Moral Theology (Life in Christ)

OVERVIEW

Facility in morally reflecting on the needs of today’s world and employing biblical, historical, Vatican II, and contemporary moral principles so as to better integrate Christ’s prophetic option for the poor and Christ’s call to discipleship into one’s own life and ministry; facility at doing this in a way that supports ongoing conversion, moral growth, pursuit of justice, and ethical decision-making within the individuals, families, communities, and institutions one serves.

OBJECTIVES

Moral Theology

1. Understanding of Catholic morality which embraces both the human person (personal) and the human community (social). CCC 1699-1948

2. Understanding of the key concepts of Catholic morality found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Catholic social teaching and contemporary theological reflection. CCC 1699-1948

3. Understanding of the moral teachings in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures (e.g. Ten Commandments, Beatitudes, Sermon on the Mount) and in the tradition of the Church as foundational to moral decision-making and moral living. CCC 1699-2051

4. Ability to help young people develop Christian consciences informed by God’s Word and reason.

5. Ability to enable young people to make moral decisions as Catholics drawing upon Catholic moral teachings and principles.

Components

Justice and Service

1. Understanding of the major justice and peace themes in Hebrew Scriptures, Christian Scriptures, and Catholic social teaching.

2. Understanding of the principles, processes, models and methods for the development of justice and peace education and service programs for youth.

3. Ability to use the process of social analysis and theological reflection in designing and implementing justice and peace educational experiences and service programs.

4. Ability to infuse justice and peace into all aspects of youth ministry.

5. Ability to collaborate in peace and justice education and service opportunities with parish and local organizations.

220, 320 & 420 THEOLOGICAL COMPETENCIES

220.4, 320.4, & 420.4 Moral Theology and Decision-Making

Knowledge	Demonstrated Skills
220.41 Familiarity with scriptural, theological and philosophical foundations and principles for Catholic moral teaching, conscience formation and decision-making.	Ability to refer individuals making moral decisions as Catholic Christians to the proper pastoral guides.
220.42 Understanding of the complex nature of moral and social issues.	Ability to apply moral principles to discussion of moral and social issues.
220.43 Familiarity with various pastoral resources available to the members of the parish community.	Ability to refer others to appropriate pastoral resources.

230.61 Understanding of the primary themes of justice and peace in Scripture and Catholic social teaching.	- Ability to identify issues of justice and peace in one’s ministry. - Ability to promote justice and peace in all aspects of one’s ministry.
320.41 Understanding of scriptural, theological and philosophical foundations and principles for Catholic moral teaching, conscience formation and decision-making.	Ability to provide individuals with the pastoral consultation needed for making moral decisions as Catholic Christians and to help people reflect critically on Catholic moral teachings as they make decision.
320.42 Appreciation of the complex nature of moral and social issues.	Ability to provide learning experiences in the areas of morality and decision-making, e.g., medical ethics, ecology, sexuality, etc.
320.43 Sensitivity to the controversial nature of moral decision-making within the Catholic Christian community, especially the school.	Ability to offer appropriate pastoral responses to issues of school controversy and to provide appropriate opportunities for a school to address current moral and social issues.
320.44 Familiarity with the variety of pastoral responses available for any moral or social issue faced by an individual or community.	Ability to articulate a response appropriate to the situation and to lead people to resources with which they can determine what is helpful to their situations.
330.81 Understanding of the themes and principles of justice and peace in Scripture and in Catholic social teaching.	- Ability to integrate justice and peace themes and principles into all aspects of one’s life and ministry. - Ability to participate in local issues, i.e. homelessness, poverty, unemployment, domestic violence, etc. - Ability to model through personal and professional arenas the interconnectedness of the whole planet. - Ability to situate study, reflection, decision- making, reflection in the context of responsibility to one world, one people. - Ability to model and encourage simple living and environmental values such as recycling.
420.41 Understanding of the scriptural, theological and philosophical foundations and principles for Catholic moral teaching, conscience formation and decision-making.	Ability to provide persons with the pastoral consultation needed for making moral decisions as Catholic Christians, for reflecting critically on Catholic moral teachings and for using Catholic moral principles in all decision-making.
420.42 Familiarity with the complex nature of moral and social issues.	Ability to provide learning experiences in the area of morality and moral decision-making, e.g. medical ethics, ecology, social justice.
420.43 Sensitivity in selecting appropriate pastoral responses to the needs of the school community.	- Ability to address current moral and social issues, especially controversial ones, with an attitude to respect. - Ability to provide learning opportunities for parishioners around current moral and social issues.

430 SPECIALIZED MINISTERIAL SKILLS

430.66 Parish Social Ministry

430.661 Understanding of social justice as rooted in Scripture and in the teaching tradition of the Church.	Ability to provide education methods which will assist the parish to understand social justice as constitutive of the Gospel and to act upon those convictions’ to foster a preferential option for the poor; to create an environment that is hospitable toward all persons, especially the stranger and the marginalized.
430.662 Familiarity with the variety of social justice issues.	Ability to provide programs and structures to education the parish about justice issues.
430.8 Familiarity with the major principles of justice and peace in Scripture and Catholic social teaching.	Ability to integrate justice and peace into all aspects of one’s life; to attend to local issues such as homelessness, hunger,; to model the interconnectedness of the whole planet; to situate study, reflection decision-making and action in the context of responsibility to one world, one people; to encourage and model simple living and environmental values such as recycling.

520 THEOLOGICAL STANDARDS

Understanding of	Ability to
520.14 The foundational elements of the Church’s social teachings.	Present an overview of the Church’s social teaching to catechists, parents and adult learners.
521.09 Scriptural, theological, philosophical, psychological foundations and principles for Catholic moral teaching, conscience formation and decision-making.	Explain the moral teachings of the Church to individuals and groups.

532 CATECHETICAL STANDARDS – MEANING OF CATECHESIS

532.4 Motivating to Christian Living and Service

Understanding of	Ability to
532.401 The major themes relating to peace, justice and Christian living in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, documents of Vatican Council II, Catholic social teachings in encyclicals and statements of the U.S. Bishops.	Incorporate Catholic teaching on justice, peace and Christian living into catechist formation sessions, parent sessions and adult religious education.
532.4021 The sections of the Catechism of the Catholic Church relating to personal Christian morality, social justice and responsibility for living in community.	Provide catechists with learning opportunities and personal guidance in becoming familiar with the Church’s social teaching in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
532.4022	Incorporate service opportunities, and reflection on these experiences, in catechetical programs for adults, adolescents and children.
532.403 The meaning of conscience and the principles and processes used in making moral decisions.	Explain a Catholic understanding of conscience and moral decision-making processes to catechists, parents, and adult learners.