Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap, San Ġwann
Formation of conscience (1)
Following the intriguing discussion on the thorny subject of conscience, I tend to emphasise the importance that conscience should be formed. Why am I opting to support this position?
In view of the Gaudium et Spes affirmation that “in the depths of his conscience, man detects a law which he does not impose upon himself, but which holds him to obedience” (§ 16), the Catechism of the Catholic Church rightly purports that “conscience must be informed and moral judgment enlightened” (no 1783). Further on within the same number, the Catechism evidently explicates that “the education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings.”
In order to prevent and protect conscience from its impending fallacious and arbitrary exercise, the Church wisely encourages an integral educational approach. Two paragraphs down, the Catechism details that in the formation of conscience, the Word of God, the examination of our conscience, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the witness or advice of others and the guidance of the authoritative teaching of the Church (no. 1785) are powerful means through which our consciences undergo a solid moral foundation.
The current fragmented moral milieu strongly calls for a reliable “witness to the light” (Jn 1, 8). The Church is surely the candidate which can fulfil such a guiding role. As a matter of fact, in his encyclical on the Splendour of the Truth, Veritatis Splendor, Pope John Paul II reiterated the dire need that consciences should be enlightened by the Church’s authoritative teachings. “Christians have a great help for the formation of conscience in the Church and her Magisterium…. It follows that the authority of the Church, when she pronounces on moral questions, in no way undermines the freedom of conscience of Christians. This is so not only because freedom of conscience is never freedom ‘from’ the truth but always and only freedom ‘in’ the truth, but also because the Magisterium does not bring to the Christian conscience truths which are extraneous to it; rather it brings to light the truths which it ought already to possess, developing them from the starting point of the primordial act of faith. The Church puts herself always and only at the service of conscience, helping it to avoid being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine proposed by human deceit (cf. Eph 4:14), and helping it not to swerve from the truth about the good of man, but rather, especially in more difficult questions, to attain the truth with certainty and to abide in it” (§ 64).
Finally, the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration on Religious Freedom, Dignitatis Humanae, asserts that “in forming their consciences the Christian faithful must give careful attention to the sacred and certain teaching of the Church. For the Catholic Church is by the will of Christ the teacher of truth. Her charge is to announce and teach authentically that truth which is Christ, and at the same time with her authority to declare and confirm the principles of the moral order which derive from human nature itself” (§ 14). How significant it is that such an affirmation was voiced within the context of a declaration that deals with the right of the person and of communities to social and civil freedom in matters religious!
As Christians we have both the right and duty to enlighten other people’s consciences by what the Church teaches on different issues that pertain not only to the domain of faith and morals but also those regarding various social and culture questions. The recent pastoral note on marriage and the family, emphatically advocates that “the Church is committed to convey these values (marriage and the family For its members who seek its direction, and for many others in society who would like to hear alternative views so as to be able to make a better enlightened choice as responsible citizens”. If we, by virtue of our baptism, are the Church, why not exercising our baptismal responsibility by conveying these values to other people, thus ending up educating ours and other people’s consciences in the process?
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Sabrina Borda
Sep 24th 2010, 07:38
You are absolutely right !
With a solid moral foundation the Christians Conscience is swayed by indoctrination. It has been hard work leading the flock to teach them what is "authentically the truth" and making them follow, lest they are subject to what you call negative influences. Yet it worked, because FEAR works wonders when it is instilled in ones conscience of consequences as all the while they preach "social and civil freedoms in matters religious".
You do a good job in your role for defence of what you preach and I admire that...... but if only you could understand that the way you have pronged conscience's has been without a fair balance and that luckily the history of human nature ultimately shows us what it really is.
Joe Xuereb
Sep 24th 2010, 01:09
3) The church of course tells me it's an intrinsic evil, disordered even. I don't think so. I make my own rules. I exercise true conscience. And I'm a good man for it.
A final note about monogamy. The issue of fidelity for married people especially, is a thorny subject. Sure, monogamy is desirable for the sake of child-rearing, etc. But it does not make it any more natural. Promising oneself to another for life is absurd and is the cause of so much that is troubling in marriages, the depression, the humiliation, most importantly, the domestic violence. Trouble in marriage does indeed start in the bedroom. Many are naive enough to believe that marriages fail because of lack of finances, bad housing, bad in-laws. I don't think so. If we're to save some semblance of marriage, we must stop barking up the wrong tree. And THAT would be a true exercise in conscience. And a tough one at that.
victor pulis
Sep 24th 2010, 16:52
Monogamy was accepted in the old testament.
This is what the bible says about bigamy. And the bible is the word of God which doesn't change...or does it?
Deuteronomy 21;15 If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not the other, and both bear him sons but the firstborn is the son of the wife he does not love, 16 when he wills his property to his sons, he must not give the rights of the firstborn to the son of the wife he loves in preference to his actual firstborn, the son of the wife he does not love. 17 He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father's strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.
