CHAPTER THREE Law as a Guide to Freedom. Open textbook to p. 72 What is the lesson that can be learned from these two stories? Look to the Law.

CHAPTER THREELaw as a Guide to Freedom

Open textbook to p. 72

What is the lesson that can be learned from these two stories?

Look to the Law

Some possible lessons:There are limits to freedom!

a person’s reality is impacted by others;

reality may not be as you perceive;

we are responsible for our actions;

laws help us to be healthy/safe

Look to the Law

What does rationalization mean?

Definition.com: to ascribe (one's acts, opinions, etc.) to causes that superficially seem reasonable and valid but that actually are

unrelated to the true, possibly unconscious and often less creditable or agreeable causes.

Look to the Law

Making ExcusesRead the statements and decide if it is a excuse or a valid reason

for certain behaviour.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE EXCUSES THAT YOU HAVE HEARD?

OR USED??!

Look to the Law

Freedom, responsibility and law go hand-in-hand in the

moral life

Let’s take a closer look at Freedom.

Look to the Law

Responsibility

How would you define responsibility?

When have you had to take responsibility for an action/choice?

When have you had to take on responsibility?

Responsibility

Here are some open-ended cases. Write two conclusions to each:

-One a good, Christian action, the other an irresponsible, immoral response.

Responsibility

•You have worked hard for your money and for once have a good nest-egg saved for some personal items you want to buy. A classmate approaches you to ask you to sponsor her for a Walk to Fight Diabetes. She wants at least a $25 contribution.

Responsibility

•You have been told the identity of a classmate who has stolen something of value out of your locker.

Responsibility

•You have been told the identity of a classmate who has stolen something of value out of your locker.

Responsibility

•A coworker is teasing another coworker who has a speech impediment.

Responsibility

•Select one of the irresponsible actions described.

Give some of the rationalizations people typically would give

to justify this kind of behavior.

Responsibility

imputableAscribed,

attributed, or definitely linked to a

specific accountable

person or entity

If an action is imputable, someone can be held accountable for it.

Our actions have consequences, so we have to own up to them.

We must accept responsibility for directly willed or voluntary actions as well as not totally voluntary actions that stem from ignorance or negligence.

Responsibility

Emotions-Emotions are also known as feelings of

passions.

-Emotions are morally neutral.

-We have many emotions, the most basic one is love.

-Passions are morally good when they lead us to do something good; morally bad when they contribute to us doing something bad.

Responsibility

Emotions and Morality

Consider the “good side” and “dark side” of the following emotions:

Love, Anger, Joy, Fear, Desire, Sadness

Responsibility

In Union With Christ

Jesus is the fundamental norm of Christian morality.

Jesus is the standard or model on whom we should pattern our lives.

Responsibility

In Union With ChristResponsibility

norms

Guidelines or laws that can help regulate

human freedom

A norm is a standard, model, or pattern regarded as typical. We need a model of standard behaviour to help us make good choices.

In Union With ChristResponsibility

Process for Formulating Christian Norms

1. Christian community states certain beliefs.2. Beliefs lead to values.3. Values are articulated as principles.4. Principles are formulated more concretely into

norms (often stated as laws).

In Union With Christ

Source of norms are Scriptures, Tradition, and human reason.

Belief Values Principles

Responsibility

In Union With Christ

Complete p. 80 # 1-4.

-Tomorrow: Scavenger Hunt.

Responsibility

Law

Law and Morality

“An ordinance of reason for the common good, promulgated by the

one who is in charge of the community” (Saint Thomas

Aquinas, in CCC, 1976).

Guides human freedom

Protects us from license (doing whatever we want, no matter the consequences. Rules of

conduct

Serve as an objective standard outside ourselves against which we measure what we want to do

Elements of Law:

Law is reasonable.

Law is for the common good.

Competent authority makes law.

Law must be promulgated

(announced, made widely known).

