paradigm shifts eccce report

Paradigm Paradigm Shifts in Shifts in Catholic Catholic Moral Moral Theology Theology (Richard Gula, (Richard Gula, SS, Fausto SS, Fausto Gomez, OP)Gomez, OP) Msgr. Pedro Gerardo O. SantosMsgr. Pedro Gerardo O. Santos

ECCCE Executive SecretaryECCCE Executive SecretarySeptember 16, 2016September 16, 2016

1. Moral Theology in Vatican II2. Moral Theology from Vatican II to the Encyclical Veritatis Splendor of PJPII3. Moral Theology in and after Veritatis Splendor, and4. Some significant notes or characteristics of a renewed moral theology five decades after Vat II. - Fr. Fausto Gomez, OP

1. Moral Theology in Vatican IIOptatam

Totius

The most significant teaching of Vatican II on the renewal of moral theology: “Special attention needs to be given to the development of moral theology. Its scientific exposition should be more thoroughly nourished by scriptural teaching.

…It should show the nobility of the Christian vocation of the faithful, and their obligation to bring forth fruit in charity for the life of the world.”

Vatican II points out three important elements in the renewal of moral theology

1. Biblical and scientific exposition of moral theology.

2. The primary object of moral theology: “the nobility of the Christian vocation.” The fundamental norm of the Christian is to be and behave as a Christian, that is, imitator, follower, disciple of Christ (Phil 2:7, ff; Rom 15:1-3; 1 Pet 2:21; 1 Jn 2:6) “I therefore, implore you to live a life worthy of your vocation.”

3. The consequent object of moral theology: “To bring forth fruit in charity for the life of the world.”By their fruits one knows who is a Christian.

2. Moral Theology from 2. Moral Theology from Vatican II to the Encyclical Vatican II to the Encyclical Veritatis Splendor of PJPIIof PJPII

Always in Need of RenewalAlways in Need of RenewalAs part of theology, moral As part of theology, moral theology will always need to be theology will always need to be renewed. Why? Because, as renewed. Why? Because, as journey to God, moral theology journey to God, moral theology involves “an active search of God involves “an active search of God by the person”, and God is by the person”, and God is “always mysterious and always “always mysterious and always discoverable.”discoverable.”

Always in Need of RenewalAlways in Need of Renewal……Moreover, moral theology is Moreover, moral theology is about Christian life, and life is a about Christian life, and life is a dynamic process of dynamic process of development, a continuing effort development, a continuing effort to become better – as children of to become better – as children of God and brothers/sisters of one God and brothers/sisters of one another.another.

Always in Need of RenewalAlways in Need of RenewalRenewal involves fidelity to Renewal involves fidelity to tradition and creative openness tradition and creative openness to the future. Authentic to the future. Authentic theological renewal implies going theological renewal implies going back to the source and being back to the source and being open to the world.open to the world.

Some Important Events and Some Important Events and DevelopmentDevelopment

In September 1967, Paul In September 1967, Paul VI speaks of some VI speaks of some concrete errors in the concrete errors in the field of morals: negation field of morals: negation of the existence of of the existence of intrinsically evil acts, the intrinsically evil acts, the re-emergence of re-emergence of relativism, the lack of relativism, the lack of consideration for the consideration for the teachings of the teachings of the Magisterium.Magisterium.

3. Impact of John Paul II 3. Impact of John Paul II (Veritatis Splendor)(Veritatis Splendor)

In a real sense, both complement In a real sense, both complement each other: while CCC contains a each other: while CCC contains a complete and systematic complete and systematic exposition of Christian moral exposition of Christian moral teaching (no. 15), the encyclical teaching (no. 15), the encyclical focuses on some basic moral focuses on some basic moral questions.questions.

i. The i. The relationship relationship between moral between moral theology and theology and the Sacred the Sacred Scriptures.Scriptures.

ii. The moral question – ii. The moral question – “Teacher, what must I “Teacher, what must I do” – and the question of do” – and the question of happiness.happiness.

iii. Reinterpretation iii. Reinterpretation of the Decalogue of the Decalogue from charity.from charity.

iv. The Sermon on the iv. The Sermon on the Mount and the New Law – Mount and the New Law – recovered by moral recovered by moral theology.theology.

v. Connection between the v. Connection between the observance of the observance of the commandments and the commandments and the search for perfection.search for perfection.

vi. The need of vi. The need of grace.grace.

4. Some Significant 4. Some Significant Characteristics of a Renewed Characteristics of a Renewed Moral TheologyMoral Theology

General CharacteristicsIn general, these are some of the recurring notes:a. The centrality of Christ.b. The globalization of ethics as well as its contextualization and inculturation.c. The feminization – and “democratization” – of Moral Theology.

General CharacteristicsIn general, these are some of the recurring notes:d. A Fundamental Moral Theology - key to ecumenical dialogue, inter-religious dialogue and secular dialogue.

General CharacteristicsIn general, these are some of the recurring notes:e. The basic importance of Christian anthropology to ground the human person as fundamental criterion of morality.

General CharacteristicsIn general, these are some of the recurring notes:f. The priority of orthopraxis based upon a theological ethics that is liberating and compassionate.

General CharacteristicsIn general, these are some of the recurring notes:g. Holiness rooted in grace and lived in love and prayer, as the goal of moral theology. The current interest in the relationship between spirituality and Christian ethics.

General CharacteristicsIn general, these are some of the recurring notes:h. The emergence of theological bioethics and the radical and equal value of every human life.

General CharacteristicsIn general, these are some of the recurring notes:i. The continuing relevance of social ethics in the pursuit of justice and solidarity, and of environmental ethics.

