THEO 20605 - Introduction to Catholic Moral Theology, Spring 2007

Introduction to Catholic Moral Theology Professor David Clairmont, Ph.D. Department of Theology University of Notre Dame Course Structure: 75 minute classes twice a week.

Movement. Photo courtesy of Deonna Neal.

Course Description

The course provides an overview of the history of Roman Catholic moral theology by examining how the Roman Catholic tradition developed certain distinctive ways of speaking about moral goods, obligations, and the forms of life. It explores basic principles, values, and patterns of thinking that have formed the tradition of Roman Catholic moral theology including creation, freedom and human dignity, grace, law, virtue, sacrament, prayer, and social justice. Although the basic approach will be historical, the course will alternate between the classic Roman Catholic texts and contemporary Roman Catholic statements on particular moral issues such as economic justice, human sexuality (including discussions of marriage and family), biomedical research, and issues surrounding the use of force in warfare. The course also examines how Roman Catholic thinkers have used various literary genres to speak about the normative and practical implications of the revelation of God in Jesus Christ.

This course was also cross-listed as CST 20605.