There is no doubt that within the Catholic framework of moral theology the human conscience is a very important instrument in shaping and transforming lives for the moral good. What many Catholic-minded Anglicans seem to not realise, when the issue of freedom of conscience is brought up about a person's moral choices in life, is that the issue of sincerity alone does not offer enough objectivity about how one decides whether or not an act is good. The ingredient of the 'object' is often left out of the equation and a realist approach to moral theology gets to the heart of this problem. For instance, in Gaudium et spes, no. 51, the point I am making is made quite clearly. It says, Hence when there is question of harmonizing conjugal love with the responsible transmission of life, the moral aspects of any procedure does not depend solely on sincere intentions or on an evaluation of motives, but must be determined by objective standards.This objectivity runs throughout questions surrounding acts of moral good and the freedom of conscience. For the Catholic framework of moral theology falls under the general teaching of the Magisterium more so than from dogmatic statements. Yet, the principle of moral objectivity within the above quotation remains the standard of checks and balances when determining whether or not an act falls within the category of good or bad.
Freedom of conscience can never usurp the magisterial teaching of the Church with regards to moral freedom. This is a point that many of my Catholic-minded Anglican friends seem unclear on when in discussions about Catholic moral theology. In CCC 2039, it reads, 'Personal conscience and reason should not be set in opposition to the moral law or the Magisterium of the Church.' I think these issues are very important when Anglicans make claims of being Catholic. Have we missed the connection of liturgical beauty and moral theology?
Conscience is always called upon to take accounts of the good of all, not a 'law of sincerity' but the objective moral law, natural and revealed, within the law of the Church and in the authoritative teaching ministry of the Church. To be a Catholic-minded Anglican, it seems to me, our teaching within the broad category of moral theology is to be lived out and taught as a result of incarnating Catholic liturgy. To not do so, seems to completely miss the mark of the role of the liturgy and its union with moral theology expressed within the life of sacrifice.
Here is a quotation for us to reflect on from Romanus Cessario, O.P.
The New Testament takes love seriously. 'He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.' To pursue counterfeit loves while imagining that one loves God is like trying to move both north and south at the same time. It is an impossible feat in the natural order, and an illusion in the moral life. Only the person who loves in the truth comes to know God.Any thoughts?
6 comments:
Have we missed the connection of liturgical beauty and moral theology?Father,
This is certainly a danger. A well-known American Orthodox monk, Fr. Seraphim Rose, said this: "Anyone who is attracted merely by glittering censers, incense and beautiful vestments, he, first of all, will fall down before Antichrist." It seems to me that for Catholics (Eastern, Roman, or Anglican), all these things must be held together: The right worship of God is not something to be taken lightly, of course, but it must flow from right belief and be oriented toward right moral action. The individual conscience, in all of these matters, is to be conditioned by Scripture-in-Tradition.
Any thoughts?
Here are mine:
(1) your position is - as always - circular. That is, if you insist that the only truth is that pronounced by a peculiarly narrow, though self-proclaimed 'orthodox', Catholicism, you will have no difficulty in 'refuting' the position of those who do not agree;
(2) while lip-service is here paid to some sort of notion of individual conscience, in practice that conscience is allowed absolutely no sphere in which to operate (because of (1) above);
(3) the example of 'objectively correct' sexual practice within marriage is peculiarly ill-chosen, because it rests on a mono-functional view of this activity; because very, very few RCs observe it; and because I doubt very much whether guys like yourself or Ed Tomlinson do either.
(4) those 'Catholic Anglicans' who according to you haven't thought their position through properly (i.e. haven't totally accepted (1) above) do so because in fact they accept the legitimay of Angicanism as a form of Reformed Catholicism - much as you yourself did in the not so distant past.
The non-anonymous John.
As you would know John, logic is not an absolute law to govern the universe. Plus, I have given a clear argument, and I quote from Monty Python sketch, containing 'a connected series of statements to establish a definite proposition.'
You haven't given an argument but assertions claiming to have knowledge that you do not have about my personal life. What you do know is that I have six children!
Freedom of conscience does not mean absolute freedom for there is no sane human who would ever believe such a whacky notion. So, I don't even think you believe in that...
The question is not so much about sexuality in this post though it is clearly an applicable example but morality in general. What I believe is the set of propositions in scripture, tradition and reason that is in conformity with the life of Jesus who called upon his people to have a holy way of life. That is the beginning point of all moral theology.
Have you noticed how often you bring things to the 'personal' level and then cry circular arguments all the time? Ah, I know, Red herrings love to fly this time of year.
Why are you not a Roman Cathoilc Fr Jeffrey? Your blog is wonderful, moving and profound: your grasp is alway right, you hit the nail on the head every time, your reflection is clear and always from the heart, you are honest and the reader is no bout that you up hold, live and teach the Cathoilc faith that comes to us from the Apsotles. Your priesthood is so impoaratant to you and with your Love for Holy Church shines through! You seem sad with The CofE and some times uncovinced of it and its works. I shall pray that God gives you the greace and crourage to become a Roman Cathoilc and with His Mercy a priest inside His beautiful but muckey Church. Thank you for a wonderful Blog. May Mary Mother of the Church and Priesthood lead into you in the way of truth and always keep you and your family safe in her motherly care.
Thank you burseandveil for your very kind words and of course for your prayers at this much needed time! Keep praying!
Jeff,
Your response to my perfectly serious post is cheap and low-grade.
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