Bible and other sources of authority
Sources of authority
The Catholic Church teaches that there are three sources of authority:
- scripture
- magisterium
- tradition
However, none of these stand alone. Just as a three-legged stool needs all three legs to stand, the Church uses and needs all three sources of authority. The scriptures tell the word of God, which has been followed and developed over the generations (tradition) and the teachings of the Church from the apostles onwards. All three are used to develop teachings and give the Church authority.
Conscience
In addition to the three sources of authority, the Catholic Church recognises the importance of conscience. Conscience can be described a moral sense of right and wrong. A conscience must be educated, as an uneducated conscience can make a wrong decision. An individual can educate their conscience through prayer, scripture and experience. Indeed the scriptures state that even those who do not have faith to follow still have their conscience.
When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them.
Natural Law and reason
Natural Moral Law is an absolutist theory that was developed by Thomas Aquinas, a priest, theologian and philosopher of the Church.
The The idea that nature has its own absolute built-in moral laws that are self-evident. theory is based on the belief that there is a natural order to the world and that natural order has been designed by God.
Aquinas stated that the Natural Moral Law is what humans naturally tend towards, as moral law is:
- accessible to everyone
- universal
- unchanging
- for all time
- relevant
- given by God
The Bible supports the Natural Law approach to ethical decision-making, as it affirms that God is the creator of all things and therefore everything has a design and purpose. Aquinas also stated that everything could be understood through a study of the natural world and the scriptures and that humanity was given The idea that humans are free to make their own moral choices. alongside The ability to think and to work things out., which fulfils Godâs purpose for them. By following each of these stages, an individual is following the Natural Moral Law.
Situations and circumstances
The Bible also offers help and advice in different situations. Jesus taught in parables so that people could relate those to their everyday lives. The Bible contains a wide range of laws and teachings and will be used by the The teaching authority of the Catholic Church formed of the Pope and Bishops of the Church. to help formulate teachings. Catholics can use it to help decide what is right and wrong in each situation.
Question
Explain how Catholics decide what is right and wrong.
Catholics may use three sources when making decisions. They can gain understanding and knowledge of Christâs teachings and Godâs plans from scripture. Catholics may look to the traditions of the Church and the teaching of the magisterium. By looking at these, Catholics can understand what the Church expects of them. The belief is that the use of reason is what makes humans unique. Humans are able to work out what is right and wrong by looking at the actions and consequences of each action and by taking into account tradition and scripture. However, none of these should be used separately. They should be used together and complement each other.
Civil Law
Sometimes some of the laws and teachings of the Bible come into conflict with those of the country and the government. The Church teaches that an individual should follow the teachings of the Bible as long as they do not come into with those of the country. Within the UK the majority of laws either are in agreement with biblical teachings, eg murder is wrong. Alternatively, the decision can be a personal one, eg abortion is legal, but it is an individual choice. The only reason why this might not be applicable is if the countryâs laws go against human rights.