Ascribed,
attributed, or
definitely
linked to a
specific
accountable
person or
entity
imputable
If an action is imputable,
someone can be held
accountable for it.
Our actions have
consequences, so we have to
own up to them.
Responsibility
We must accept responsibility for
directly willed or voluntary
actions as well as not totally
voluntary actions that stem
from ignorance or negligence.
Responsibility
Emotions
-Emotions are also known as feelings of
passions.
-Emotions are morally neutral.
-We have many emotions, the most basic
one is love.
-Passions are morally good when they lead
us to do something good; morally bad
when they contribute to us doing
something bad.
Responsibility
Emotions and Morality
Consider the “good side” and “dark
side” of the following emotions:
Love, Anger, Joy, Fear,
Desire, Sadness
Responsibility
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.
Responsibility
In Union With Christ
A norm is a standard, model, or pattern regarded as
typical. We need a model of standard behaviour to
help us make good choices.
norms
Guidelines or laws
that can help regulate
human freedom
Responsibility
In Union With Christ
Process for Formulating Christian
Norms
1.
2.
3.
4.
Christian community states certain beliefs.
Beliefs lead to values.
Values are articulated as principles.
Principles are formulated more concretely into
norms (often stated as laws).
Responsibility
In Union With Christ
Source of norms are Scriptures,
Tradition, and human reason.
Belief
Values
Principles
Responsibility
In Union With Christ
Complete p. 80 # 1-4.
-Tomorrow: Scavenger Hunt.
Law and Morality
Guides
human
freedom
Rules of
conduct
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).
Protects
us from
license
(doing
whatever
we want,
no matter
the
conseque
nces.
Serve as an objective standard outside ourselves
against which we measure what we want to do
Law and Morality
Elements of Law:
Law is reasonable.
Law is for the common good.
Competent authority makes law.
Law must be promulgated
(announced, made widely known).
Law and Morality
moral law
-ultimately, all law derives from moral law
• God’s wisdom & goodness
• God’s instructions to live a good life
• conduct that leads to eternal happiness
• 4 expressions of moral law:
• - natural law, revealed law, civil law, church law
Example: Making good moral choices
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.
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.
Law and Morality
Natural Law
Examples of Natural Law
“Do good & avoid evil.”
“Love your neighbour.”
“Care for your precious life.”
“Don’t commit adultery.”
“Don’t murder.”
“Don’t steal.”
Law and Morality
The Old Law
Also known as the Law of
Moses
Ten Commandments summarize
the moral prescriptions of the
old Law
Example: 10 commandments
Law and Morality
The New Law
Divine Law has four purposes:
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
(intention).
It indicates what is sinful.
Law and Morality
New Law
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the
new law.
It helps us understand the core
attitudes that precede our actions.
Example: 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)
Law and Morality
The New Law
evangelical
counsels
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.
Law and Morality
Civil Law
• laws in a society, made by government
• is a particular application of natural law
for members of a given society.
• Societies apply natural law differently
according to custom & circumstances
Law and Morality
Civil Law
• not always good
• in the past many societies legalized
slavery, some countries legislate an
inferior position for women
• Catholics believe that civil law is
morally good only if it conforms to God’s
divine law & revealed law. We aren’t
required to obey evil civil laws & must
try to change them
Law and Morality
Civil Law
• Examples:
•Driving laws
•“Don’t drink and drive”
•“Stop at a red light”
•Tax laws
•Abortion laws
•Corporate laws
•Charter of Rights
Law and Morality
Good or Bad Laws?
-The state may not inflict the death
penalty on anyone
-No driver may use a hand-held cell
phone while driving the car.
-The government may not give any
state aid to private (including Catholic)
schools except for nonreligious
textbooks.
Law and Morality
Good or Bad Laws?
-All passengers must be willing to
submit to a personal search before
boarding an airplane.
-No one may be permitted to smoke in a
public restaurant, including all
restaurants.
-Any vendor selling pornography to a
minor is subject to a year in prison.
Law and Morality
Good or Bad Laws?
-Desecration of the Canadian flag is an
exercise of free speech and not
punishable as a felony or misdemeanor.
-Couples must be sterilized if they have
more than one child.
Law and Morality
Divine Law
Highest Norm of
human life
Same as
revealed
law
•
4 purposes:
•helps us stay on the right
path
•helps us discern what is
right from wrong
•it speaks to our motivation
•indicates what is sinful,
therefore stifles our
relationship with God and
others
Examples
Law and Morality
Church or
Canon Law
Precepts of
the Church
• is the complete body of rules
about the Catholic Church. It
was revised in 1983 by Pope
John Paul II.
• is the civil law of the church
• they are decreed by our church
leaders (magisterium)
• they are minimal obligations to
God and each other
Examples
Law and Morality
Church Law
Six Precepts of the Church:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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.
Law and Morality
Sermon on the Mount
Complete Handout.
Vocabulary
Freedom
Determinism
Imputable
Law
Natural law
Evangelical counsels
Precepts of the Church
Canon law