Catholic Morality

by Wilkins, Ronald J.; Gryczka, Mary E.; Savelesky, Michael, Ph.D.

• ISBN13: 9780159503355
• ISBN10: 0159503353
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-01-01
• Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(4)
Reflection	5	(1)
PART ONE: UNDERSTANDING MORALITY	6	(132)
How Moral Are You?	8	(12)
Becoming Your True Self	9	(3)
The Purpose of This Text	11	(1)
A Personal Moral Integrity Survey	12	(5)
Your Thoughts	13	(1)
Your Relationships	14	(1)
Your Actions	15	(1)
Your Decisions	16	(1)
Assessing Your Moral Integrity	17	(3)
Reflection	18	(1)
Summary	18	(1)
Words You Should Know	18	(1)
Chapter Assessment	19	(1)
What is Morality?	20	(23)
The Difficulty in Determining the Morality of Human Actions	21	(2)
Morality and Human Conduct	23	(1)
Conscience	24	(3)
Ideal and True Human Behavior	27	(3)
Weighing the Many Factors	27	(1)
Defining the Ideal	28	(2)
What It Means to Be Human	30	(2)
The Natural Plane	30	(1)
The Level of the Spirit	31	(1)
Choosing to Be Human	32	(3)
Catholic Morality	35	(2)
The Catholic Church and Morality	37	(6)
Reflection	41	(1)
Summary	41	(1)
Words You Should Know	42	(1)
Chapter Assessment	42	(1)
The ``Jesus Principle'' in Morality	43	(25)
What We Have Seen and Heard	44	(1)
Love of Neighbor	44	(4)
The Faces of Love	45	(1)
Applying the ``Jesus Principle''	46	(2)
Why the ``Jesus Principle'' in Morality?	48	(1)
The Mind of Christ	49	(3)
God's Love Is Not Selective	50	(2)
Love of Neighbor---Action Oriented	52	(2)
Jesus-Principle Guidelines	53	(1)
Faith without Love-in-Action	54	(1)
Christians' One Law: Love	54	(2)
Love Conquers Evil	55	(1)
The ``Jesus Principle'' Today	56	(2)
Saints through the Centuries	58	(6)
Mary	59	(2)
In the Service of Others	61	(3)
The ``Jesus Principle'' and You	64	(4)
Reflection	65	(1)
Summary	65	(1)
Words You Should Know	66	(1)
Chapter Assessment	66	(2)
The Importance of Law	68	(38)
Why Have Law?	70	(5)
Stages of Law	71	(1)
Observations on the Stages	72	(3)
The Practical Side of Law	75	(6)
The Tension of Personal Freedom	75	(2)
The Tension of Attitudes toward the Law	77	(1)
Tensions Regarding the Codes of Law	77	(4)
Understanding Law	81	(4)
The Purpose of Law	82	(1)
Categorizing Law	83	(2)
Different Kinds of Law	85	(13)
Natural Law	85	(1)
The Law of God: The Ten Commandments	86	(4)
Human Law	90	(1)
Christian Law	91	(3)
Church Law: Teaching Tradition	94	(2)
Church Law: Practical Faith	96	(2)
The Binding Force of Law	98	(4)
Laws with No Binding Force	100	(1)
Levels of Binding Force	101	(1)
Law as an Objective Norm of Morality	102	(4)
You and the Law	103	(1)
Reflection	104	(1)
Summary	104	(1)
Words You Should Know	105	(1)
Chapter Assessment	105	(1)
Confronting Sin	106	(32)
The Reality of Evil	107	(3)
The Mystery of Evil	110	(3)
The Beginning	111	(2)
Understanding Evil	113	(3)
Impersonal Evil: Evil That Results from Natural Causes	113	(1)
Evil That Results from Someone's Ignorance, Poor Planning, or Intended Good	114	(1)
Moral Evil: Evil That People Freely Choose	114	(2)
Sin	116	(2)
The Causes of Sin	118	(5)
The Dominant Factors	119	(4)
The Effects of Sin	123	(6)
Other Effects of Sin	125	(3)
The Problem of Coping with Sin	128	(1)
Sin in Relationship to What Is Considered Good	129	(5)
Determining the Seriousness of Sinful Acts	130	(2)
Hell	132	(1)
The Punishment Avoidance Syndrome	133	(1)
The Most Serious Aspect of Sin	134	(1)
Morality and Creative Responsibility	134	(4)
Reflection	136	(1)
Summary	136	(1)
