What is a moral object?

[Ron_Conte]

The moral object is the end, in terms of morality, toward which a knowingly chosen act is inherently directed. This intrinsic ordering of the act itself toward the moral object constitutes the moral nature, also called the moral species, of the act. An act with an evil moral object is intrinsically directed toward an immoral end. Any act with an evil moral object is inherently immoral, because the act, by its very nature, is ordered toward moral evil; it is an intrinsically disordered act. Every act with an evil moral object is intrinsically evil, and therefore always immoral, regardless of intention or circumstances. Nothing can cause an intrinsically evil act to become moral because the act is evil by its very nature.

 

[gallowglass]

Well, I object morally to that Ron. It may be that I also morally object

 

[Ron_Conte]

The moral object is also called the proximate end, in other words, the moral object as a type of end is not the intended end or the end result (consequences), which are philosophically more distant from the moral nature of the chosen act. The moral object’s relationship to the essential moral nature of the act itself is immediate and direct. The act by its very nature is ordered toward that type of end called the moral object.

Intrinsically evil acts are always intentionally chosen, in other words, such acts are always deliberate or voluntary. However, the intentional choosing of an act with a certain moral nature, as determined by its moral object, is different from the intended end for which the act was chosen. A person who intentionally chooses an intrinsically evil act, for a good intention, is choosing an act that is objectively morally disordered. The essential moral nature of an act is not determined by the purpose (the intended end) for which the act was chosen, but by the moral object. A good intention cannot change a moral object from evil to good. And so the choice of an intrinsically evil act is always objectively immoral, regardless of the intention for which the act was chosen. Even if the person choosing to commit an intrinsically evil act does not intend the moral object as his subjective goal (intended end), the intentional choice of any intrinsically evil act is an objective sin.

 

[Bookcat]

vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s1c1a4.htm

 

[Ron_Conte]

Catechism of the Catholic Church: “The morality of human acts depends on: the object chosen; the end in view or the intention; the circumstances of the action. The object, the intention, and the circumstances make up the ‘sources,’ or constitutive elements, of the morality of human acts.” (CCC, n. 1750.)

Compendium of the Catechism: “The morality of human acts depends on three sources: the object chosen, either a true or apparent good; the intention of the subject who acts, that is, the purpose for which the subject performs the act; and the circumstances of the act, which include its consequences.” (Compendium, n. 367.)

USCCB Catechism: “Every moral act consists of three elements: the objective act (what we do), the subjective goal or intention (why we do the act), and the concrete situation or circumstances in which we perform the act… All three aspects must be good – the objective act, the subjective intention, and the circumstances – in order to have a morally good act.” (United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, p. 311-312.)

Pope John Paul II: “The doctrine of the object as a source of morality represents an authentic explicitation of the Biblical morality of the Covenant and of the commandments, of charity and of the virtues. The moral quality of human acting is dependent on this fidelity to the commandments, as an expression of obedience and of love. For this reason – we repeat – the opinion must be rejected as erroneous which maintains that it is impossible to qualify as morally evil according to its species the deliberate choice of certain kinds of behaviour or specific acts, without taking into account the intention for which the choice was made or the totality of the foreseeable consequences of that act for all persons concerned.” (Veritatis Splendor, n. 82.)