Category Archives: ethics

Intramural apologetics: teachers of heresy abound

Posted on 6 February 2011 by Ron Conte

Catholic laypersons are called by Christ and His Church, in the apostolate of the laity, to evangelize the world, to bring Christ and His teaching to those who do not know the Truth. But we are hobbled in our efforts … Continue reading →

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Is the Magisterium able to answer all moral questions?

Posted on 5 February 2011 by Ron Conte

I have been surprised and dismayed lately, in the wake of the distorted news coverage of the Pope’s comment on condoms, to read several different prominent Catholics making the claim that the Magisterium is unwilling or unable to teach and … Continue reading →

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Can a Catholic married woman use the birth control pill for a medical purpose?

Posted on 4 February 2011 by Ron Conte

Some medical problems (e.g. painful periods) are said to be treatable by using the birth control pill (BCP) to regulate the woman’s hormones and periods. Perhaps this approach is overused in sinful secular society because contraception is so heavily promoted, … Continue reading →

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Is Lying Always Wrong? — part 2: the definition of lying

Posted on 3 February 2011 by Ron Conte

Lying is an intrinsically evil act. Therefore, lying is always a sin. But every sin has three fonts of morality (intention, moral object, circumstances). The evil moral object makes the act intrinsically evil and always immoral, but the other fonts … Continue reading →

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Is Lying Always Wrong? — part 1: intrinsic evil

Posted on 3 February 2011 by Ron Conte

If lying is intrinsically evil, then it is always immoral. The Three Fonts and Intrinsic Evil There are three fonts of morality: (1) intention, (2) moral object, (3) circumstances. In order to be moral, all three fonts must be good. … Continue reading →

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How should a constitutional amendment banning abortion be worded?

Posted on 31 January 2011 by Ron Conte

Perhaps the ultimate goal, within the legal aspirations of the pro-life cause, is a U.S. Constitutional Amendment banning abortion. This article considers serious problems that could result if the amendment is not worded correctly. The first problem is the extent … Continue reading →

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Intrinsic Evil

Posted on 30 January 2011 by Ron Conte

The Three Fonts of Morality There are three fonts of morality: intention, moral object, circumstances. What makes an act morally good? Three good fonts; no bad fonts. (1) intention — The first font is the intended end, i.e. the purpose … Continue reading →

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A Call for Less Civility

Posted on 28 January 2011 by Ron Conte

When a politician commits a grave error, his fellow politicians are slow to correct him, and their correction is only mild, if they correct him at all. When a physician working at a hospital behaves unethically, his fellow physicians are … Continue reading →

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Is a new ruling from the Magisterium needed on abortion?

Posted on 26 January 2011 by Ron Conte

Lack of Unanimity among Catholics There is a grave problem within the field of Catholic moral theology today on the matter of abortion. Many theologians have proposed new approaches to ethics such that some direct abortions are said to be … Continue reading →

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Married deacons: celibacy, continence, chastity

Posted on 21 January 2011 by Ron Conte

1. Dr. Peters’ interpretation of Canon 1031 §2 is that the consent of the wife required therein is a consent to permanent and perpetual continence (i.e. to abstain from marital relations). Pope John Paul II gives a different interpretation of … Continue reading →

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The right to self-defense versus the right to bear arms

Posted on 19 January 2011 by Ron Conte

The right to self-defense is a fundamental human right. From the Catechism of Catholic Ethics, n. 228: “The right to self-defense is based on an ordered love of self, on a choice to defend the life given to you by … Continue reading →

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The patchwork approach to moral theology

Posted on 16 January 2011 by Ron Conte

There is a fairly common methodological error in the approach of many commentators to important questions in moral theology. I’m referring mainly to apologists, bloggers, and discussion group posters, many of whom, unfortunately, put themselves forward as if they were … Continue reading →

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