Joe Xuereb
Sep 24th 2010, 00:56
2) Exercising of conscience does indeed require info. (as in making a decision of received information, absolutely necessary). The church tells me that my homosexuality is an intrinsic evil. So I mustn't 'do it' and I'll be saved. I prefer it my way. Sex is not a sin (it is god-given we are told). MY info. about that matter is that sex is fine, it brings people together, for half an hour, a week or a lifetime. And Nature (read god if you like) decrees that monogamy is not a fact of life but an aspiration (the incentive carrot being any number of self-serving agendas). I know this as a practitioner of the godly gift and no celibate is going to convince me otherwise. But it can be 'sinful'. As in 'the knock-on effect' - of anything in fact. If I have an infection and knowingly pass it on, that would be 'sinful'. Telling lies in or out of a relationship undermines people, so it's a social transgression, underming people and negating them valid experiences in varying degrees. And so on.
continued
Joe Xuereb
Sep 24th 2010, 00:51
1) @Joe Grima of Brussels and Mario Attard (sorry, you're not my dad. I had one once and that was enough). I, like everybody else, was born an atheist. This being Malta, my poor mother thought she's do me a favour and dowsed me in water and I paid a hefty price. I recently 'defrocked' myself with a certificate to prove.
So we have a duty to spread the word?! What?! even to non-Catholics? Of course not. Non-Catholics don't count. They are 'personae non existente' (or something like that).
So it's reckoned that without churchy guidance I would commit murder and sleep easy? I don't think so.
continued
Alex Ciantar
Sep 23rd 2010, 18:34
I have a suggestion to all the holier then thou that are shoving their religious mambo jambo down our throats..... ....how about turning your attacks on your own flock!!!! all those priests and nuns that are DIVORCING the church and also all those priests and nuns that are committing heinous and unspeakable crimes ......but everyone seems to be turning a blind eye to these untouchable people. can't you people get the hint YOU ARE ANNOYING and not getting anywhere with your ranting and raving!!!!
JOSEPH ZAMMIT
Sep 23rd 2010, 17:05
I cannot digest such arrogant, holier than thou comments.
“The Church is surely the candidate which can fulfil such a guiding role”—the CV of the church, however, leaves much to be desired.
It follows that the authority of the Church, when she pronounces on moral questions, in no way undermines the freedom of conscience of Christians.—History provides ample proof to the contrary.
So, follow an informed conscience; discard an uninformed conscience. And what is the TRUTH? All religions say they are the Truth!?
If your conscience tells you something contrary to the infallible teaching of the Catholic Church, do not follow your conscience because it will mislead you.—So, if my conscience tells me something contrary to Buddhist or Muslim teachings, is it still misleading or telling me the truth?
The Church puts herself always and only at the service of conscience, helping it to avoid being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine proposed by human deceit (cf. Eph 4:14),--- if this refers to other faiths then it goes without saying how intolerable and dictatorial the church is.
Joe Grima Brussels
Sep 23rd 2010, 13:24
Mr Reiff, what's wrong with the church teaching, apart from christian values to her followers,
'various social and cultural questions'? Don't you know, that many truths the church teaches, are accepted even by secularists and unbelievers? What is exactly wrong with the church's teachings, like: do not kill; do not commit adultery; do not give false evidence; do not steal;...to mention but a few? Do you accept these, HER teachings? Or are adultery, theft,
lies, and murders considered as virtues by you?
Mr Vella-Zarb, what exactly is the 'something better' you believe in? According to you, Fr Mario's contribution is worse than the 'better' you believe in, so you, together with Mr Reiff, consider yourself superiour to the Church.
wally vella-zarb
Sep 23rd 2010, 19:00
The "'something better" that I "believe in" includes the realisation that nobody has a monopoly on the distinction between what is good and what is not. Some of the teachings that you attribute to your church, the most important ones in fact, are not exclusive to it, are not original, and are a direct result of the development of civilisations the world over. We do not need your church to tell us not to kill, not to steal or not to lie; those basic principles are embedded in all of the established religions as well as outside of them. Can you imagine a charismatic leader like the Dalai Lama killing, stealing or telling lies? He does not belong to your church, yet he is widely acclaimed as being the closest to 'holy' that there is on this planet. A good man, through and through.
As someone once said, "Good men will do good, evil men will do evil; but for a good man to do evil, that requires religion".
victor pulis
Sep 23rd 2010, 19:14
Joe Grima Brussels asks,"What is exactly wrong with the church's teachings, like: do not kill; do not commit adultery; do not give false evidence; do not steal?"
