REASONS AND

IMPARTIALITY
• The Greek philosopher Aristotle
regard that human beings have
a rational soul that makes us
different with that of animals
and plants.
Rationality is the capability for logical
thought with the ability to reason towards
sound conclusions based on facts and
evidence, draw inferences from situations
and circumstances, and make sound well-
reasoned judgments based on factual
information.
Plants and animals are incapable of
complex reasoning and introspection,
much more so in distinguishing good
from bad and right from wrong.
A person is called “rational or
reasonable” when his beliefs and
actions conform to the dictates of
those principles of morality, or when
he is subjectively guided by them.
Reason is also identified with the
capacity that enables us to identify
“reasons” the particular
considerations that count in favor of
belief or action. Since human beings
are rational, they have “freewill to
strive for perfection.”
By achieving this fulfillment and
well-rounded development, they
would somehow attain happiness. It
follows that in order to be ethical, an
individual should decide on actions
that properly express his rationality.
Morality requires impartiality with
regard to those moral agents affected
by a violation of a moral rule.
Morality requires the impartial
consideration of each individual’s
interests.
Impartiality (fair-mindedness) is a
principle of justice holding that decisions
should be based on OBJECTIVE criteria,
rather than on the basis of bias, self-
interest, prejudice, or preferring the
benefit to one person over another for
improper reasons.
According to Rachels (2018), the minimum
conception of morality is: Morality is the
effort to guide one’s conduct by reason –
that is, to do what there are the best
reasons for doing – while giving equal
weight to the interest of each individual
affected by one’s decision.
 SEVEN STEP MORAL REASONING MODEL

1. Gather the facts;

2. Determine the Ethical issues;
3. Determine the principles which have bearing in the
situations;
4. List the alternatives;
5. Compare the alternatives with the principles;
6. Weigh the consequences; and
7. Make a decision
 SITUATIONS
Anjo confessed to Fr. Santino that he raped
seven minor-girls ten years ago when he was still
working as a seaman abroad. And that he was able
to escape criminal liability there because everybody
thought that he is already dead when their ship
wrecked in the ocean of Antartica.
 SITUATIONS

Meanwhile, he is presently the gardener of the Villaursula family here in

Biringan City. The Villaursula is a family which is very close to the
priest. Anjo also mentioned that though he is already a renewed man,
there are times that he feels sexually tempted to the youngest daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Villaursula. He also asked the priest not to tell anything to
the Villaursula family and promised to the priest that he will always keep
in touch with him especially at times that he feels tempted.
 Now the question would be…

If you are Fr. Santino, what would you do?

 REMEMBER!

The sacramental seal of confession is inviolable. Canon 9831

of the Code of Canon Law, the Catechism states, It is a crime
for a confessor in any way to betray a penitent by word or in
any other manner or for any reason. And that breaking the
seal of confession may be a reason for him to be
excommunicated.
APPLYING THE SEVEN MORAL REASONING MODEL

• GATHER THE FACTS:

Anjo raped seven minor-girls; he escaped criminal liability;

everybody thought he was dead; he now works as a gardener
of the Villaursula Family, a family who is very close to Fr.
Santino; he feels sexually tempted to the youngest daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Villaursula.
APPLYING THE SEVEN MORAL REASONING MODEL

• DETERMINE THE ETHICAL ISSUES:

Will Fr. Santino tell the Villaursula family about the
confession made by Anjo?

Vs

Will Fr. Santino keep the seal of confession/privileged

communication at the expense of endangering the Villaursula
Family.
APPLYING THE SEVEN MORAL REASONING MODEL

• DETERMINE THE PRINCIPLES

1. The inviolability of the seal of confession.

2. The inviolability of the privileged communication (Rules

of Evidence)
APPLYING THE SEVEN MORAL REASONING MODEL

• LIST THE ALTERNATIVES

Since, Fr. Santino could not break the seal of confession, he may suggest to Anjo
to bring the matter to Mr. and Mrs. Villaursula. Anyway, he is already a renewed
man as he claims.

Or another alternatives is for Fr. Santino to suggest to Anjo to halt as the

Villaursula family gardener and to find another job.

Another is for Fr. Santino to suggest to Anjo to face his criminal liability abroad
and to clean his conscience.
APPLYING THE SEVEN MORAL REASONING MODEL

• COMPARE THE ALTERNATIVES WITH THE PRINCIPLES:

In many cases, the principles resolves the case. Fr. Santino may advise
Mr. and Mrs. Villaursula to put a CCTV around their home to secure the
family.

Or Fr. Santino may also suggest to Mr. and Mrs. Villaursula to always
check their youngest daughter.
APPLYING THE SEVEN MORAL REASONING MODEL

• WEIGH THE CONSEQUENCES (BASED ON THE ALTERNATIVES)

Since, Fr. Santino could not break the seal of confession, he may suggest to Anjo
to bring the matter to Mr. and Mrs. Villaursula. Anyway, he is already a renewed
man as he claims.

Or another alternatives is for Fr. Santino to suggest to Anjo to halt as the

Villaursula family gardener and to find another job.

Another is for Fr. Santino to suggest to Anjo to face his criminal liability abroad
and to clean his conscience.
APPLYING THE SEVEN MORAL REASONING MODEL

• MAKE A DECISION

What would be Fr. Santino’s decision?

Or the better question would be, if you were Fr.

Santino, what would you do?