Throughout Christian history, living a moral life has been considered a key component of living a Christian life. A problem, however, is that there are many ways to approach morality and a diversity of opinions as to what is, in fact, moral. Even among followers of Jesus, disagreement exists. The Catholic Church teaches that there is a best and most faithful way to interpret the teaching of the Judeo-Christian tradition and apply it to our lives. The goals of this book are to describe the Catholic approach to morality, to contextualize it within a committed relationship to Jesus Christ, and to invite a deeper response to God’s calling to become a holy people.
Contents include the meaning of morality, the Ten Commandments as an expression of the Hebrews’ covenant with God, discipleship and the Beatitudes in the Christian Scriptures, Church teaching and authority, moral reasoning, fundamental option, conscience, sin, grace, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Examples of discussion questions to explore the material presented are as follows: How can you know what is truly right and good? How has contemporary culture influenced your understanding of morality? In what ways is the notion of discipleship as the heart of Catholic morality different from an understanding of morality as adherence to moral laws?