Words You Should Know	137	(1)
Chapter Assessment	137	(1)
PART TWO: EXERCISING MORAL RESPONSIBILITY	138	(117)
Knowing Your World	140	(20)
Not By Ourselves	141	(2)
Influences on Moral Decision Making	143	(2)
The Factors	144	(1)
Inherited Factors	145	(5)
Physical Factors	145	(2)
Mental Factors	147	(2)
Emotional Factors	149	(1)
Environmental Influences	150	(8)
The Environment Itself	150	(1)
Social Factors	151	(2)
Circumstances	153	(5)
Reflection	158	(1)
Summary	159	(1)
Words You Should Know	159	(1)
Chapter Assessment	159	(1)
Creating Your World	160	(27)
Personal Development	161	(1)
Instincts	162	(1)
Habits	163	(7)
The Capital Sins	165	(1)
Virtues	165	(1)
Cardinal Virtues	166	(1)
Misunderstood Virtues	167	(3)
Goals	170	(4)
Kinds of Goals	172	(2)
Values	174	(2)
Philosophy of Life	176	(3)
The Top Ten Influences	177	(1)
Values and Their Effect on a Philosophy of Life	177	(1)
Shaping a Philosophy of Life	178	(1)
Moral Awareness	179	(2)
Formative Influences on Conscience	180	(1)
Spiritual and Religious Commitments	181	(2)
Religion and Freedom	182	(1)
Self-image and Choice	183	(4)
Reflection	185	(1)
Summary	185	(1)
Words You Should Know	186	(1)
Chapter Assessment	186	(1)
Making Moral Decisions	187	(28)
Taking Control	188	(1)
A Review	188	(1)
Different Kinds of Decisions	189	(2)
Instinctive Decisions	190	(1)
Daily Decisions	190	(1)
Serious Decisions	190	(1)
Critical Decisions	191	(1)
Difficult Decisions Teens Face	191	(2)
Decisions Decisions Decisions	192	(1)
The Nature of Decision Making	193	(2)
Considering the Variables	194	(1)
Moral Decisions in Our Complex World	195	(1)
Reaching a Decision	196	(10)
Pray	198	(1)
Analyze the Situation or Problem	199	(1)
Evaluate the Facts	199	(1)
List Your Options or Choices	200	(2)
Listen to Others	202	(1)
Pray Some More	203	(1)
Make the Decision	203	(2)
Evaluate Your Decision	205	(1)
Putting Decision-Making Skills into Action	206	(1)
Some Questions to Ask Yourself When Facing a Difficult Decision	207	(1)
Additional Information about Decisions	208	(7)
Reflection	213	(1)
Summary	214	(1)
Words You Should Know	214	(1)
Chapter Assessment	214	(1)
The Challenge of Relationships	215	(21)
Living Morally	216	(1)
The Challenge	216	(1)
Relationships	217	(2)
The Nature of Relationships	218	(1)
Roadblocks to Good Relationships	219	(3)
Jealousy	221	(1)
Negative Criticism	221	(1)
Communication: A Key to Being Moral	222	(4)
Mastering Communication Skills	222	(2)
Communication Involves Listening	224	(1)
Communicating Honestly and Truthfully	225	(1)
Pressures in Relationships	226	(6)
The Abuse of Drugs	227	(2)
Sexual Intimacy before Marriage	229	(3)
Handling the Pressures of Relationships	232	(4)
Respect in Relationships	233	(1)
Reflection	234	(1)
Summary	234	(1)
Words You Should Know	235	(1)
Chapter Assessment	235	(1)
Our Complex World	236	(19)
The Principles	237	(3)
The Ten Commandments	237	(1)
Jesus' Law of Love	237	(1)
The Beatitudes	237	(1)
Works of Mercy	238	(1)
The Precepts of the Catholic Church	238	(1)
The Steps in Moral Decision Making	239	(1)
Further Topics Catholics (and Others) Wonder About	240	(15)
Abortion	240	(2)
Artificial Birth Control Methods	242	(1)
The Care of Terminally Ill Persons	243	(1)
Child Abuse, Spouse Abuse, Family Abuse	244	(1)
Date Rape	245	(1)
Pornography	246	(1)
Homosexuality	247	(1)
Treatment of Infertility	248	(1)
Capital Punishment	249	(2)
War	251	(1)
Reflection	252	(1)
Words You Should Know	252	(1)
Chapter Assessment	253	(2)
Word List	255	(7)
Index	262