Catholic Replies

Editor’s Note: This first lesson on medical-moral issues is taken from the book Catholicism & Ethics. Please feel free to use the series for high schoolers or adults. We will continue to welcome your questions for the column as well. See the contact information at the bottom of this column.

Special Course On Catholicism And Ethics (Pages 13-20)

Before taking up specific ethical and moral issues facing us today, particularly in the fields of medicine and health, a general introduction to ethics is necessary. Ethics is the science which guides our judgment concerning the morality of human acts. When it involves medical questions, it is known as medical ethics. It employs the power of human reason to determine whether certain actions are right or wrong. This science is not based on the Bible or the teaching of the Catholic Church, but Divine Revelation is a check on its conclusions.
If some conclusion of ethics is contrary to God’s Revelation, then the conclusion must be wrong. In fact, we will often discover that right conclusions reached by human reason are already taught by Divine Revelation. Therefore, Catholics believe that medical ethics, in practice, is not just a natural science, but a supernatural moral science that is subject to the authority of the Catholic Church.
Catholics believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, established the Catholic Church for the purpose of saving souls and to guide all people to a correct understanding of God’s eternal law so that they may obey that law and get to Heaven. Jesus promised that He would be with His Church until the end of time (cf. Matt. 28:20) and that He would send the Holy Spirit, the “spirit of truth” (John 14:17), to guide the Church in making the correct interpretation of divine laws, and also of natural and civil laws as well.
God is the Author not only of those laws which govern the operation of the physical universe, but also of the laws which govern the moral conduct of men and women. Since God cannot contradict Himself, the findings of science must at all times be in agreement with sound ethics and theology. There can be no conflict between moral and ethical principles on the one hand and the principles of physical science on the other. God is the Author of both, they complement each other, and both should go hand in hand.
Catholics welcome new scientific discoveries and make use of them, but Catholics reject materialistic notions that glorify science and reject the existence of God. The highest value for humans can be found not in science and technology, but in love of God and devotion to His service. It seems such an obvious thing to say, but there is an essential difference between moral good and moral evil, although that difference is being blurred in our society today.
Things that were once condemned as grave moral evils, such as abortion and sodomy, are celebrated today as great advancements for humanity. Not only are these evils no longer viewed as intrinsically wrong and sinful, but those who point this out are denounced for being intolerant or hateful or bigoted.
Objective standards of ethics and morality are being replaced by subjective standards. Thus, we are told that what is legal is moral. If legislative or judicial bodies say that abortion is permissible, or that two men or two women can get “married,” or that children can be physically mutilated in an effort to change their sex, then everyone is expected to agree, even though these actions contradict the divine plan of God. Those who support these evils fail to acknowledge that right is right no matter how few believe it, and wrong is wrong no matter how many practice it.
We live in a time when people’s feelings are given more importance than reality or truth. It is biologically impossible for a man to become a woman, or for a woman to become a man, but thousands of persons, even little children, are being subjected to powerful drugs and surgical procedures that will harm their lives forever. What about God’s creation of only two sexes — “male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:27)? Rejecting God’s plan for creation because of one’s feelings is perilous for the individual and for society.
Christian ethics and morality are not simply matters of opinion or feelings. Something is right if it is in conformity with human nature and right reason or is commanded by God. Something is wrong if it is contrary to human nature, right reason, or God’s commands. Rape, murder, abortion, contraception, adultery, euthanasia, transgenderism, hatred, and racism are wrong not because of public opinion polls, but because they are contrary to human nature, right reason, and God’s will.
Ethics and morality are objective and unchanging. They can be determined by a properly formed conscience, one that is accordance with the basic norms of right and wrong that are expressed by the Catholic Church. We must not allow our minds to be clouded by the false norms of morality so prevalent today. We must train ourselves to recognize the truth and to have the courage to uphold it.

List Of Answers:

ABORTION
CATHOLIC
CONSCIENCE
ETHICS
FEELINGS
FEMALE
GOD
MALE
MORAL
OBJECTIVE
REASON
SODOMY
SPIRIT
TRUTH

Quiz

1. _____ is the science which guides our judgment on the morality of human acts.
2. We use human ____________ to determine whether actions are right or wrong.
3. Medical ethics are subject to the authority of the ______________ Church.
4. Jesus promised to send the “_____ of truth” to guide the Church.
5. ___ is the Author of both physical laws and moral principles.
6. The difference between _______ good and evil is being blurred today.
7. ___________ and ______________ are grave moral evils.
8. People’s _______ are falsely considered more important than reality and truth.
9. God created humans “____ and ________.”
10. Ethics and morality are _____________ and unchanging.
11. They can be discovered by a properly formed ____________________.
12. We must have the courage to uphold the ________________.