General CharacteristicsIn general, these are some of the recurring notes:j. The ethical and theological approach of virtue ethics with the principles approach, presided by love or charity.

Some Significant Characteristics of a Renewed Moral TheologyMoral theology is Moral theology is going back to being going back to being more theology, to be more theology, to be more grounded in the more grounded in the dogmatic treaties of dogmatic treaties of God, Christ, the God, Christ, the Church and Christian Church and Christian anthropology.anthropology.

Some Significant Characteristics of a Renewed Moral TheologyAfter Vatican II, and based on historical/experiential realities, the method of moral theology is more inductive than deductive, more dynamic then static, more dialogical than apologetic, more practical (praxis) than speculative, more theological than philosophical.

Christ Centered EthicsTheological ethics is Christian ethics, the ethics of the disciples of Christ. There is almost full convergence among theologians on the centrality of Christ in moral theology.

Christ Centered EthicsThe primary object of Christian morality is “the nobility of the Christian vocation.”

Agapeic Ethics

Theological ethics is centered on Theological ethics is centered on Christ, and Christ’s ethics is Christ, and Christ’s ethics is focused on love: the imitation focused on love: the imitation and the following of Jesus and the following of Jesus necessarily lead the disciples to necessarily lead the disciples to the practice of charity as love of the practice of charity as love of God and neighbor. God and neighbor.

Agapeic Ethics

…As Vatican II tells us, the consequent object of moral theology is to produce “fruit of love for the salvation of the world.”

Agapeic EthicsFor the past three decades, there has been a powerful re-birth of virtue-ethics.

Agapeic EthicsMorality is grounded on spirituality. After all, Christianity is not morality, but a personal experience in the Church of Christ, of the paschal mystery.

Agapeic EthicsLike genuine theology, moral theology is a prayerful theology. As Urs von Balthasar says, an armchair theology must be completed with a theology on bended knees and on the march.

Agapeic Ethics Evagrio de Ponto: “If you are a theologian, you will truly pray; and if you truly pray, you are a theologian.”

St. Gregory of Nyssa:Man, as a being is of no account; he is dust, grass, and vanity. But, once the God of the universe adopts him as a son, he becomes part of the family of the Being…What words, thoughts of flight of the spirit can praise the superabundance of this grace?

St. Gregory of Nyssa:…Man surpasses his nature: mortal, he becomes immortal; perishable, he becomes imperishable; fleeting, he becomes eternal; human, he becomes divine.

Conclusion“The nobility of the Christian vocation,” and the consequent object of moral theology is “to bring forth fruit in charity for the life of the world.”

St. Thomas Aquinas:The Angelic Doctor defines moral theology as the study of the movement of the rational creature towards God.

I. Shift in Focus

““aggiornamentoaggiornamento” and ” and ““ressourcementressourcement” ”

--- the church is called to --- the church is called to renewal through the Word of renewal through the Word of

God and the Liturgy as well as God and the Liturgy as well as the “the “return to the Sourcesreturn to the Sources” ” (the Fathers of the Church and (the Fathers of the Church and

the ancient Church)the ancient Church)

I. Shift in Focus

A shift from A shift from ““What am I doing?” What am I doing?”

to to ““What sort of person am I What sort of person am I

becoming?”becoming?”

II. Shift in Worldview

From a CLASSICIST WORLDVIEW to a HISTORICIST WORLDVIEWClassicismClassicism (McBrien): the (McBrien): the philosophical worldview which philosophical worldview which holds that reality (truth) is holds that reality (truth) is essentially static, unchanging, essentially static, unchanging, and unaffected by history or and unaffected by history or culture.culture.

From a CLASSICIST WORLDVIEW to a HISTORICIST WORLDVIEWHistoricist or Historical Historicist or Historical Consciousness Consciousness (McBrien): a (McBrien): a theological and philosophical theological and philosophical mentality which is attentive to the mentality which is attentive to the impact of history on human thought impact of history on human thought and action and which therefore takes and action and which therefore takes into account the concrete and the into account the concrete and the changeable.changeable.II. Shift in Worldview

III. Shift in MethodFrom a DEDUCTIVE

METHOD to an INDUCTIVE METHODDEDUCTIVE METHOD – begins

with abstract principles of human nature and moral action form the basis of universal and unexceptional moral teaching.

III. Shift in MethodFrom a DEDUCTIVE

METHOD to an INDUCTIVE METHODINDUCTIVE METHOD – supports

a method that looks into historical particulars, the concrete, the changing, developmental, personalistic and sensitive to the complexities of human existence.

THEOLOGICAL – PASTORAL NOTES:

• THE PARADIGM SHIFTS ARE NOT EXCLUSIVE BUT PREDOMINANT SHIFTS. THERE WERE MOVEMENTS IN PRE VATICAN II THAT PAVED THE WAY TO VATICAN II. THEY ARE THE BIBLICAL MOVEMENT, THE LITURGICAL MOVEMENT AND THE KERYGMATIC MOVEMENT.

• GLARING EXAMPLES OF THE TWO WORLDVIEWS AND METHODS IS CATHOLIC SEXUAL ETHICS (PREDOMINANTLY CLASSICIST) AND CATHOLIC SOCIAL ETHICS (PREDOMINANTLY HISTORICIST)

• THEOLOGY AND CATECHESIS. WHILE DIFFERENT IN ORIENTATION AND METHOD, THEY PLAY SIGNIFICANT INTERPLAY. CATECHESIS IS ROOTED IN GOOD THEOLOGY. THEOLOGY IS AT THE SERVICE OF CATECHESIS.

paradigm shifts eccce report

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