Law and Morality

moral law

Law and Morality

-ultimately, all law derives from moral law

• God’s wisdom & goodness

• God’s instructions to live a good life

• conduct that leads to eternal happiness

• 4 expressions of moral law:

• - natural law, revealed law, civil law, church law

Example: Making good moral choices

natural law

Law and Morality

The reasoned participation of humans in God’s eternal law that reveals what God intends us to do and to avoid according to his wise

and loving plan.

Natural LawNatural law is our participation in the divine law.Natural law teaches us what to do and what to avoid.Natural law corresponds to three basic human drives and needs:

Preserving lifeDeveloping as individuals and communitiesSharing life with others

Natural law is universal, permanent, and unchanging throughout history.

Law and Morality

Natural LawExamples of Natural Law

“Do good & avoid evil.”

“Love your neighbour.”

“Care for your precious life.”

“Don’t commit adultery.”

“Don’t murder.”

“Don’t steal.”

Law and Morality

The Old Law

Also known as the Law of Moses

Ten Commandments summarize the moral prescriptions of the old Law

Law and Morality

Example: 10 commandments

The New Law

Divine Law has four purposes:It helps us stay on the right path on our journey to God.It helps us discern what is right when there are conflicting ideas of right and wrong.It speaks of motivation (intention).It indicates what is sinful.

Law and Morality

New Law

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the new law.It helps us understand the core attitudes that precede our actions.

Law and Morality

Example: Can be summarized in two Gospel teachings:

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” (Mt 7:12)“Love one another as I love you.” (Jn 15:12)

Law and MoralityVows taken to

poverty, chastity, and obedience in order to live the

Gospel more fully. The evangelical counsels were

typically embraced by those in religious

life.

evangelical counsels

The New Law

Law and Morality

• laws in a society, made by government• is a particular application of natural law for members of a given society.• Societies apply natural law differently according to custom & circumstances

Civil Law

Law and Morality

• not always good• in the past many societies legalized slavery, some countries legislate an inferior position for women• Catholics believe that civil law is morally good only if it conforms to God’s divine law & revealed law. We aren’t required to obey evil civil laws & must try to change them

Civil Law

Law and Morality

• Examples: •Driving laws•“Don’t drink and drive”•“Stop at a red light”•Tax laws•Abortion laws•Corporate laws•Charter of Rights

Civil Law

Law and Morality

-The state may not inflict the death penalty on anyone

-No driver may use a hand-held cell phone while driving the car.

-The government may not give any state aid to private (including Catholic) schools except for nonreligious textbooks.

Good or Bad Laws?

Law and Morality

-All passengers must be willing to submit to a personal search before boarding an airplane.

-No one may be permitted to smoke in a public restaurant, including all restaurants.

-Any vendor selling pornography to a minor is subject to a year in prison.

Good or Bad Laws?

Law and Morality

-Desecration of the Canadian flag is an exercise of free speech and not punishable as a felony or misdemeanor.

-Couples must be sterilized if they have more than one child.

Good or Bad Laws?

Law and Morality

ExamplesSame as revealed

law

Divine Law • 4 purposes:•helps us stay on the right path•helps us discern what is right from wrong•it speaks to our motivation•indicates what is sinful, therefore stifles our relationship with God and others

Highest Norm of human life

Law and Morality

ExamplesPrecepts of the Church

Church or Canon Law

• is the complete body of rules about the Catholic Church. It was revised in 1983 by Pope John Paul II.• is the civil law of the church• they are decreed by our church leaders (magisterium)• they are minimal obligations to God and each other

Church LawSix Precepts of the Church:

1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.

2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year.

3. You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.

4. You shall keep holy the holy days of obligation.

5. You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.

6. The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his abilities.

Law and Morality

Sermon on the Mount

Complete Handout.

Law and Morality

VocabularyFreedomDeterminismImputableLawNatural lawEvangelical counselsPrecepts of the ChurchCanon law