This first text is an
Introduction to Catholic Moral Theology
at 1st or 2nd year BA Level.
It follows the schema of the Catechism of the Catholic Church part III and should be read in combination with this, the text by Fernandez and Socias: Our Moral Life in Christ, is also helpful.
You can download it chapter by chapter:
Introduction and overall index
A. General Moral Theology
Ch.1. Sources of moral theology - Scripture, Patristics History.
Ch.2 Dignity of the Human Person, Happiness, Beatitude, Freedom
Ch 3 Morality of Human acts, the Passions, Conscience
Ch 4 Virtues and sin
Ch 5 The Moral Law, grace and Justification
Part B. Special Moral Theology
(The Decalogue)
Ch 6 The Virtue of religion (Commandments 1-3)
Ch 7 Family and Sexual Ethics (Comm. 4,6 & 9)
Ch 8 Sanctity and promotion of Human Life and Health (Commandment 5)
Ch 9 Property, Social Ethics and Truth Telling (Commandments 7,8 & 10)
Supplement: Excursus on
1. Interpretation and Use of Scripture
2. Objections to Natural Law theory
3. Principle of Double Effect
4. Grades of assent to different teachings of the Magisterium
5. Creative solutions to the plight of the divorced remarried
6. Education for chastity and family life
7. Population control measures against the Third World
8. Notes for catechists when teaching moral doctrine.
Here is an MA module course on
Medical Ethics
Copyright belongs to the Maryvale Institute Birmingham
Ch.1 On the ancient and deep links between medicine and religion, especially Christianity
Ch 2. Health and personal responsibility, Informed consent, honesty and confidentiality, the patient-doctor relationship.
Ch.3 Respect for Human Life in its Origins - abortion, legal, demographic and ecumenical aspects.
Ch.4 Status of the Human Embryo, Post-Abortion Syndrome, conflict situations.
Ch 5. The Eugenics movement, prenatal diagnosis, sterilisation, genetic counselling, infertility treatments.
Ch.6 Respect for the human person towards the end of earthly life: a theology of illness and dying. Care of the dying.
Ethical problems: defining the moment of death, organ transplants, suicide, hunger strikes.
Ch.7 (see file medical 1 doc)
Euthanasia, orthothanasia, benemortasia
Ch 8 Medical research and experimentation
Genetic engineering. Vivisection and animal rights
Ch.9 Ethical problems in psychiatry and psychology: psychotherapy, behaviour control, alcoholism and drug dependency, therapy for homosexual persons.
Ch.10.Spiritual and Pastoral Care of the Sick
Hospital chaplaincy. Ecumenical perspectives. Prayer and Sacraments for the Sick
