Morality: The Truth of the Matter
by Fr. Jim Whalen
The dependence of Christian morality on Catholic faith is clearly synthesized in Pope John Paul II’s encyclical: “Veritatis Splendor1” (V.S.). Fr. John A. Hardon points out that pro-life disciples look to Pope John Paul II for moral discernment in this document. There cannot be any Christian morality unless it is based on Christian truth. Whereas faith identifies what we are to believe with our minds, morality identifies what we are to choose with our wills. Modern man, surrounded by the ‘culture of death’, has lost his grasp and understanding of truth. He is confused and wanders, searching for a freedom apart from truth. Truth, in Christ’s own words, is to shine forth and witness to the world. This ‘shining forth’ may be called Christian Morality, but it is authentic Christian morality only if based on the truth as revealed by Christ, and in Christ. He is truth (Catechism on the Splendor of Truth, Rev. John A. Hardon, S.J., 1996, p. 4)2.
The Underlying Purpose
The underlying purpose of this document is to offer a synthesis of the Church’s moral teaching in regard to human sexuality, the family, and the social, economic and political life as founded on the Gospel and explained by the Church’s Magesterium (V.S. #4). Pope John Paul II presents the principles necessary for proper discernment in sound moral doctrine, answering the questions: 1) What is man? 2) What is the meaning and purpose of our lives? 3) What is good and evil? 4) What is the purpose of suffering? 5) What is the way to attain true happiness? and 6) What is death?. The fact is that in our society, in our world today, we have an epidemic of modern errors of serious dissent, which deny or destroy the Church’s moral teachings (V.S. #4). Catholic moral doctrine is being called into question on the basis of certain presuppositions. The existence of natural law is often rejected, along with the permanence, universality and unchangeable validity of the precepts of natural law. Being rejected as well is the Church’s right to tell individuals that some actions are objectively wrong (V.S. #4). In higher institutions of learning, and in some seminaries and Faculties of Theology, prevalent errors abound: the possibility of loving God and one’s neighbour without obeying the ten commandments; faith alone is sufficient to be a Catholic; there is no necessary and unbreakable bond between faith and morality. In the area of sexual and conjugal ethics, some moralists claim that each person is to decide for himself what is right or wrong in regard to contraception, direct sterilization, homosexuality, masturbation, premarital sexual relations, and artificial insemination. The most basic atheistic error is that of separating human freedom from dependence on God, making the subjective conscience a ruler in moral matters apart from the mind and will of God. Conscience becomes the final judge for each person regarding what is right or wrong, independent of the objective laws of God (V.S. #32). Genuine freedom is the freedom we have to choose to do God’s will (V.S. #34).
Essentials of the Church’s Moral Teaching
Whereas, the Catechism of the Catholic Church is a systematic exposition of Christian moral teaching, the Splendor of Truth encyclical focuses on the ‘principles of Christian morality’ and exposes dissenting, deceptive and erroneous teachings, along with their destructive consequences. The essential elements of the Church’s moral teachings are: a) Man’s subordination to the mind and will of God, b) human morality as the condition for attaining eternal life, c) the following of Christ, d) the need of the Holy Spirit to provide the source and means for living out the ‘new creation’ brought into the world by Jesus Christ (V.S. #28). In Christian morality, the doctrine has remained constant, with a growth in understanding, clarity and applicability of this revealed truth.
Basic Concepts of Moral Law
Many people today find themselves uncertain and burdened with weakness and sinfulness, for they have abandoned Christ. It is only by returning to Christ that they will come to know their purpose in life. He is the only true answer to their needs. The basic truth that God alone is ‘the One who is good’ forms the core of moral law. By observing the basic laws, the Decalogue, the will of God, Christ teaches us the meaning of life and the way to obtain supernatural light for our minds as well as happiness, a foretaste of eternal life (V.S. #12). In the commandments we have five precepts, basic concepts for loving God and our neighbour, foundational laws of safeguarding the dignity of the human person and the solidarity of human society: 1) the sanctity of life, 2) the communion of persons in marriage and the family, 3) the right to private property, 4) the need for truthfulness in human communication, 5) the right to one’s good name (V.S. #13).
Invitation to Follow Christ
How the followers of Christ are to keep the commandments is outlined in the ‘Sermon on the Mount’, the Magna Carta of Christian morality (V.S. #15). Christ’s moral teaching is found in the eight beatitudes which are invitations to follow in his footsteps, to detach ourselves from all creatures and then follow Him along the path of love: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”. Both the self-denial and the Cross are expressions of our selfless love for others (V.S. #20). The peak of our assimilation to Christ is the sharing in the Eucharist, the Sacrament of the New Covenant, because the Eucharist is Christ, the source of our eternal life and the source of our total self-giving to others out of love of God (V.S. #21). We can persevere in our love for God and our neighbour if we cooperate with God’s grace by keeping His commandments. It is the gift of charity or supernatural love, which enables us to keep the commandments of God, because we love Him (V.S. #23).
Eternal Law and Man’s Destiny
We are guided to our destiny by ‘Eternal Law’, the eternal reason of the Creator and Ruler of the universe:
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psalm 19 (18): 8-9; V.S. #44)
The law of God is the law of the Holy Spirit, dwelling in our hearts by His grace, teaching us what He wants us to do, while at the same time, inclining our affections to want to do His will out of love (V.S. #45). We shape our lives to be conformed to the image of God’s Son, fulfilling the destiny for which we were made, for which we are predestined by God (V.S. #45). The acid test of our love of God is to be prepared to die rather than sin, rather than do evil. Christ’s teachings made this truth clear to us: “If you wish to have eternal life, keep the commandments” (Mt 19:17; V.S. #52). The teaching of Christ is the basis for Catholic morality. We depend on God to tell us what is right and wrong. We depend on God to provide us with the grace we need to be submissive to His divine will (V.S. #46). V
1 A copy of Veritatis Splendor is available free of charge to members of Priests for Life Canada. Additional copies are $2.00 plus shipping. This encyclical is also available in various languages on the Internet at: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/index.htm
2The Catechism on the Splendor of Truth by Rev. John A. Hardon, S.J., can be ordered from: Eternal Life, 902 W. Stephen Foster Ave. Bardstown, KY 40004, USA; Tel: 800-842-2871; Fax: 502-348-2224; $2.50US plus $6.00US shipping; or via the Internet at: http://www.lifeeternal.org