Nothing really but one must remember that the church can boast of some of the most notorious murderers in history. There were even Popes who went to war dressed in armour. The church had Popes who fathered children and proclaimed them cardinals. How many 'heretics and witches were burnt at the stake on false evidence? How much of the church's vast wealth came as the result of stealing? yes, while on the subject of death and bones, the church has quite a few skeletons in its closet.
William P Flynn
Sep 23rd 2010, 12:58
This isn't about being "tempted by sin"; this is about people getting a bad marriage and want out so they can start a new life. The crushing weight of a bad marriage is a terrible burden and this silly idea that you must let it crush you is something no one has ever bought.
It's like a disease for which there is a cure but you're not allowed to take it. Too many thousands of Maltese baptised catholics; and hundreds of millions elsewhere have decided this doesn't work for them; it's always been so. It shall always be so.
And what's this "As Christians we have both the right and duty to enlighten other people’s consciences by what the Church teaches".
No you haven't! I deny you the right to "enlighten" me with your dark and miserable rules, fascination with death and dead bodies and bones and reliquaries. Tell me who gave you that right. That's not freedom of thought and democracy.
What do you think Malta is; a monastery?
Joe Grima Brussels
Sep 23rd 2010, 17:35
Mr Flynn, Fr Mario has no RIGHT to teach you, but a DUTY! And HIS and OUR LORD gave him that DUTY. He is obeying His master. WHO are you obeying and following?? Although I am to believe you are a baptised Catholic!!
Yes, the Catholic church has the tendency of dealing with dead bodies. You seem to forget that sometime in the future (may it be a long way off), YOU yourself will be one!
J Borg
Sep 23rd 2010, 17:47
Malta, thankfully, is not a monastery, Mr Flynn, life is not that strict over here. But what it is slowly changing into is shocking. From my younger days, there have been many changes on this beloved Island of ours: drugs, violence, illegal immigration, pressure for the 'rights' of divorce, abortion,....you name it. Some progress!! Most of this is the result of people prefering not to take heed of anybody's teaching, especially that of the Church. We are reaping the fruit of this attitude. Enjoy! You should be happy and feel proud now!
Chris Reiff
Sep 23rd 2010, 12:14
"As Christians we have both the right and duty to enlighten other people’s consciences by what the Church teaches on different issues that pertain not only to the domain of faith and morals but also those regarding various social and culture questions."
All I can read here is: We are superior. We are holier than thou. Our morals are the correct ones.
Can't you see what a disgusting attitude this is? 'teach' the people who want to learn more about your Church's morals, don't you dare feed them to the people who don't want to!
wally vella-zarb
Sep 23rd 2010, 12:21
Did you honestly expect anything better?
Alex Ciantar
Sep 23rd 2010, 14:23
and these people who think they are holier then thou are the biggest hypocrites around !!!!
David Borg
Sep 23rd 2010, 15:02
The Catholic Church has the right and the duty to teach Christian principles and to comment on social issues. It seems everyone has the right to express himself, but not the Church! The Church has a mission to teach both Catholics as well as non Catholics, in other words all humanity. She does not only speak only on relgious values but also on human and social values for the benefit of all humanity. Shouldn't the Church speak on the drug problem, the environment, conditions of work, the family and other issues?
Joe Grima Brussels
Sep 23rd 2010, 19:57
What is the 'better' that you believe in Mr Vella-Zarb. Please enlighten us, for we are missing all the fun. If the church teaches us to refrain from committing adultery, murder, false testimony, theft,...and YOUR belief is 'better' than this, does this mean that you relish in doing the opposite of what the church teaches us??
wally vella-zarb
Sep 23rd 2010, 20:15
@ Joe Grima Brussels
Rather than trying to be flippant I would suggest that you would be better advised to learn some basic logic as your comment is a total non-sequitur. Meanwhile, see my answer to your question further up on this page.
renald williams
Sep 23rd 2010, 11:45
1.do not want to enter into divorce issue
2. the Gospel words of Jesus surely quote… are powerful means through which our consciences undergo a solid moral foundation…
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the Rock… and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the Rock. Matthew 7:24-25.
May believers daily read the Gospels; follow Jesus, and be disciples of Jesus.
Peace… health.
Joe Zammit
Sep 23rd 2010, 10:50
For each individual conscience is the norm of moral conduct. This is the subjective norm, but it is always dependent because it is a norm which must conform to a higher norm, an objective norm.
Conscience must always seek first the objective norm of truth in order to be correct and valid subjectively. So, follow an informed conscience; discard an uninformed conscience.
If your conscience tells you something contrary to the infallible teaching of the Catholic Church, do not follow your conscience because it will mislead you. Your conscience is not infallible. So follow the infallible teaching of the Church. That is why Christ has set up his Catholic Church.
victor pulis
Sep 23rd 2010, 13:09
Your message is directed to catholics and only catholics.