Another important foundation of Christian morality is the understanding of moral acts. Every moral act consists of three elements: the objective act (what we do), the subjective goal or intention (why we do the act), and the concrete situation or circumstances in which we perform the act (where, when, how, with whom, the consequences, etc.). For an individual act to be morally good, the object, or what we are doing, must be objectively good. Some acts, apart from the intention or reason for doing them, are always wrong because they go against a fundamental or basic human good that ought never to be compromised. Direct killing of the innocent, torture, and rape are examples of acts that are always wrong. Such acts are referred to as intrinsically evil acts, meaning that they are wrong in themselves, apart from the reason they are done or the circumstances surrounding them. The goal, end, or intention is the part of the moral act that lies within the person. For this reason, we say that the intention is the subjective element of the moral act. For an act to be morally good, one’s intention must be good. If we are motivated to do something by a bad intention— even something that is objectively good—our action is morally evil. It must also be recognized that a good intention cannot make a bad action (something intrinsically evil) good. We can never do something wrong or evil in order to bring about a good. This is the meaning of the saying, “the end does not justify the means” (cf. CCC, nos. 1749-1761). The circumstances and the consequences of the act make up the third element of moral action. These are secondary to the evaluation of a moral act in that they contribute to increasing or decreasing the goodness or badness of the act. In addition, the circumstances may affect one’s personal moral responsibility for the act. All three aspects must be good—the objective act, the subjective intention, and the circumstances—in order to have a morally good act. This teaching, which recognizes both the objective and subjective dimension of morality, is often at odds with a perspective that views morality as a completely personal or merely subjective reality. In such a view, held by some in our culture, there are no objective norms capable of demanding our moral compliance. Such a denial of an objective and unchanging moral order established by God results in a vision of morality and moral norms as being a matter of personal opinion or as established only through the consent of the individual members of society. You can read more from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, order your own copy, or read questions about it at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website. Copyright © 2006, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder.
Everyone has a moral compass and a set of standards that they live by. Morals are formed out of a person’s values, and these values are the foundation of a person’s ability to discern between right and wrong. Some examples of moral values include faithfulness in marriage, loyalty to a company, love and respect for family members, and commitment to a skill that carries meaning. Morals build on values to form specific, context-driven rules that govern a person’s behavior. Here is a list of the most important values. 1. Love the Lord with All Your Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength 2. Love Your Neighbor as Yourself 3. Honesty is the Best Policy 4. If You Break It, You Bought It 5. Being a Team Player Whenever Possible 6. Standing Up For Those Who Can’t Stand Up for Themselves 7. Adjusting and Compromising 8. Being Kind and Generous to Others 9. Expressing Your Gratitude 10. Maintaining Self-Control 11. Having Self-Respect 12. Finding Opportunities to Express Your Creativity 13. Being Self-Motivated and Self-Confident 14. Never Give Up 15. Try to Think a Few Moves Ahead 16. Being Patient 17. Returning Favors 18. Aspiring to Learn Conclusion Morality must be upheld in order for a person to have a strong value system. Without any moral values a society of people, or an entire country, will lead itself to a state of anarchy, where lawlessness and chaos will reign supreme. A nation without laws isn’t really a nation, and a person without any moral values has no real direction in his or her life. Generally speaking, a moral value system consists of honesty, compassion, courage, modesty, and forgiveness, and on top of all this, a person has a love for the truth and will fight for the truth at all times.
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