conscience: catechism: summary

Re: Conscience
Fr: Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994). Part III, Section 1, Article 6 “Moral Conscience,” # 1776-1802. (underscore mine)

• Definition

Conscience is a law inscribed by God in man’s heart calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounding in his heart at the right moment. (Gaudium et Spes 16 in CCC # 1776). It is a “judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act that he is going to perform, is in the process of performing, or has already completed” (# 1778).

“Conscience includes the:
 perception of the principles of morality (synderesis);
 their application in the given circumstances by practical discernment of reasons and goods; and finally
 judgment about concrete acts yet to be performed or already performed” (# 1780).

• Kinds

(1) Informed Conscience – “is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator” (# 1783). Moral conscience is formed throughout life through prudent education (# 1784) and the assimilation of the Word of God in faith and prayer, and putting it into practice (# 1802).
(2) Conscience in Ignorance -- can make erroneous judgments, i.e., one that departs from reason and divine law (# 1786), which can be imputed to personal responsibility (# 1791) due to:
(a) ignorance (of truth & goodness, Christ and his Gospel)
(b) habitual sin
(c) bad example of others
(d) enslavement of one’s passions
(e) mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience
(f) rejection of the Church’s authority and teaching
(g) lack of conversion
(h) lack of charity (# 1791-1792)

• Importance

-- “The dignity of the human person implies and requires uprightness of moral conscience” (# 1780).
-- “Man has the right to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions” (# 1872).
-- “… charity proceeds at the same time ‘from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith’ (Pt 3:21; Acts 24:16).” (# 1794).

• Teaching

 Prerequisite:

Interiority – being present to oneself through such means as “reflection, self-examination or introspection” (# 1779).

 Prescription:

-- “In all he says and does, man is obliged to follow faithfully what he knows to be just and right” (# 1778).
-- “A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience. If he were deliberately to act against it, he would condemn himself” (# 1790).
-- “Man is sometimes confronted by situations that make moral judgments less assured and decision difficult. But he must always seriously seek what is right and good and discern the will of God expressed in divine law” (# 1787).
-- Some rules apply in every case:
(1) never do evil even for a good cause
(2) follow the golden rule: do to others what you wish them to do unto you (Mt 7:12; cf. Lk 6:31; Tob 4:15)
(3) respect others’ conscience and avoid scandalizing them (# 1789)

 Factors in Discernment:

1. data of experience
2. signs of the times assisted by the virtue of prudence
3. advice of competent people
4. help of the Holy Spirit and his gifts (# 1788)

 Effect:

“Conscience enables one to assume responsibility for the acts performed.”
(1) negatively: it witnesses to “the evil of his particular choice”
(2) positively: it witnesses to the “universal truth of the good” and calls to mind the forgiveness to be asked, the good that must be practiced, and the virtue that must be cultivated with the grace of God (# 1781).