Section 1: Moral Theological Foundation

Five Moral Foundation Theory

by Johnathan Haidt, a famous political psychologist

Haidt and his fellow researchers present a framework of morality that shapes human reasoning. The
psychologists call this framework “moral foundation theory.” The theory is detailed in his book “The
Righteous Mind: Why Good People are divided by politics and religion” 2012.

1. Harm/care – is concern for the well-being of others and avoidance of harm.

2. Fairness/reciprocity – emphasizes equality and justice in determining right or wrong.
3. Ingroup/loyalty – gives importance to maintaining the cohesion of one’s ingroup.
4. Authority/respect – prioritizes fulfilling one’s own duties within the social hierarchy.
5. Purity/sanctity – is concerned with keeping the sanctity of one’s body and spirit.

The Catholic tradition, emphasizes several core tenets regarding marriage and human sexuality. Key
principles include:

1. Sacredness of Marriage
- The belief that marriage is a sacred covenant, a visible sign of God's love for humanity. This is often
rooted in Ephesians 5:25-33, where marriage is compared to the relationship between Christ and the
Church.

2. Unitive and Procreative Aspects

- Marriage is seen as both unitive (bringing spouses together in love) and procreative (open to the
possibility of bearing children). This is articulated in documents like Humanae Vitae, an encyclical by
Pope Paul VI.

3. Natural Law
- Moral theologians often draw on natural law theory, asserting that certain moral principles are inherent
in human nature. For example, the complementarity of male and female in marriage is viewed as rooted
in natural law.

4. Respect for Human Dignity

- Each person is seen as having inherent dignity, and any actions related to sexuality should uphold this
dignity. This includes mutual respect, consent, and the rejection of abusive behaviors.

The core tenets of moral theology perspective on marriage and human sexuality often vary among
religious traditions.