Victor R. Claveau, MJ
Conscience, in Catholic theology, is “a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act he is going to perform, is in the process of performing, or has already completed” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1778).
In Catholic teaching, “Man has the right to act according to his conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions. He must not be forced to act contrary to his conscience. Nor must he be prevented from acting according to his conscience, especially in religious matters” (CCC §1782).
However, the Catholic Church has warned that “Ignorance of Christ and his Gospel, bad example given by others, enslavement to one’s passions, assertion of a mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience, rejection of the Church’s authority and her teaching, lack of conversion and of charity: these can be at the source of errors of judgment in moral conduct” (CCC § 1792).
St. Paul, in his letter to St. Timothy, warned that some people will reject Church authority in certain matters:
“Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2, RSVCE).
All Christians have a serious moral obligation to educate themselves and to form their consciences according to moral absolutes found in Natural and Church law.
Bishops and priests have a sacred duty to teach the faith in its fullness and to encourage those in their charge to live these truths.
In an address to the Bishops of the United States, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI stated:
“Is it consistent to profess our beliefs in church on Sunday, and then during the week to promote business practices or medical procedures contrary to those beliefs? Is it consistent for practicing Catholics to ignore or exploit the poor and the marginalized, to promote sexual behavior contrary to Catholic moral teaching, or to adopt positions that contradict the right to life of every human being from conception to natural death? Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted. Only when their faith permeates every aspect of their lives do Christians become truly open to the transforming power of the Gospel” (April 17, 2008).
Rather than being restrictive, living the truth of Christ is liberating. All Catholics must come to the realization that we will not enter into eternal life with Christ until we submit ourselves to His divine Will.