Understanding Contemporary Moral Issues from a Catholic Perspective

Understanding Contemporary Moral Issues from a Catholic Perspective

The Catholic Church believes that the dignity of human life must be valued above all else. This is as clear in the churches stand on IVF as it is in other areas of Catholic teaching with regard to society, marriage and in other areas of bioethics. However whilst it does not agree with IVF, there is a clear compassion for those couples who choose to conceive through IVF.

Passing on these moral values is not an easy task. As teachers and educators of youth in Catholic schools we must make our students be aware of the compassion the church has towards people who make decisions in good conscience but, educate them with the reasons behind the position the church takes. Further we not only need to inform our students of the ethics which determine the moral values of the church, we also need to give them the opportunity to form their own consciences by considering a variety of issues. School students need to be given guidance as to what the ethically correct decision might be. This will enable them to make a better decision if they are faced with a moral dilemma of their own in the future.

As a Catholic community we share a set of beliefs and values, which determines our view of the world we live in. The church understands that each person has an individual conscience, but as a community tries to establish a position on various ethical matters which helps us to determine right from wrong. This position is a standard that the community feels is important enough to be upheld, even if the choice my not be popular to a section of that community. Often it is a choice that challenges members to make a personal sacrifice for the greater good of the community.

Common bioethical values recognize that individuals must be able to decide for themselves, that doctors are there to do the best for their patients or at very least to do them no harm and that people should be treated according to their needs....