Class #03

“The multiple ambiguities of ‘doing what we feel is right’ can be resolved in only two ways: either we agree that there are ways of acting which, in and of themselves, are worthy of being chosen (and others which are unworthy), whether we admit it, like it, or even know it, or we must admit that in finding fault with Auschwitz (which stands here for all of the inhumanity human beings have been inflicting on each other from the beginning), we have no coherent arguments at our disposal.” [XP, p. 5]

It would mean we cannot consistently say even very horrible actions are wrong (Dwyer’s “Auschwitz Principle”).

It would mean that we couldn’t intelligibly use the words “good” and “bad,” “right” and “wrong” in a public setting, because everyone could legitimately mean different things by these terms.

Therefore, it would mean that we cannot do ethics as a group because it would be foolish to raise questions of right or wrong if we can’t hope to be right or wrong about them!

And it would mean that we’d be contradicting ourselves if we ever said we shouldn’t judge or criticize another’s morality out of a respect for tolerance or diversity.

Good and Purpose Theology & Ethics come together

Theology tells you the purpose of lifeEthics tells you how to live to attain it

◼Rabbi Kushner: “The affirmation of monotheism . . . is a moral statement”

◼JP II on the “final end,” “purpose of life,” “definitive goal,” “ultimate end”Adding Jesus

Ralph Waldo Emerson: Ralph Waldo Emerson: ““What we What we are worshipping we are becominare worshipping we are becomin

g.g.””

◼“The affirmation of monotheism . . . is a moral statement.”

◼“The assertion that there is only one God is the assertion that issues of moral behavior are not matters of personal taste.”

The Purpose The Purpose of Lifeof Life

GoodGood

BadBad

GODGOD

““All people comprise a single community All people comprise a single community and have a single origin—God. One also and have a single origin—God. One also is their final goal—God.is their final goal—God.”” (Nostra Aetate, (Nostra Aetate,

§1)§1)

JesusJesus

“Good” is defined in terms of purpose or ultimate destination

God would be that ultimate destination from within a Christian worldview

That ultimate destination or goal or end that God is , for Christians, be known through Jesus, who is encountered through revelationSo, imitation of Jesus, following his teachings &

example fills in what the purpose of life isBut, how do we fill in what it means to imitate

Jesus for different moral issues?

vtvtHow do you see Bishop Untener’s analogy about the mapmakers and the terrain relating to the four sources of Christian ethics that Fr. Massaro explains?

identify four sources used within the Catholic tradition to derive moral positions

we will note how they overlap and what their limitations may be, and see how they could even be at odds with one another

By the end of class today, you will have grasped what it means to do Catholic + Christian + ethics

I. Scripture and Christian EthicsA. “starting point of Christian Ethics” (XP, p. 16)B. Limitations of Scripture?

II. Natural LawA. What the natural law isB. Limitations of Natural Law?

III. TraditionA. Role of bishops and popeB. Limitations of Tradition?

IV. Experience A. Bishop Untener’s map analogyB. Limitations of Experience?

Pope(“the Supreme Teacher of all the faithful”)

Pope(“the Supreme Teacher of all the faithful”)

BishopsBishopsMag

iste

rium

*Mag

iste

rium

*

(teaching is “one of the principal duties of bishops”)(teaching is “one of the principal duties of bishops”)

*Magisterium = the teaching authority of the Catholic Church

“A bishop must be … an apt teacher….” (I Timothy 3:2)

“[A bishop] must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it.” (Titus 1:9)

“The greatest power God gives us is the power to choose…. Do what’s right and avoid what’s wrong, and if you have any doubt about it, get out the Bible.”

From Ethics to GodFrom God to JesusFrom Jesus to ScriptureFrom Scripture to Church

= Catholic Christian Ethics