Category Archives: ethics

The Distinction between Ordinary Foreplay and Sexual Acts

Posted on 10 September 2014 by Ron Conte

Certain popular Catholic authors claim that unnatural sexual acts are moral in marriage, if climax is lacking and if an act of natural marital relations open to life is included in the set of acts. I strongly disagree. And so … Continue reading →

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Is it Moral to Donate to the ALS Association via the Ice Bucket Challenge

Posted on 21 August 2014 by Ron Conte

The Ice Bucket Challenge is spreading by means of online social media. A person either dumps a bucket of ice water on their head, or donates money to the ALS Association to fight Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), or … Continue reading →

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What is an intrinsically evil act?

Posted on 21 August 2014 by Ron Conte

When an act is intrinsically evil, it is immoral by the very nature of the chosen act. The moral nature of an act is its inherent moral meaning before God. An act is a choice; it is an exercise of … Continue reading →

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Is Torture Intrinsically Evil? Pope Francis on Just War and Torture

Posted on 18 August 2014 by Ron Conte

This gallery contains 2 photos.

Pope Francis spoke today (18 Aug 2014) to reporters about war and violence. He repeated the teaching of Jesus and His Church, that violence in defense of the innocent can be licit, including just war. “In these cases where there … Continue reading →

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Catholic Moral Theology on Marital Relations

Posted on 8 August 2014 by Ron Conte

[Hebrews 13] {13:4} May marriage be honorable in every way, and may the marriage bed be immaculate. For God will judge fornicators and adulterers. The eternal moral law is universal, applying to all persons, at all times, in all places. … Continue reading →

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Saint Augustine on Lying

Posted on 22 July 2014 by Ron Conte

It is not true that Saint Augustine defined lying as necessarily including an intention to deceive. St. Augustine, in “On Lying”, asks whether the definition of a lie includes the intention to deceive. He leaves the question not definitively answered. … Continue reading →

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The Catechism of the Catholic Church on lying

Posted on 22 July 2014 by Ron Conte

The teachings of the Catechism of the Catholic Church must be read and interpreted in the light of Tradition, Scripture, and the other documents of the Magisterium. Read in isolation, the CCC is easily misunderstood because it is so terse. … Continue reading →

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Is Lying Always Wrong?

Posted on 22 July 2014 by Ron Conte

Now, specifically on the topic of lying, Sacred Scripture has clearly and definitively taught that lying is one of those types of deliberate acts that is always immoral. [Exodus] {20:16} You shall not speak false testimony against your neighbor. [Deuteronomy] … Continue reading →

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Contraception in Cases of Rape — Catholic moral theology

Posted on 20 June 2014 by Ron Conte

All contraceptive acts (e.g. taking a birth control pill), and all contracepted sexual acts (e.g. choosing to engage in sexual acts not inherently ordered toward procreation) are intrinsically evil because they are the deliberate choice of an act that is … Continue reading →

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Modesty versus Immodesty in Catholic Teaching

Posted on 12 June 2014 by Ron Conte

Modesty Modesty can refer to self-restraint in every area of life. Saint Thomas Aquinas: “Augustine says (De Morib. Eccl. xxi): ‘In both Testaments the temperate man finds confirmation of the rule forbidding him to love the things of this life, … Continue reading →

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Modesty within Catholic Christian Marriage

Posted on 12 June 2014 by Ron Conte

[Sirach] {7:21} Do not choose to depart from a good and understanding wife, whom you have been allotted in the fear of the Lord. For the grace of her modesty is above gold. A wife should be modest even before … Continue reading →

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My Commentary on the Hobby Lobby SCOTUS case

Posted on 27 March 2014 by Ron Conte

The case before the Supreme Court of the United States is called “Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores”. I’m not a lawyer, and I have no legal expertise. But I’ll provide my opinion as a U.S. citizen and a Roman Catholic … Continue reading →

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