The document discusses various aspects of conscience, including its role in making moral judgments and decisions. It defines conscience as an individual's inner voice that helps them discern right from wrong based on objective moral norms. The document outlines the different elements, moments, and levels of conscience. It emphasizes the importance of forming one's conscience through faith, prayer, studying teachings of the Church, and examining one's experiences. Both sincerity and correctness of conscience are important.

1. Various notions of Conscience Feeling of guilt, worry, dissatisfaction, restlessness or a feeling of “hiya” when they do something wrong. Sincerity: to be “true to one’s self”: “I can do anything as long as it does not hurt anybody” What “authorities” tell them to do: the laws of the government, the Church, the parents, the “barkada.”

2. CONSCIENCE THE SUBJECTIVE NORM OF MORALITY

3. As a subjective norm of morality, Conscience has the final say in making moral decisions. It helps a person make the final judgement on how to act in a given situation. Along with LAW, which is the objective norm of morality, conscience helps a person determine whether one is doing the right or the wrong.

4. CONSCIENCE It is the inner voice summoning us to love the good and avoid evil, by applying objective moral norms to our particular acts, and thus commanding: “do this, do not do that”. (CFC 723) Basic tendency toward the good (CFC 701) Conscience is man’s most secret core, and his sanctuary. There he is alone w/ God whose voice echoes in his depths (GS 16)

5. Conscience is a JUDGEMENT OF REASON by which the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act (CCC 1796) THROUGH THE PROCESS OF REASONING, BASED ON MORAL PRINCIPLES, CONSCIENCE JUDGES AN ACT AS GOOD OR BAD.

6. Two basic elements of Conscience Moral judgment that discerns what is right and wrong. Moral obligation or command to do good and avoid evil

7. MOMENTS ANTECEDENT - Conscience which discerns. (Before the act) CONCOMITANT- Conscience in action. “Am I doing the right thing?” (During the act) CONSEQUENT - Conscience which reviews, evaluates an action which has already been done. (After the act)

8. LEVELS OF CONSCIENCE INSTINCTIVE LEVEL – Dominated by fear of punishment & desire for approval or reward. Natural level, normal for children.

9. 2. MORAL / PHILOSOPHICAL - Operates on the ethical level, that is, not just on what is commanded by some “authority” but now from awareness of the inner good or evil of an act.

10. 3. CHRISTIAN LEVEL – One’s Christian Faith illumines, clarifies & deepens what we perceive as truly worthy of being a person. It places moral striving as a personal call to wholeness & holiness. We become conscious of the healing & liberating grace present in our very moral struggle & striving, as we are called to greater & fuller conversion into the persons that God has created us to become.

11. CONSCIENCE SINCERITY CORRECTNESS It is not enough to be sincere. It is important to be correct.

12. Ways by which our Conscienceis formed Through the natural education agents of family upbringing Our school training Parish catechist Influence of friends and social contacts

14. Responsiveness to the indwelling Holy Spirit.

16. Work of Conscience To judge the good or evil of an act, by deciding on its three essential aspects: the nature or object of the act our intention as agents or doers of the act, and the circumstances which affect the morality of the act CFC 728

18. Formation of Conscience INFORMED ENLIGHTENED FORMED

19. The Catholic Church as Moral Guide & Teacher: Bearer of Moral Tradition A community of Moral discernment Shaper of Moral Identity.