Intention over action

[jonathanlaferla]

moral theology teaches that a bad action done with a good intention is still wrong. in other words you can’t do wrong with a good intention - it’s still wrong. so how does this reconcile with self defence, which is accepatable? it’s a wrong action (killing someone) with a good intention (defending yourself). or for example lying to someone who is asking you where is someone else (and you know that he wants to hurt him) and you say that you don’t know where he is, when in fact you know. once again, a bad action (lying) with a good intention. any help?

 

[Bookcat]

moral theology teaches that a bad action done with a good intention is still wrong. in other words you can’t do wrong with a good intention - it’s still wrong. so how does this reconcile with self defence, which is accepatable? it’s a wrong action (killing someone) with a good intention (defending yourself). or for example lying to someone who is asking you where is someone else (and you know that he wants to hurt him) and you say that you don’t know where he is, when in fact you know. once again, a bad action (lying) with a good intention. any help?

Self defense is very different from murder (a different moral object -a different moral reality). Catechism:

scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a5.htm#I

As to lying -one may not lie. One may use at times certain discreet ways of speech -see the Catechism too on this.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a8.htm#II

(legit forms of mental reservation etc)