QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP FINAL EXAMINATIONS

TH 204 (FUNDAMENTAL NORMS IN HUMAN AND CHRISTIC PEACE)

Group II
1. Gonzaga, Xenia G.
2. Lumacang, Maxima O.
3. Pacot, Gerille Mae L.
4. Sanico, Antonio, Jr. P.
5. Solis, Alberto, Jr., L.

I. OBLIGATORY QUESTIONS

1. Discuss religious docility and responsible dissent in dealing with authoritative fallible
teachings of the Church.

2. Discuss the three fonts of morality.

The three fonts of reality are essential in order to help us evaluate the morality of an act:

Sample Situation:

Maria, a Filipina lady living in France with her French boyfriend, Hugo. Both are in love with
each other, as a matter of fact, they have been together for 11 years, and have a child. She said
she doesn’t want marriage in the Church because she is not sure whether their relationship will
last “till death do us part”. Hugo wanted to marry her but she preferred their present arrangement
because if things won’t go well, separation is not a problem.

 Intention = Every act of a human person has an intended end chosen by that person. The
intention is the purpose or reason for choosing the act. It is the goal that motivates the
person to act. The intention resides in the person (the agent of the action). It is always
wrong to act with a bad intention. As in the case above, the intention of being together
without commitment is wrong. Separation is at the back of her head.
 Act = The chosen act has an inherent moral meaning before the eyes of God; this
meaning is the nature of the act in terms of morality. But this essential moral nature of the
act is wholly determined by its object. It is always wrong to deliberately choose an act
 with an evil moral object because such an act is inherently ordered toward moral evil; it is
an intrinsically evil act. Premarital relation is wrong.
 Circumstance = refers to the situation or the condition of the agent/person he is at
present; the morality of the circumstances is determined by the reasonably anticipated
consequences of the act. Both of them are really capable of marriage, they already have a
child. Yet, she didn’t want commitment, just that. It is wrong that she only thinks of
herself, and not the family’s need.

3. Explain the following categories: intrinsically evil acts, pre-moral or ontic evil, objective
moral wrong, and moral evil or sin.

Sample Situation:

A 12-year-old boy named Carlos lived in a far-flung Guinea, Africa goes to school by foot for 1
1/2 kilometers, a total of 3 kilometers a day with his younger brother of 7-year-old girl. Coming
from a “strict” Muslim family, he must protect his younger sister at school. However, his autistic
sister becomes an object of “fun” to her classmates. One day, Carlos struck a classmate of her
sister mocking her, nose was bleeding and was suspended. Is his act sinful? Is it wrong?

From the example above, it is difficult to judge whether Carlos’ act is objectively sinful. A young
boy, whose parents instilled in the mind of Carlos to protect her sister at all cost due to her
mental limits is not totally free of his actions. He followed orders from his parents. Nevertheless,

 Intrinsically evil acts = the act is sinful. It refers to the reason behind on why he
committed the act. This refers to the movement of the heart, integration, virtue. In this
case, Carlos only way of protecting his sister is to hit the boy. Here, we don’t know how
he was taught by his “strict” Muslim parents.
 Pre-moral or ontic evil = An act is objectively wrong, yet, we cannot pronounce if it is
sinful because there are factors to be considered like: is the person in full knowledge of
the whole event and its consequences? Is he free to make decisions, is he acting
according to his freewill? In ontic evil, the person does not commit a sin, however the act
is definitely wrong.
  Moral evil or sin = refers to the individual act of a person who is in full knowledge and
free yet chose to evil act.
 Objective moral wrong = the act is objectively wrong, striking a little boy with a force of
12-year-old. The boy was really attacked and harmed to the point of having a nosebleed.

II. COMPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS

1. Discuss the five (5) approaches to morality. (Discuss only two.)

 Morality as law

Oftentimes, the word “law” is associated with authority because it has a certain authority that
demands obedience. Example is the traffic lights, people obey the traffic lights because the law
requires the pedestrians and the vehicle drivers to stop and go it it’s time to do so. This is for the
safety of the people and order of the place. It imposes us and we need to submit because we
cannot change it. Therefore, it is external of us. Since we speak of authority awhile ago, we can
also think of people who have authority like the president of a nation or a company, a pope,
bishop, teacher, parents, etc. Somehow, they act like a model to us. This is perhaps why it is
scandalous if a person with authority violates the law because he stands or represents as the law
itself.

Example: A parish with a relation of a woman. This is a scandal! As celibate, offering his
capacity to have family for the sake of the Kingdom, points out our true happiness, the beatific
vision.

