Aug 30 2008
Definition and Scope of Moral Theology
Chapter 1. The definition and Scope of Moral Theology.
Definition; Catholic Moral Theology, broadly speaking, is the scientific exposition of the ethical teaching of the Gospel, or, more definitely, that theological discipline which sets forth the laws, rules, and precepts man must know and obey in order to attain his supernatural destiny.
There is a distinction between”moral” and “ethical.” “Ethical is derived from a Greek word which means in the singular, custom, usage, habit; and in the plural, disposition, temper, character (Latin, mores) see 1 Cor 15:33. Every free act, good or bad, performed by a rational being is “ethical;” but no act is ‘Moral’ unless it be ethically good (see ST Ia IIae, q. 58, art 1).
The words “moral” and “immoral” are sometimes used with sole reference to the Sixth Commandment. Their true meaning is much larger. Morality is by no means confined to the sexual sphere. Other vices, such as injustice, hatred, revenge, can be and are quite as immoral as the vice of impurity. The fact of the matter is that the use of the expressions “immorality” or “immoral life” for the vice of impurity is merely an idiomatic euphemism adopted to avoid a clearer description of what is meant, and is not intended to restrict immorality to the sexual sphere.
Scope: In order to give a scientific exposition of the laws that govern human conduct, Moral Theology must first ascertain the conditions under which man’s actions will enable him to reach his final destiny, and then draw from Revelation the correct principles for guiding him aright both in public and private life. All the problems of human existence, including those of the social and economic order, have a religious and an ethical bearing, and they can not be completely solved except in the light of Christian justice and charity (see John 1:9; 14:6; 1 Cor 10:31; Col 3:17).
Moral Theology must avoid two extremes: over-emphasizing the ascetic point of view and resolving itself into mere casuistry.
Moral Theology is an independent science with a well-defined scope and object, and it is neither its sole nor its principle aim to train preachers or confessors. The latter function belongs to casuistry, which is “the study of cases of conscience” with a view “to define the exact limits and frontiers of wrong-doing.”-excerpted from A HANDBOOK OF MORAL THEOLOGY by Koch and Preuss.
