Category Archives: ethics

The “Who am I to judge” Misquote

Posted on 2 October 2015 by Ron Conte

At a press conference during a papal flight on 28 July 2013, Pope Francis stated: “If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him? The Catechism of the … Continue reading →

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Objective Mortal Sin and the State of Grace

Posted on 9 September 2015 by Ron Conte

An objective mortal sin is a knowingly chosen act of the human person, an act which is objectively gravely immoral. An actual mortal sin is an objective mortal sin which is committed with full knowledge of its grave immorality and … Continue reading →

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Is it Moral? County Clerk refuses to issue marriage licenses

Posted on 5 September 2015 by Ron Conte

Here is the news story: Clerk defies U.S. high court, denies gay marriage licenses. A county clerk in Kentucky is refusing to issue any marriage licenses to any couple, so as not to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. She … Continue reading →

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Are some Catholic School Teacher Contracts hypocritical, immoral, or illegal?

Posted on 21 August 2015 by Ron Conte

There is a nice article over at Crisis magazine by Daniel Guernsey on the subject of teacher contracts at Catholic grade schools (K-12). The diocese of San Francisco has a new contract, which drops the use of the word “minister”, … Continue reading →

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How To Solve the Contraception and Abortion Problem

Posted on 7 August 2015 by Ron Conte

It might seem that, if we could elect a conservative pro-life President, and get one or two more conservative votes on the Supreme Court, we could ban abortion and end the contraceptive mandate in health care. But that approach would … Continue reading →

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The Path to the Acceptance of Gay Marriage

Posted on 1 August 2015 by Ron Conte

What path did society take, so as to arrive at its current acceptance of same-sex marriage? It is this same path, in reverse, that society must travel to reverse its acceptance of gay marriage. 1. The first step on that … Continue reading →

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It’s Legal and Experts Agree, But is it Moral?

Posted on 30 July 2015 by Ron Conte

I’ve read more than a few news and opinion articles on the topic of contraception, abortion, and Obamacare. Common arguments used to support the contraception mandate over religious objections include long discredited arguments. It’s Legal One version of this argument … Continue reading →

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Catholic Ethics: Faith and Reason

Posted on 16 June 2015 by Ron Conte

The Church teaches that the entire moral law, in all of its requirements and prohibitions, is accessible to human reason alone, without Divine Revelation. Right reason, the God-given faculty of abstract thinking, can never err — if it is used … Continue reading →

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Ireland: Approval of Gay Marriage leads to Approval of Abortion

Posted on 25 May 2015 by Ron Conte

An Irish Times story, in the wake of Ireland’s popular vote approving same-sex marriage, discusses the next proposed change to Irish law and constitution: the legalization of abortion. This change is seen as the next step, after approval of same-sex … Continue reading →

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Why the Catholics of Ireland voted for Gay Marriage

Posted on 24 May 2015 by Ron Conte

Most Catholic Christians have lost their sense of sin. Many Catholics attend Mass and receive Communion. Very few Catholics go to Confession at all. Most Catholics do not consider any acts to be necessarily sinful. For they have not formed … Continue reading →

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A Catholic Reply to Marriage Equality arguments

Posted on 21 May 2015 by Ron Conte

Catholic Teaching Every faithful Roman Catholic must believe the teaching of the Church on matters of faith, morals, and salvation. The infallible teachings of the Magisterium require the full assent of faith, and obstinate denial or obstinate doubt of any … Continue reading →

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The Basic Structure of the Moral Object

Posted on 19 May 2015 by Ron Conte

The Roman Catholic magisterium infallibly teaches (under the ordinary and universal Magisterium) that the morality of each and every human act depends only on three things: (1) intention — the end intended by the person who acts; in other words, … Continue reading →

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