Elements or Factors to Consider
STOP METHOD
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Knowing the facts about the issue.
What are we talking about?
What are the significant reasons that may have brought about
the issue? Why?
What could be the origin or root cause of the issue?
Who are the people to be considered involve in the issue?
When does the issue usually happen?
How it is committed?
Elements or Factors to Consider
1. Jesus - What would Jesus want me to do? (Cite Biblical
Foundation: New Testament)
Remember: Jesus' moral code is the basis of an
action/solution. A love that is Agape.
2. Reason and Revelation (divine revelation) - In what way
the issue opposes/affirms the truth about man who can think,
meditate, reflect, create, can do what is right, can love, has
body to take care and who is free.
What does God say about this issue as revealed in the Old
and New Testaments?
3. Law - What particular law/s is being followed or violated?
Law presents our objective norm of morality against which we
can measure our behavior.
Categories of Laws
Natural Law - principles held and derived from the nature
and binding upon human society.
Civil Law - human law made for the smooth functioning of
group/s to which the individual belongs.
Divine Law - The Law of God. 10 commandments and
Beatitudes
Church Law - made by the leaders of the Catholic Church
based on the Divine laws.
4. Church - a.What do the teachers of the Church say about the
issue? What is the teaching of the Church about the issue?
Magisterium - The official teaching authority of the Church.
Teachers of the Church
Pope - the primary teacher of the Church (ecumenical
councils, Vatican Councils II, Papal Encyclicals)
Bishops - pastoral letters
Religious guides - priests, nuns, brothers and religious
teachers
Fellow believers
Think
Think about the alternative solution to your proposed action
Consider the consequences
Look at the problem or issue from many different angles or
perspectives.
1. Imagination - What are the possible alternatives?
What are the possible consequences of the plan at hand.
Creative imagination - point of study
Visualize the future or see pictures of the past
2. Values - What are the values involved in the problem or
issue?
The values in the alternatives or plan?
Remember: Values result from a process of valuing. It's a
real value when:
You choose it - you do it freely, from among alternatives
You prize it - you cherish your choice, happy, and willing
to say it publicly
You act on it - affirms you something and do so
repeatedly, so there's a pattern in your life.
Clarify the values:
Identify the values in conflict.
If possible, rank the values from the most important to the
least.
See if you can preserve the values by some compromise.
If compromise is possible, clarify and see what the most
important value is. Choose the most important.
3. Instinct - intuition and sensitive feeling, instinctual sense of
what is right and wrong in certain situations.
Others
Effect of the action or issues to others.
We exist by others, with others, and for others as social
beings.
We need to consult others and consider the effects of our
actions on them.
Elements or Factors to Consider
1. Imagination - How does the issue or the action affect others?
2. Conscience - In the light of my correct conscience, what is
my decision?
Pray
We put ourselves consciously in the presence of the Lord,
who is intimately concerned with how we live our lives.
We ask the spirit of God to help and guide us in our moral
decision-making.
We also reflect deeply on a problem or issue in the presence
of God.
As Christians, prayer is a powerful way to get God's help in
searching out His Will for us.