Norms of Morality

1. The Objective Norm: Law

(Ten Commandments/ Phil.
Constitutions)

2. The Subjective Norm:

Conscience
 1. The Objective Norm: Law

⚫ St. Thomas Aquinas defines law as “an ordinance of

reason, promulgated by competent authority for the sake
of the common good.” The law has 5 essential elements:
1. Law is reasonable decision, i.e. based on careful study
and research and , not a capricious whim.
2. Promulgated i.e., communicated with sufficient
notice to its subject while respecting their rights
and dignity.
3. By competent authority, i.e., by those who have
legitimate power to do so.
4. for the common good i.e., the social betterment of all
its subjects
5. Fair, Just and Honest – it must not be oppressive.
 Valid or Invalid Law?
1. Is the Terror Law hurriedly passed by
Congress to become a law valid or
not?
2. Why people are protesting against it,
especially the Church?
3. Based on the essential elements of a
valid law defined by St. Thomas, does
it comply with what is a valid law?
 Classification of Laws According to its
Author
1. Divine Laws are laws that come directly from God
(Ten Commandments).
Divine Laws cannot be changed by any human person.
Only God, as the Lawmaker, can change the Divine
Law.
Hence, the Catholic Church cannot allow divorce and
gay marriage because there is a direct command from
God who says:
“Man and woman, the two of you become as
one, whatever I joined together, let no man separate.”
2. Human Laws - enacted by the Church or
State authorities. These are derived from
the natural law.
a. Ecclesiastical Laws - laws enacted by the
Church
Example: Canon Law, Laws on validity of
Sacraments, Law on Fasting and Abstinence,
Feastdays and Holidays of Obligations, etc.

b. Civil Laws - laws enacted by the State or

Govt.
Example: Philippine Constitution, Republic Act,
Revised Penal Code, Executive Orders, City
Ordinances, etc
 Classification accdg. to Duration:

A. Eternal Law
Example: Love
B. Temporal Law
Example: Marriage
C. Natural Law - natural order of created things here
on earth around us known to man by reason or
senses.
Example: Sexual Acts
 2. The Subjective Norm:
Conscience
What Is Conscience?
- A practical judgment of reason upon an
individual act as good to be performed or evil to be
avoided.

God speaks to man through his mind, heart and

will. Man recognizes this as a voice calling him to
love, to do good, to avoid evil… because in his
heart a law is inscribed by God – we call
conscience. It is the most secret core, a sanctuary
where man is alone with his Creator.
Conscience

It is often described as an “inner voice”

which tells one what is right and what is
wrong.
CONSCIENCE

Conscience is not some kind of a built-in

machine which gives computerized answers
to all questions. It is formed and
developed as we grow and mature.
When can we use Conscience as a criteria
to determine what is right or wrong?
Conscience can be used as a
criteria to distinguish right from wrong
only in the absence of a valid law or if
the law is doubtful and unjust.
Hence, between a valid law and
conscience, law must prevail because
ordinary conscience can be biased and
subjective.
 Levels of Conscience

1.Instinctive – motivated to do
good because of the fear of
punishment and the desire for
approval.
2. Moral or Ethical – conscience is
capable of detecting the wrongness or
goodness of a certain action. The
capacity to choose good from evil is
empowered by the knowledge of moral
norms.
3.Christian or Religious – A Christian
or religious goes beyond fear and
knowledge as motivation for actions.
Love is the motivation in doing what is
right.
 Kinds of Consciences
Doubtful Conscience -A kind of conscience where one is
not sure whether his act is good or bad.
Scrupulous- It is a sick conscience that sees an act as
sinful even if it is not.
Lax - A careless conscience that makes light of a serious
sin or making it not sinful at all.
Erroneous or False - A conscience that sees something
right as wrong and wrong as right.
Certain – One is completely sure that the morality of the
act is as exactly as what the conscience dictates.
True or Correct - A conscience that judges good as really
good and evil as really evil.
 More on Conscience
Principles:
Always follow a true or correct conscience.

Strive for a correctly formed conscience.

Never act on a doubtful conscience.

Conscience can remain in ignorance and make

erroneous judgments. Such ignorance and errors
are not automatically free of guilt. If Ignorance is
your own negligence.
 Correct vs. Erroneous
Always obey the A TRUE OR CORRECT conscience!
Ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility –
failure to form conscience well.
At the source of errors of judgment may be found in
ignorance of Christ & his Gospel, bad example given by
others, a mistaken notion of autonomy or freedom, rejection
of the Church’s authoritative teaching, and lack of
conversion or lack of charity.
If ignorance is invincible, the evil committed cannot be
imputed to the moral subject for his erroneous judgment.
However it remains an objectively evil act.
 Choosing in Accord with
Conscience
Conscience can either make a correct judgment in
accordance with reason and the divine and natural law, or
an erroneous judgment opposed to this law.

In making moral judgments, we must always seek to discern

the will of God expressed in divine law.

The virtue of prudence assists us in this task.

Charity always proceeds by way of respect for one’s

neighbor and for his conscience: “Never do anything that
makes your brother stumble” (Romans 14:13).
The Formation of Conscience
Conscience must be informed to guide moral judgment.
A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It
formulates its judgments in conformity to reason, to the
true good willed by the Creator.
The education of conscience is a lifelong task. The Word
of God which contained God’s law and teachings serve as
the light for our paths. Our conscience must be educated
in accordance to God’s law and teachings.
Our conscience must be assisted by the gifts of the Holy
Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others and guided
by the authoritative teaching of the Church.
 Stages in the formation of
Conscience
1. Discernment
⚫ S-earch
⚫ T-hink

⚫ O-thers( consult experts or authority)

⚫ P-ray for enlightenment

2. Moral Demand
3. Moral Decision or Judgement
If you undergo these stages, yet you still commit errors,
your conscience is certain and you will not be
responsible.