Christian morality - the "Law of Nature" vs the "Law of the Church"

[Saya]

Hi. I am an agnostic, a former Catholic currently trying to reevaluate my stance on faith through a more in-depth study of religion (as recently I found out that beliefs commonly held by the faithful and propagated by the clergy are very often very far away from what the Church is actually claiming). I started with the lecture of Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. In his book, he claims that the “Law of Nature” I feel so compelled to oblige by has been installed in me by God. This raises a question - what if my internal Law of Nature is in disagreement with the stance of the Catholic Church on some issues? Does it mean it’s not really the Law of Nature that makes me think so? Or that it has been corrupted in some way?

 

[Todd_Easton]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1954-1960, talk about The Natural Moral Law. Paragraph 1960 seems to address your question; it says in part:

1960 The precepts of natural law are not perceived by everyone clearly and immediately. In the present situation sinful man needs grace and revelation so moral and religious truths may be known "by everyone with facility, with firm certainty and with no admixture of error."12

 

[Saya]

I’m sorry but I’m not sure if I understand it correctly. Does this quote imply that I need to experience a revelation in order to make sure that “my interpretation of the Law of Nature withing me” is correct?

 

[Stephen_says]

Does it mean it’s not really the Law of Nature that makes me think so? Or that it has been corrupted in some way?

I think that could be called Concupiscence, one of the effects of Original Sin.

Does this quote imply that I need to experience a revelation in order to make sure that “my interpretation of the Law of Nature withing me” is correct?

Not a revelation, but formation through learning and studying the faith. That quote about “revelation” is referring to sacred scripture as the revelation of God to mankind.

 

[ColoradoCatholic]

what do you disagree with about the catholic faith?

 

[Saya]

I think that could be called Concupiscence

But concupiscence is a desire, isn’t it? There is a difference between desiring something and thinking it’s good.

That quote about “revelation” is referring to sacred scripture as the revelation of God to mankind.

I see. It makes more sense now. So I just lack the knowledge necessary to “steer my Law of Nature” in the right direction?

 

[Saya]

what do you disagree with about the catholic faith?

For example, I think that two people loving each other, marrying (for the whole life) and building a life together (but without children) is not something wrong.

Edit: To clarify - I’m talking about couples who DO NOT WANT children. Not those who can’t have them, or just happen not to have them for some reason etc.

 

[StudentMI]

If you’re interested in natural law, I recommend the book What We Can’t Not Know by J. Budziszewski.

 

[fhansen]

I’m sorry but I’m not sure if I understand it correctly. Does this quote imply that I need to experience a revelation in order to make sure that “my interpretation of the Law of Nature withing me” is correct?

It means that we don’t always know in some cut and dry fashion. In this world even after Baptism/justification we’re compromised and dimmed in understanding, not necessarily directly in tune with our own consciences, aka the voice of God speaking within us. Augustine put it this way, “God wrote on tablets of stone that which man failed to read in his heart”, speaking in this case of the Ten Commandments.

The Church teaches that the “natural law” issues directly from the “divine Law” which flows from God’s wisdom. The publicly revealed law is a reflection of both.

But IOW, whatever law we perceive or consider, whatever moral values we have inside, can be challenged or tempted to be overridden. Our faculties of reason and free will allow for this possibility.

 

[Saya]

But IOW, whatever law we perceive or consider, whatever moral values we have inside, can be challenged or tempted to be overridden. Our faculties of reason and free will allow for this possibility.

So if what I perceive as the Law of Nature within me is not in line with the stance of the Church on some issue, then it’s not actually the Law of Nature in its pure form, but just my personal moral “opinion” affected by the culture, reason or something else?

 

[SPBlitz]

So if what I perceive as the Law of Nature within me is not in line with the stance of the Church on some issue, then it’s not actually the Law of Nature in its pure form, but just my personal moral “opinion” affected by the culture, reason or something else?

More or less. I think what Lewis was getting at was that, by and large, much of humanity is in agreement about the goodness of certain virtues, like courage or loyalty. This suggests that there is some law, or rule, or fact about reality, that says that these virtues are good and their opposites are evil. If there wasn’t, then there’d be no reason to prefer courage to cowardice, or loyalty to betrayal. The fact that humanity largely seems to be in agreement about morality at its most basic level suggests that there is such a law.

 

[fhansen]

So if what I perceive as the Law of Nature within me is not in line with the stance of the Church on some issue, then it’s not actually the Law of Nature in its pure form, but just my personal moral “opinion” affected by the culture, reason or something else?

We have to give the Church the benefit of the doubt-there are lots of voices out there seeking to sway us. Having said that the Church also has much to say about the conscience-and how we aren’t to ignore it either:

1776 "Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment. . . . For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God. . . . His conscience is man’s most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths."47

1779 It is important for every person to be sufficiently present to himself in order to hear and follow the voice of his conscience. This requirement of interiority is all the more necessary as life often distracts us from any reflection, self-examination or introspection:

Return to your conscience, question it. . . . Turn inward, brethren, and in everything you do, see God as your witness.51

1782 Man has the right to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions. "He must not be forced to act contrary to his conscience. Nor must he be prevented from acting according to his conscience, especially in religious matters."53

1784 The education of the conscience is a lifelong task. From the earliest years, it awakens the child to the knowledge and practice of the interior law recognized by conscience. Prudent education teaches virtue; it prevents or cures fear, selfishness and pride, resentment arising from guilt, and feelings of complacency, born of human weakness and faults. The education of the conscience guarantees freedom and engenders peace of heart.

More here: Catechism of the Catholic Church - PART 3 SECTION 1 CHAPTER 1 ARTICLE 6

 

[Saya]

Conscience must be informed and moral judgment enlightened. A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. The education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings.

So if authoritative teachings of the Church do not convince me then I essentially have not to follow my conscience, right?

 

[fhansen]

Yes, to do otherwise would be to live a lie for yourself. But if we’re honest I think we would always keep in mind the understanding that we don’t know everything and that we have an obligation to keep looking and considering alternative and possibly better positions

 

[Todd_Easton]

Does this quote imply that I need to experience a revelation in order to make sure that “my interpretation of the Law of Nature withing me” is correct?

Not a private revelation, as you suggest, but rather public revelation that was made to such people as Moses and the Old Testament prophets, which ended with Jesus Christ and his apostles and which the Catholic Church has since faithfully preserved in her teaching. So, basically, it refers to Catholic moral teaching.