Category Archives: ethics

Radical Revisionist Ethics: Adultery and Lying

Posted on 22 May 2017 by Ron Conte

When I was getting my degree in philosophy and theology at Boston College (many years ago), I took a class in sexual ethics. The professor, Lisa Sowle Cahill, did in fact teach what the Church teaches on morality, including that … Continue reading →

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Catholic Ethics: what is sin?

Posted on 21 May 2017 by Ron Conte

God alone is good. The goodness of God is the basis for all morality. Everything created by God has goodness, but God alone is Goodness. Only God is perfect and infinite Goodness, by His very Nature. The Nature of God … Continue reading →

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Sinful Secular Society has influenced Catholic Moral Theology

Posted on 19 May 2017 by Ron Conte

A couple of recent Gallup polls show that Catholics in the U.S. have largely lost their moral compass. Newsweek reports that 55% of non-Catholic Christians support legalized same-sex marriage. What about Catholics? It’s 65% for Catholics. We have the teaching … Continue reading →

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Birth Control Pills for a Medical Purpose? The Catholic Answer

Posted on 17 May 2017 by Ron Conte

Is it moral for Catholic spouses to both (1) use abortifacient contraception for a medical purpose and (2) continue having marital relations? The correct Catholic answer: The spouses must refrain from sex while taking abortifacient contraception for a medical purpose. … Continue reading →

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The Most Common Error on Intrinsically Evil Acts

Posted on 14 May 2017 by Ron Conte

There are three fonts of morality, three things that can possibly make a human act moral or immoral: (1) intention, (2) moral object, (3) circumstances. Any one bad font makes the act objectively wrong to choose. 1. The font called … Continue reading →

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The Doctrinal Crisis on Intrinsic Evil

Posted on 11 May 2017 by Ron Conte

In Roman Catholic moral theology, no teaching of Jesus Christ through His Church is more under attack than the teaching that intrinsically evil acts are always wrong. It is a difficult teaching to accept. The condemnation of intrinsically evil acts … Continue reading →

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Germain Grisez justifies partial birth abortions

Posted on 10 May 2017 by Ron Conte

In his book, ‘The Way of the Lord Jesus’, Roman Catholic moral theologian Germain Grisez openly rejects magisterial teaching against direct abortion to save the life of the mother. And he approves of partial birth abortions. Grisez claims that it … Continue reading →

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Ten Question Orthodoxy Test on Catholic Ethics

Posted on 7 May 2017 by Ron Conte

1. Is the deliberate knowing assertion of a falsehood always immoral? Yes. 2. Can unintended bad consequences ever make an act immoral? Yes. 3. Is it true that intrinsically evil acts, such as lying and contraception, are never justified by … Continue reading →

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Catholic Discussions of Marital Sexual Ethics

Posted on 23 April 2017 by Ron Conte

In various online Catholic forums, the topic of marital sexual ethics is often discussed. I’ve been involved in many such discussions in the past, and I’ve read many similar discussions, in which I’ve not participated. I’m writing this post to … Continue reading →

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Roman Catholic Teaching on Intrinsically Evil Acts

Posted on 21 April 2017 by Ron Conte

1: The Three Fonts of Morality A human act is a knowing choice made by a human person. Every human act is an exercise of free will, making a choice based on knowledge in the intellect. Each choice is an … Continue reading →

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If the Warning is difficult for you…

Posted on 9 April 2017 by Ron Conte

…repent from your past sins, resolve to love others and avoid grave wrong doing. Then wait patiently for the Consolation, on Easter Sunday. The Consolation will take away the burden of sorrow for all who truly repented at the Warning … Continue reading →

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Pope Pius XII: it is not impossible for married couples to abstain from sex

Posted on 15 February 2017 by Ron Conte

The controversy over Amoris Laetitia has raised the question as to whether it might be impossible for a divorced and remarried couple to refrain from sex, as the Church teaches they must. They do not have a valid Sacrament of … Continue reading →

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