 Morality as love

We consider that we are relational being. Within the perspective of being moral is about being
faithful to our interrelatedness and to the demands of relationship. There is a sense of “the other”.
It goes beyond ourselves, transcending. If morality is seen in love, this is expressed in
communion. The demand of this communion is that there is an invitation which requires
response. If response is absent, it will result to isolation.
Example: If you and your friend are eating at McDonalds, you started to talk with her, while she
is busy with her phone. You feel isolated. Your initiative of talking to her was not answered as it
should be will result to unfaithfulness to your relation thus, makes you feel isolated.

4. Discuss the difference between conscience and superego.

The distinction between conscience and superego, emphasizes that the superego, proposed by
Freud, is considered a part of the personality representing the conscience. The superego is
formed early in life through internalizing societal and parental standards, shaping our
understanding of right and wrong. In this context, conscience is governed by personal
experiences, and feelings of guilt are attributed to societal or parental influences.
However, one may also explore a different perspective, suggesting that the conscience may have
either human or divine origins. The idea is presented that our conscience might be the echo of
God’s voice, as described in biblical and theological contexts. Saint Paul’s writings are
referenced to support the notion that conscience bears witness to natural law written in our
hearts, emphasizing an absolute and unchanging moral authority from God.
The ontological level of conscience is discussed, indicating a primal remembrance of the good
and the true bestowed upon humans, aligning with God’s creation. The challenges of
acknowledging this divine aspect in a secular world, where distractions and noise attempt to
drown out the voice of the Creator echoing in our hearts.
In summary, while the superego is linked to societal and parental influences, our faith propose a
deeper, divine aspect to conscience, suggesting an innate knowledge of right and wrong
originating from God, in contrast to subjective cultural standards.

13. Discuss Mercy as one of the hallmarks of the Catholic Moral Tradition.
Mercy, as emphasized in the Catholic Moral Tradition, holds a central role in Pope Francis'
ministry and the broader Church. The unexpected announcement of the Jubilee Year of Mercy
reflects a commitment to restoring equality, justice, and peace, aligning with the Church's
tradition dating back to the 14th century.
Pope Francis, drawing from the gospel story of the pardoning of the sinful woman, underscores
the transformative power of mercy and its connection to forgiveness. His message emphasizes
that no one is excluded from God's mercy, aligning with the belief that mercy is the greatest
virtue, as asserted by St. Thomas Aquinas.
The Pope's frequent discussions on mercy echo throughout the Church's history, with
predecessors like St. John XXIII and St. John Paul II emphasizing mercy as essential for building
a better world. While mercy takes precedence, the relationship between mercy and justice is
acknowledged, ensuring a balanced approach that addresses wounds without merely binding
them.
The Church, both in historical teachings and through Pope Francis, advocates for a love that
transcends justice. As Catholics approach the Jubilee of Mercy, the call is not to adopt a new
virtue but to reflect on the core of their identity—a community shaped by the experience of
God's mercy, compelling them to show great love in return.

QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP FINAL EXAMINATIONS

TH 204 (FUNDAMENTAL NORMS IN HUMAN AND CHRISTIC PEACE)

BASIS FOR THE GROUPING: TERM PAPER GROUPING

VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER: BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CONCRETE EXAMPLES

TO SHOW DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICATION OF CONCEPTS.

Take note of the following:

1. Short Bond Paper
2. Font Style-Times New Roman, Font Size-12, and 1.5 Space
3. Deadline: December 18, 2023
4. Email to [email protected]

You will answer 6 Questions and the ones in red are obligatory questions.
1. Discuss the connection between one’s understanding of theology as an academic discipline
and its effect in doing moral theology.
2. Discuss the five (5) approaches to morality. (Discuss only two.)
3. Discuss the Sacred Scripture as Normative but not an Exhaustive Source/Foundation of
Morality.
4. Discuss the difference between conscience and superego.
5. Discuss the dynamic relationship between personal conscience and the magisterium.
6. Discuss religious docility and responsible dissent in dealing with authoritative fallible
teachings of the Church.
7. Illustrate the application of natural law in terms of understanding it from the physicalists and
rationalists/personalists approach.
8. Discuss the three fonts of morality.
9. Discuss Fundamental Option as a Moral Category.*
10. Differentiate sin from sinfulness.*
11. Explain the following categories: intrinsically evil acts, pre-moral or ontic evil, objective
moral
wrong, and moral evil or sin.
12. Discuss the importance of an in-depth knowledge about the moral teachings of the Church
and the concrete experiences of people in a morally complex world.
13. Discuss Mercy as one of the hallmarks of the Catholic Moral Tradition.