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Course
Course
General Objective:
The course aims to introduce students of theology to the foundations, concepts and methods of
Catholic moral theology so as to equip them to critically involve themselves in discussions of
moral issues and to keep growing in their aspiration for truth and goodness in the light of the
gospel.
Course Outline:
The Nature of Moral Theology and the Task of the Moralist. The Context of Contemporary
Moral Theology. The Bible and Christian Ethics - Jesus and Discipleship. Faith and Morality.
The Human Person: Freedom and Knowledge. Sin and Reconciliation. Conscience and its
Formation. The Church and Moral Life. The Law and Morality. The Morality of Human
Action. Moral Decision Making and Pastoral-Moral Guidance.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the course the students are expected to:
• Recall and outline the history of the development of the discipline of moral theology;
• Describe the nature of moral theology and identify the sources of Catholic moral theology
(scripture and tradition);
• Present a coherent understanding of sin and reconciliation;
• Explain the role of conscience and its formation;
• Present an understanding of the natural law that is relevant to moral action;
• Analyse human action and the essential conditions for evaluating moral action;
• Summarize the latest magisterial teaching on the foundations of catholic moral theology;
• Recognize and apply the process of pastoral decision-making and moral discernment.
Bibliography:
Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd Edition.Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1994.
Birch, Bruce and Larry Rasmussen. Bible and Ethics in the Christian Life. Minneapolis:
Augsburg Publishing House, 1976.
Cessario, Romanus. Introduction to Moral Theology. Washington D.C.: The Catholic
University of America Press, 2001.
Colom, Enrique and Angel Rodriguez-Luno. Chosen in Christ to be Saints: Fundamental
Moral Theology. Rome: EDUSC, 2014.
Connors, Russell and Patrick McCormick. Character, Choices & Community: The Three Faces
of Christian Ethics. New York/ Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1998.
DiNoia, J. A. and Romanus Cessario, ed. Veritatis Splendor and the Renewal of Moral
Theology. Chicago: Midwest Theological Forum, 1999.
Gallagher, John. Time Past, Time Future - A Historical Study of Catholic Moral Theology.
Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1990.