My dear parishioners,
Peace! In other bulletins (4 December, 2016-11 June, 2017) we have considered the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on “conscience.” Now we turn to Saint John Paul II’s encyclical letter Veritatis splendor (6 August, 1993) which addresses fundamental moral issues, including “conscience.” Here we consider Veritatis splendor, 4.
Some people, sadly, reject the moral teaching of the Church. Others, sadly, reject the traditional doctrine regarding the natural law. Even worse are those who would allow the Church to intervene “in matters of morality” only “to ‘exhort consciences’ and to ‘propose values.’” Every human person has both the right and the responsibility to act freely. The abuse of free will, to choose to do evil, is sinful. When the sins we commit are serious these sins are called deadly or mortal (cf. 1 John 5:17). As followers of Jesus Christ we have renounced sin and Satan and the glamour of evil.
Holy Mother Church does indeed exhort consciences and propose values, but her authority is even greater than mere exhorter and proposer. Christ the Lord, who is true God and true man, has authority. He has shared His divine authority with His bride and mystical body Mother Church (cf. Matthew 18:17-18; Luke 10:16). “The Church is an expert in humanity” because her founder is the author and redeemer of humanity (“Presentation” Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 2004; Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Letter to the Bishop so of the Catholic Church on the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World” 31 May, 2004; John Paul II “22nd World Communications Day Message” 15 May, 1988). The timeless values of the Gospel lead and call us to live the virtues heroically holiness of life.
While, sadly, many people reject the moral teaching of the Church regarding chastity and human sexuality these are not the only moral teachings of the Church which we are to embrace as faithful followers of Jesus Christ in His Holy Catholic Church. The Decalogue or Ten Commandments (cf. Exodus 20:3-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21) has eight other specific points of moral instruction which Mother Church considers no less dear. For example, respecting property rights is a part of the moral teaching of the Church and precludes communism among other things. The Commandments of God provide a revealed expression without any “admixture of error” of the natural law which is accessible to everyone whether or not they believe in God or what He has revealed. The natural virtues do not require grace or faith or revelation. As followers of Jesus Christ in His Church we have supernatural means, grace, and supernatural motives (Heaven) to help us live holy lives. The virtue of humility helps us to accept the authority of God and His Church. The virtue of prudence helps us to follow the moral teachings of Christ and His Church so as to have a blessed eternity in Heaven.

God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr