Formation of Social Conscience

Two Dimensions of Conscience

1. It can refer to a person’s basic moral tendency in the depths of a person’s being, a basic moral value that summons the person to obedience, to love good and to avoid evil.

2. It can also refer to a practical moral judgment in the person’s heart telling the person “inwardly at the right moment: do this, shun that”.

Dimensions

Complex Factors that Enter into the Formation of Filipino Conscience

1. Family upbringing2. Interaction with other

consciences3. Social environment4. The influence of media

Formation of Conscience

1. Word of God2. Faith and Prayer put into Practice3. Examine our conscience4. Assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit5. Aided by the witness and advice of

others6. Guided by the authoritative teaching of

the Church

MAGISTERIUM- the authority and power of the Church to teach religious truth.

The Church has been engaged in an on going process of “conscientization” in our social responsibilities as Filipino Christians. She formed a ministry to raise the social consciousness of the people known as the social action center.

Faith judges ideology, not the other way around.

When knowledge is valued, it becomes the wisdom of the heart.

To effectively carry through a program that actually builds justice in a truly Filipino and Christian manner demands a double recognition:

1.That the struggle for liberation, justice, and peace is really part of authentic Christian faith

2.That Christian faith has an essential, irreplaceable role to play in achieving justice for the Filipino: we must take responsibility for building a just society.

The Moral Virtues1. PRUDENCE2. JUSTICE3. FORTITUDE4. TEMPERANCE5. CHARITY

STAGES OF MORAL REASONINGDr. Lawrence KohlbergFIRST LEVEL: Pre- Conventional

Stage 1: Fear of PunishmentStage 2: Personal Usefulness

SECOND LEVEL: ConventionalStage 3: Conformity with the GroupStage 4: Law and OrderStage 5: Social Contract or Respect for OthersStage 6: Personal Conscience