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HOLY FAMILY ACADEMY
Ad Veritatem per Fidem et Rationem
Grade 11
INSTRUCTOR:
COURSE TITLE:
Dr. Thomas Kryst ([email protected])
Moral Theology
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course serves as the capstone for the theology curriculum. By examining the beatitudes,
human actions, the moral and theological virtues, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and natural and
divine law, this course will investigate how Christians are conformed to Christ in their lives.
We will begin with a simple question: Why be virtuous? Even to ask this question presupposes
that we already know something about the nature of virtue. Yet we must begin with this
question, because you deserve some justification for all of the time and effort we are demanding
of you. Thus we will approach this question first of all from the point of view of one of the
ancient philosophers, who posed it millennia ago. We will consider how his reflections are
transformed with the Christian view.
We will explore other similar and equally important questions. Why does morality matter? For
whom does morality matter? What does morality have to do with my well being? What is the
moral life? What is conscience and what does it mean for me? What is virtue and what are its
types? What makes us moral beings? What does morality have to do with grace and sin? In
exploring these basic issues we will find ourselves coming to a deeper understanding of what it
means to be truly human. As Christians we know that the basic question of human existence
ultimately leads to Christ, the exemplary human, and how we ultimately conform our lives to
him. The details of such a formation will occupy us for the remainder of the term. We will
delve into specific realms of morality that are particularly important to us such as bioethics, the
ethics of human relations, and the morality of war. Our overall goal will be to form a basis for
understanding what it means to live a life of virtue and equip you to make the concrete decisions
that form it.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. To appreciate better what virtue is and how it relates to our own well-being.
2. To gain an understanding of the fundamental principles of moral theology.
3. To grasp of the methodology and tools utilized in moral theology.
4. To become familiar with some of the wealth of moral teaching in the Church.
5. To understand the underlying reasons for the Church’s position on some contemporary
moral issues.
6. To learn how to better live a virtuous life.
7. To better appreciate Christ as the Savior of fallen humanity.
SCOPE AND SEQUENCE:
First Trimester: Happiness and the Internal Principles of the Moral Life
1. Introduction to Moral Theology
2. Happiness
3. Human Acts
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4. The Passions
5. Moral Conscience
6. Virtues
7. Sin
Second Trimester: The External Principles of the Moral Life: Law and Grace
1. Law: Eternal, Natural, Human, and Divine
2. Grace
Third Trimester: Contemporary Moral Problems
1. Abortion/Stem Cell Research/Human Reproduction
2. Social Justice
3. War
4. Capital Punishment
COURSE TEXTS:
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Treatise on Law, Aquinas
The Prince, Machiavelli
Dignitatis Humanae, Vatican II
Humanae Vitae, Paul VI
Evangelium Vitae, John Paul II
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church, Pontifical Council for Justice
and Peace
Charter for Health Care Workers, Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care
Workers
"Harvest of Justice is Sown in Peace", USCCB
Other materials as assigned
SUPPLEMENTAL TEXTS:
The Sources of Christian Ethics (Servais Pinckaers, O.P.)
Selections from Summa Theologiae, I-II (Aquinas) [Handout]
Veritatis Splendor (John Paul II)
Love and Responsibility (Wojtyla)
The Theology of the Body (John Paul II)
Gaudium et Spes (Vatican II)
Centesimus Annus (John Paul II)
COURSE SUPPLIES:
 Binder with paper or notebook
 At least two pens/pencils
GRADING:
Your grade has four principal components: participation, tests, assignments, and formal
papers. The participation grade counts 25%. 17% of this component consists of checks that
discern your familiarity with the homework reading assignment, checks of your ability to prepare
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the class for the day’s discussion, and checks of your ability to summarize the discussion at the
end of the period. The remainder measures your quality involvement in the discussion of the day
(8%).
Tests comprise 35% of your grade. Included are the in-class tests (10% ea.) and the final
exam (15%).
Informal written assignments count as 20% of your grade. These consist in periodic single
page handwritten papers on an assigned topic. These are normally graded as satisfactory or
unsatisfactory, with some opportunity for extra credit.
Formal assignments count for the remaining 20% of your grade. These assignments, on a
topic selected by the instructor will be submitted either orally, in class, or in formal, typewritten
form which conforms to well accepted standards of documentation.
HOMEWORK:
Homework will normally consist of an assigned reading with occasional other assignments
as announced.
WRITTEN HOMEWORK:
Essays will be assigned each trimester on a topic related to moral theology. I will expect a
paper copy at the beginning of the class on the day it is due. Late submissions will incur a
penalty of 3% per day.
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