Catholic Ethics and Morality
Making moral choices in our modern world can be confusing and difficult. With so many temptations and influences pulling us in all directions, and the pressures of life driving us towards the seemingly "easy" path, it is comforting to know that Jesus Christ, through His Church, has blessed us with clear moral framework to guides us towards a happy, fulfilling life.
In this section you will find many valuable resources explaining the Catholic Church's teachings on matters of Ethics and Morality. Of course, please let us know if you have questions or need information that isn't covered here. We will be happy to add to this section, as needed. God bless you!
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Moral Issues
Contraception
Yep. Contrary to what some Catholics may have told you, this is a big deal. In fact, deliberately practicing contraception is a serious sin. But that's not the end of the story. The first thing you should do is find out why the Catholic Church teaches that contraception is wrong. The first thing we recommend is to read two key teaching documents: Pope Paul VI's teaching on Human Life and the Catechism of the Catholic Church's discussion of the holiness of marriage and the problem with a couple deliberately saying “no” to the possibility of God's gift of children. Next, we suggest that you listen to Dr. Janet Smith's very helpful and down-to-earth explanation of what's really wrong with contraception. Her message, “Contraception, why not?” is available here for FREE (that's right, FREE).
- Contraception & sterilization
- Contraception: why not? (audio)
- Contraception: why not? (text)
- The Myth of “Overpopulation”
Homosexuality
Some former Catholics struggle with same-sex attractions and they wonder if there's any hope for them to come back to the Church and be welcomed. The answer to that question is an unambiguous “yes.” (Read here what the Catholic Church says about homosexuals and homosexual inclinations.) God calls each of us, whether homosexual or heterosexual, to chastity according to our circumstances in life. And the Church is here to help you live in the light of the truth. One helpful and effective ministry helping homosexual believers is Courage. Their web site asks:
“Are you or a loved one experiencing homosexual attractions and looking for answers?
Courage, an apostolate of the Roman Catholic Church, ministers to those with same-sex attractions and their loved ones. We have been endorsed by the Pontifical Council for the Family and our beloved John Paul II said of this ministry, "COURAGE is doing the work of God!" We also have an outreach called Encourage which ministers to relatives and friends of persons with same-sex attractions.
From our web site you will learn about homosexuality and chastity. By developing an interior life of chastity, which is the universal call to all Christians, one can move beyond the confines of the homosexual identity to a more complete one in Christ.
In Courage you will get to know men and women who share in your concerns, meeting them online through our Listservs, or in person at Chapter Meetings, Conferences, Days of Recollection, and Retreats.
Come see what we are about. Browse our pages. Get to know our community. You'll be glad you did!
Pornography
- The Addiction of Pornography and How to Get Free From It
- Porn No More
- How to Avoid Pornography
- The Culture of Pornography & Commitment Phobia
- Help for Spouses
- The Problem of Porn
- The Link Between Pornography and Violence in the Media
