C 207:  Contemporary Moral Theology:  Foundational concepts of Christian ethics and moral decision making within the American context e.g. conscience, use of Scripture, sin and virtue, moral growth and development, decision making, etc.

Instructor:  Patricia A. Schoelles, SSJ, St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, 120 French Rd., Rochester NY 14618, (585)271-3657 x 298.  Pschoelles@stbernards.edu.  Available for appointments almost any time, but request scheduling ahead.  You can also contact Linda Barton at x276 for scheduling.

DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:

The course will analyze some of the foundational issues of Christian ethics, especially from the perspective of Roman Catholic moral theology.  Special attention will be given to the topics of sin, moral formation and character, the sources of moral wisdom, moral decision making, the person as moral agent, moral norms, and conversion and discernment.

COURSE GOALS:

1.Students will understand the fundamentals of making moral decisions in light of Roman Catholic moral tradition;

2.Students will perceive in their moral experience the dynamic and interdependent relations among character, communities, and choices;

3.Students will achieve a foundation for listening to and analyzing their own and others’ moral experience in pastoral situations.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1.Attendance and active participation in class (participation is not synonymous with just talking).

2.Preparation for each class:  required readings from texts and other materials assigned during the course.

3.Submission of 4-5 page essays on the following topics:

·        Sin:  moving from a foundation in acts to a foundation in relationships:  why it makes sense, due October 7.

·        Hays on abortion, homosexuality, war, relations with Jews, or divorce:  his argument, today’s application—or not

·        Book review addressing particular questions:

·        One eight page paper on a particular issue presented as a pastoral case. 

Required texts:

Richard Gula S.S., Reason Informed by Faith:  Foundations of Catholic Morality, (New York:  Paulist Press, 1989).

Richard Hays, The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation. A Contemporary Introduction to New Testament Ethics (Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1997) ISBN 0567085694 Paper pp. xviii + 508.

James T. Bretzke, A Morally Complex World:  Engaging Contemporary Moral Theology (Collegeville:  Liturgical Press, 2004).

Other works tba.

METHOD OF THIS COURSE:

The course will follow a lecture and discussion format over the course of 13 classes.  We will at times employ small group discussion, videos, streaming video, the web, guest lectures.

Sept. 9, 2006:

TOPIC:  Sin.  READ:  Gula, Ch. 7 & 8.

Oct. 7, 2006:

TOPIC:   Moral growth and development.  READ:  Gula, Ch. 4, 5, & 6.  Begin sources.

Due:  paper on sin

Oct. 28, 2006:

TOPIC:  Sources of moral wisdom:  Law and Scripture.  READ:  Gula, Ch. 12 & 17.  Hays, part three.  .

Nov. 18, 2006:

TOPIC:  Sources of moral wisdom:  Tradition, Reason, Experience, Sciences and Arts.  READ:  Gula, Ch. 11, 14.  Hays paper due.

January 21, 2007:

TOPIC:  Making moral decisions:  Christological and Natural Law methods.  READ:  Gula, Ch. 15 & 16.  Issue paper due.

February 3, 2007: 

TOPIC:  Situation ethics as a method.  Proportionalism.  Gula, Ch.18, 19, 20.

February 17, 2007:

TOPIC:  Making moral decisions:  Situation ethics  READ:  Gula, Ch. 18, 19, 20.

March 10. 2007:

TOPIC:  Discernment, conversion, conscience, and reason, imagination, intuition and the senses of faith.  READ:  Gula, Ch. 21, 9, 10.

March 24, 2007  :

TOPIC:  Bretzke book, pastoral ethics and moral theology:  Bretzke. Liberation theologies, READ:  A Morally Complex World.  Book review due.

April 14, 2006:

TOPIC:  Issues today:  end of life questions, abortion and public policy. Principle of Cooperation.  READINGS TBA   Gula, Ch. 1, 2, 3.  Group action exercise.