RA0601: FUNDAMENTAL MORAL THEOLOGY (6 ECTS)
General Objective:
The course aims to introduce students of theology to the foundations, concepts and methods of
Catholic moral theology so as to equip them to critically involve themselves in discussions of
moral issues and to keep growing in their aspiration for truth and goodness in the light of the
gospel.
Course Outline:
The Nature of Moral Theology and the Task of the Moralist. The Context of Contemporary
Moral Theology. The Bible and Christian Ethics - Jesus and Discipleship. Faith and Morality.
The Human Person: Freedom and Knowledge. Sin and Reconciliation. Conscience and its
Formation. The Church and Moral Life. The Law and Morality. The Morality of Human
Action. Moral Decision Making and Pastoral-Moral Guidance.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the course the students are expected to:
• Recall and outline the history of the development of the discipline of moral theology;
• Describe the nature of moral theology and identify the sources of Catholic moral theology
(scripture and tradition);
• Present a coherent understanding of sin and reconciliation;
• Explain the role of conscience and its formation;
• Present an understanding of the natural law that is relevant to moral action;
• Analyse human action and the essential conditions for evaluating moral action;
• Summarize the latest magisterial teaching on the foundations of catholic moral theology;
• Recognize and apply the process of pastoral decision-making and moral discernment.
Bibliography:
Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd Edition.Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1994.
Birch, Bruce and Larry Rasmussen. Bible and Ethics in the Christian Life. Minneapolis:
Augsburg Publishing House, 1976.
Cessario, Romanus. Introduction to Moral Theology. Washington D.C.: The Catholic
University of America Press, 2001.
Colom, Enrique and Angel Rodriguez-Luno. Chosen in Christ to be Saints: Fundamental
Moral Theology. Rome: EDUSC, 2014.
Connors, Russell and Patrick McCormick. Character, Choices & Community: The Three Faces
of Christian Ethics. New York/ Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1998.
DiNoia, J. A. and Romanus Cessario, ed. Veritatis Splendor and the Renewal of Moral
Theology. Chicago: Midwest Theological Forum, 1999.
Gallagher, John. Time Past, Time Future - A Historical Study of Catholic Moral Theology.
Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1990.
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Grisez, Germain. The Way of the Lord Jesus. 3 Volumes. Chicago: Franciscan Herald Press,
1983.
Gula, Richard. Reason Informed by Faith – Foundations of Catholic Morality. New York/
Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1989.
Hamel, Ronald and Kenneth Himes (Eds.) Introduction to Christian Ethics - A Reader.
Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1989.
Häring Bernard. The Law of Christ. 3 Volumes. Westminster, Md.: Newman, 1961-1966.
Häring Bernard. Free and Faithful in Christ. 3 Volumes. New York: Seabury Press, 1978,
1979, 1981.
Hauerwas, Stanley. Character and the Christian Life: A Study in Theological Ethics. San
Antonio, Texas: Trinity University Press, 1975.
John Paul II. Veritatis splendor: Encyclical Letter Regarding Certain Fundamental Questions
of the Church’s Moral Teaching. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1993.
Lobo, George. Christian Living according to Vatican II – Moral Theology Today. Bangalore:
Theological Publications of India, 1999.
Kennedy, Terence. Doers of the Word. Vol. I. Middlegreen: St. Pauls, 1996.
Maguire, Daniel. The Moral Choice. New York: Doubleday, 1978.
Mahoney, John. The Making of Moral Theology. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986.
May, William. An Introduction to Moral Theology. 2nd ed. Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor
Publishing Division, 2003.
O’Connell, Timothy. Principles for a Catholic Morality. New York: HarperCollins Publishers,
1990.
Pazhayampallil, Thomas. Pastoral Guide. Vol I. 4th ed. Bangalore: Kristu Jyoti Publications,
2004.
Peschke, Karl. Christian Ethics – Moral Theology in the Light of Vatican II. Vol I. Newly
revised Edition. Bangalore: Theological Publications in India, 1999.
Pinckaers, Servais. The Sources of Christian Ethics. Washington D.C.: The Catholic University
of America Press, 1995.
Pontifical Biblical Commission. The Bible and Morality: Biblical Roots of Christian Conduct.
Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2010.
Porter, Jean. Natural & Divine Law: Reclaiming the Tradition for Christian Ethics. Grand
Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1999.
Ratzinger, Joseph, Heinz Schürmann, and Hans Urs Von Balthasar. Principles of Christian
Morality. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1986.
Shelton, Charles. Morality of the Heart: A Psychology for the Christian Moral Life. New York:
Crossroad, 1990.
Stevens, Edward. The Morals Game. New York: Paulist Press, 1974.
Wadell, Paul. The Primacy of Love - An Introduction to the Ethics of Thomas Aquinas.
Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1992.
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