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.” We then turned to Saint John Paul II’s encyclical letter Veritatis splendor (6 August, 1993) which addresses fundamental moral issues, including “conscience” more than one hundred times. These reflections were begun earlier (6 April, 2018-30 May, 2018). Here we now consider a passage from Veritatis splendor, 32.
Saint John Paul II (+2005) points out that there exists a current of thought which posits “a radical opposition between moral law and conscience, and between nature and freedom” (VS, 32.3). This allows us to consider not only conscience, but moral law, nature, and freedom.
Merriam-Webster tells us that the “moral law” is “a general rule of right living, especially such a rule or group of rules conceived as universal and unchanging and as having the sanction of God’s will, of conscience, of man’s moral nature, or of natural justice as revealed to human reason.” Some people might object to the moral law as being so many rules as if not murdering or stealing or lying are no more important that being off-sides in football or soccer, double dribbling or traveling in basketball and the like. The Catechism of the Catholic Church(1992) addresses the “moral law” repeatedly (§§ 1950-1954). There are 568 verses in Sacred Scripture (Douay Rheims) which mention “law” more than six hundred times. The five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) are also called “the Pentateuch”, “the Torah”, and “The Law.” The Decalogue or Ten Commandments are found in this ancient part of Sacred Scripture (cf. Exodus 20:2-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21). The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12; Luke 6:20-26) provide a “New Law” which does not abolish “the Law and the prophets” (cf. Matthew 5:17).
When some people consider “nature” they rightly think of the great outdoors, the woods, the rivers and streams (like the Ocoee, Hiwassee, Tennessee, Holston, and French Broad), mountains (like the Appalachian, Smoky) and the like. These, however, only make up one ninth of Merriam-Webster’s understanding of “nature” which also includes: “the inherent character or basic constitution of a person or thing, a creative and controlling force in the universe, a kind or class usually distinguished by fundamental or essential characteristics, the physical constitution or drives of an organism, the genetically controlled qualities of an organism.” In our day there seems to be a great confusion as regards human nature, what it means to be a human being. Some people would consider us to be merely so much matter, discounting the spiritual aspect of our lives, our soul. Those who claim to be able to “define their own existence” are likewise confused. Nature, like our very existence is a given, given by God.
When considering “freedom” Sacred Scripture is helpful, yet again: “The truth will set you free” (John 8:31); “For freedom we have been set free” (Galatians 5:1). Sin abuses freedom.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr