Our twenty-first century is governed by materialism, individualism and especially relativism which Pope Benedict XVI called “the dictatorship of relativism”. The individuals, especially young people’s searching for meaning of life, challenges Christians not only the way we live and witness our faith, but also the way we become Christ’s disciples. Many of us, especially our children, have been taught that there is no absolute. Because of that, many people disregard the teachings of the Church’s Magisterium, especially on morality.
The Importance of Christian Moral Theology
In the Introduction of Veritatis Splendor (The Splendor of Truth)), Pope Saint John Paul II wrote about this reality and the importance of proper understanding of the Magisterial teachings as follows:
Today, however, it seems necessary to reflect on the whole of the Church’s moral teach-ing, with the precise goal of recalling certain fundamental truths of Catholic doctrine which, in the present circumstances, risk being dis-torted or denied. In fact, a new situation has come about within the Christian community it-self, which has experienced the spread of nu-merous doubts and objections of a human and psychological, social and cultural, religious and even properly theological nature, with regard to the Church’s moral teachings. It is no longer a matter of limited and occasional dissent, but of an overall and systematic calling into question of traditional moral doctrine, on the basis of cer¬tain anthropological and ethical presupposi-tions. At the root of these presuppositions is the more or less obvious influence of currents of thought which end by detaching human freedom from its essential and constitutive relationship to truth. Thus the traditional doctrine regarding the natural law, and the universality and the per¬manent validity of its precepts, is rejected; cer¬tain of the Church’s moral teachings are found simply unacceptable; and the Magisterium itself is considered capable of intervening in matters of morality only in order to “exhort con¬sciences” and to “propose values”, in the light of which each individual will independently make his or her decisions and life choices.
In particular, note should be taken of the lack of harmony between the traditional response of the Church and certain theological posi-tions, encountered even in Seminaries and in Faculties of Theology, with regard to questions of the greatest importance for the Church and for the life of faith of Christians, as well as for the life of society itself. In particular, the ques-tion is asked: do the commandments of God, which are written on the human heart and are part of the Covenant, really have the capacity to clarify the daily decisions of individuals and en¬tire societies? Is it possible to obey God and thus love God and neighbour, without respecting these commandments in all circumstances? Also, an opinion is frequently heard which questions the intrinsic and unbreakable bond be¬tween faith and morality, as if membership in the Church and her internal unity were to be de¬cided on the basis of faith alone, while in the sphere of morality a pluralism of opinions and of kinds of behaviour could be tolerated, these being left to the judgment of the individual sub¬jective conscience or to the diversity of social and cultural contexts.
(Veritatis Splendor, # 4)
The Purpose and Contents of the Introduction to Moral Theology Class
The purpose of this class is to help attendants to review and deepen the most important norms that guide a Christian way of life and the importance of the centrality of the Person of Jesus Christ in the Christian moral life. These norms will serve as the basis for a thoughtful reflection on the moral life. This reflection will acknowledge the developmental character of human moral development. In fact, this is not a course presenting the moral doctrine and teaching of the Church, but only some main moral principles of these doctrines and teachings to help learners to know how to live as disciples of Christ in the world.
These are the main topics of the courses:
- Lesson 1 – Christian Morality and the Love of God
- Lesson 2 – Christian Morality and the Kingdom of God
- Lesson 3 – Christian Morality and the Call to be Human
- Lesson 4 – Christian Morality and the Process of Conscience
- Lesson 5 – Christian Morality in the Dynamics of Sin and Conversion – I
- Lesson 6 – Christian Morality in the Dynamics of Sin and Conversion – II
- Lesson 7 – Christian Morality and the Issues of Health and Life – I
- Lesson 8 – Christian Morality and the Issues of Health and Life – II
- Lesson 9 – Christian Morality and Human Sexuality
- Lesson 10 – Christian Morality and Social Responsibility
Hopefully after the course, learners will understand:
- What are key foundational principles in Catholic moral theology?
- What are conscience, sin, virtue, grace and human dignity?
- How do we apply Catholic Moral principles to questions of medical and biomedical ethics?
- What does Catholic Moral Theology have to say in the area of Human Sexuality?
- What does Catholic Moral theology have to say about the social order?
By understanding the above lessons, we can live in accordance with the Teaching of Christ, and with the grace of God, we will gradually conform to the One who invites each one of us to “Take up your cross daily and follow me” (Lc 9:23).
The Structure of Each Lesson
Each lesson is divided into 3 parts:
- Home Exercise before Class – before entering class, each learner is requested to read the reading assignments in advance and answer the associated questions. This part can be done individually, by group or by family.
- The Main Reading – The main reading would be from the text book, the CCC or links from the internet or handout from the class.
- Questions for reflections and discussion from the text book or handout.
READING MATEREALS
The Catechism of the Catholic Church in Vietnamese
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
or buy a hard copy of the CCC here.
Christian Morality: In the Breath of God by Russell Connors
You can buy the book here.
Vietnamese Bible (Old and New Testaments)
Translated by Nhóm Phiên Dịch Các Giờ Kinh Phụng Vụ
Translated by Fr. Nguyễn Thế Thuấn
Bible in English
New American Bible (Revised Edition) Online (Vatican)
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition Online
- or book form here.
- on mobile phone (both iPhone and Android).
