CONSCIENCE

1. NOTIONS OF CONSCIENCE
Is understood as a kind of inner voice which guides us
in our moral life. This can mean our basic tendency toward the
good, the voice always summoning us to love the good and avoid
evil. It is also called the subjective norm of morality. This means
that conscience has the final say in the making of moral
decisions.
2. CONCEPT OF CONSCIENCE

The one that summons us to love the good and avoid

evil. It is the most secret core and sanctuary of an
individual- where one can be alone with God.

The Moral Conscience- In the depths of a persons

conscience, man detects a law which he does not
impose upon himself, but which holds him to
obedience.
o
Always summoning him to love good and
avoid evil, the voice of conscience can, when
necessary, speak to his heart more
specifically: Do this, shun that.
o
For man in his heart detects a law written by
God.
o
To obey it is the very dignity of man;
according to it he will be judged.
o
Conscience is the most secret core and
sanctuary of man. There he is alone with
God, whose voice echoes in its depths
(Gaudium et Spes, 16)
3. Divisions of Conscience

True conscience- when it deduces correctly from the

principle that the act is lawful, or it conforms to what is
objectively right.

False or erroneous conscience- when it decides, from

false principles considered as true, that something is
unlawful. The conscience errs because of the false
principles or from incorrect reasoning.
4. Kinds of Erroneous Conscience

Scrupulous conscience- one that for little or no reason

judges an act to be morally evil when it is not, or
exaggerates the gravity of sin or sees sin where it does
not exist.

Perplexed Conscience- judges wrongly that sin is

committed both in the performance or omission of an
act. One fears that sin is committed whether it was
actually done or not.

Lax Conscience- judges on insufficient ground that

there is no sin in the fact, or that sin is not as grave as it
is in fact, or it is insensitive to a moral obligation in a
particular area.

Pharisaical Conscience- minimizes grave sins but

maximizes small ones.
5. Certain conscience- when without any prudent fear or error it
decides that the act is either lawful or unlawful, or if the person
has no doubt about the correctness of ones judgment.

A conscience can be certain at the same time

erroneous. A certain conscience is not necessarily right.
A certain conscience excludes all fear or error about
acting rightly.

Doubtful Conscience- when it fails to pass a moral

judgment in the character of the act due to a fear or
error, or if the person is unsure about the correctness of
his judgment.
6. Some moral principles involving the use of conscience:

A person who follows an erroneous conscience without

causing injury to others should not be prevented from
acting , unless the person objects unreasonably against
ones own welfare like in the prevention of suicide or an
injury to ones health.

A person who follows ones erroneous conscience and

injures others should be prevented from performing
ones external deeds.

One may not morally coerce or persuade another to act

versus ones conscience.

7. Some principles governing/forming conscience

One is obliged to form a right and unerring conscience.

Everyone is obliged to follow ones conscience.

One is not permitted to follow an erroneous conscience;

so the error must be corrected before one acts upon it.

If the person with a perplexed conscience finds it

impossible to ask for an advise, one should choose
what seems to be the lesser evil. The person follows
the Reflex principles.

Only the certain conscience is the correct guide to

moral behavior.
8. Reflex principles are rules of prudence which do not solve
doubts concerning the existence of a law, moral principle, or fact
by intrinsic or extrinsic evidence; instead, they only indicate
where, in cases of unreasonable doubts, the greater right is
usually to be found and the lesser evil is to be feared, and which
side therefore is favored as long as the doubt persists.
9. Reflex principles wherein doubt presumption stand:

In doubt, the condition of the possessor is the better.

In doubt, favor the accused; or (which comes to the

same): Crime is not to be presumed, it has to be
proven.

In doubt, presumption stands on the side of the

superior.

In doubt, stand for the validity of the act.

In doubt, amplify the favorable and restrict the

unfavorable.

In doubt, presumption stands for the usual and the

ordinary.

In doubt, favor the customary and hitherto approved.

A doubtful law does not oblige.

10. More Practical Principles in the Formation of Conscience
(Finleyand Pennock):

Principle 1. Yes, we are told to follow our conscience.

Conscience is Supreme. In moral decisions, we must
follow our conscience, even if it is wrong.

Two points should be emphasized here:

o
Because a person is ultimately responsible
for ones actions nobody else can be blamed
for them.
o
But by saying that conscience is supreme, it
does not mean that an individual is superior
to God, the Church, or other people. True, a
person is responsible for ones action, but
these are not in isolation from others.

Principle 2. One has the duty to continuously develop

an informed conscience.
o
Have a pure intention
o
Consult the teaching of the New Testament,
the Prophets, Moses, and Paul.
o
Ask the question: How will this action of mine
measure up to the yardstick of love?
o
Consult the people of God where Christ and
His Spirit reside.
o
Follow the current debate on the great moral
issues.
o
Pray for Gods graceful guidance in all our
actions.
o
Be sorrowful for our sinfulness, not just our
sins, by confessing them fully and humbly,
asking for Gods help in the process.