Intro to Catholic Moral Teaching

Talk for RCIA this Sunday
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_KXHqjxpwk1ZB7fDcfGMJfnVneCUN02EAftZx3-eNu0/edit?usp=sharing

As an example of flawed conscience, I submit the example of one Greg Williams, former radio host of KTCK (1310AM The Ticket in Dallas).  Back in 2005 he told a story on the radio about his experience in rehab.  He had voluntarily checked himself in due to a Vicodin addition during the 2004-2005 holiday break.  A portion of the story can be heard here.

This audio is from the second segment of that talk. In the first segment, he mentioned an interesting fact: all the staff in that rehab clinic were trained to avoid looking at their patients in the eye.  The patients were obviously in pain and if the staff looked them in the eye, they might take pity on them and might do something to ease the pain.  It's understandable that this clinic had drugs or alcohol on hand: the addicts probably had it on them when they came in.  So it's possible people could squirrel it away and, in a misguided sense of compassion, give the patients something to take the edge off.  Conscience tells us to help, but it doesn't tell us the best way, or even the right way.

Conscience does not good unless it's formed by something outside of ourselves.  Something trustworthy and well-founded.