1. Chapter 6:
Making Moral Decisions
We become the choices we make.
This means that the kind of choice we
decide reveals the kind of person we are.
However, it is equally true also that the
choices we make can form the kind of
person we will become.
Whether we like it not, we have to make
choices or decisions

2. But to make real choices or serious decisions is
not easy. A lot of things have to be taken into
consideration:
Example:
3. The circumstances of our
decisions/choices
5.The possible consequences
6.The guidance of others
7.The values formed in us

3. How do I make good decisions?
We make decisions everyday.
In making decisions, we use our gift of freedom
and intellect.
There are easy decisions to make . . .
But there are times when decisions are not
easy . . . When they become so difficult . . . .
Reasons: peer pressure, conflict of values, doubt,
fear of the consequences,. In this case decisions
should be made very carefully.

4. What then is needed?
• The courage to actually choose what
is good and proper, especially when
pressured
• The need to follow what is truly good
according to our conscience, which
can come also from a good
discernment
• To arrive at a clear decision, we need
to educate or form our consciences

5. Crossroads of our Life
Ways of facing the crossroads in our
life:
3.those who allow external events and
circumstances to decide for them.
Ex. “tossed coin decision” - It degrades our capacity to
think and simply let fate decide. (see p. 84 – St. Ignatius of
Loyola)
2. Those who resort to bible cutting (by
randomly selecting verses and interprets its meaning as the will
of God). This is very dangerous, for the Bible is not an easy book
to discern, or simply for that purpose.

6. 3. Those who make decisions but failing to
realize that we are all persons-in-community
These persons are either:
Individualist conformists
(those who consider only their private
perspective without listening to anybody)
Usually chooses on those elements that
support their bias; it leads to excuses and
rationalization

7. or passive conformists
(those who decide merely on what others
say)
Decision making is left to external factors
like barkadas; usually easily influenced
4. Those who make decisions based on
truth and respect for their humanity;
it affirms our capacity to make
good choices in relation to self,
others and God.

8. IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN
MAKING MORAL DECISIONS
 Making moral decisions
involves different elements
to guide us.
 These elements are very
important if we are to understand
our moral situation and arrive
at a good moral decision, to
which we are called.

9. 1. Investigate the
Facts of the Moral Act
 One guarantee of making a good moral decision is to
have a clear awareness and assessment of what we are
supposed to do. We need a thorough understanding of
the moral act we will execute. (Avoid rash decisions)
 In other words, investigate the facts and moral
elements that determine the goodness or wrongness
of the act.
 How to do it? Our conscience judges the
morality of our action in three dimensions,
namely:

10. a. THE OBJECT OR NATURE
OF THE ACT
This dimension answers the question: What is the act
involved? In other words, what have you done or what do
you intend to do?
Example:
c. You have maligned the good name of your classmate by
spreading gossip. This act is what we call slander or lying.
b. You have taken something that does not belong to you.
The act is what we call stealing
c. A married person has another relations other that the
married partner. This act is what we call adultery.

11. b. The Intention of the Act
This dimension answers the question: Why are you doing
the act? In other words, what is your intention for doing
this act? What is your motive or reason for doing the act?
Warning in any moral decision-making process:
THE END DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS.
In other words even if you have a good intention, it does
not necessarily justify the evil means to arrive at that
intention.
Example: Assisting someone (cheating) to pass in the test
(so that he will not repeat 4th yr )does not change
the nature of the act: it is still cheating and you
are an accomplice.
note: having the best motives will never make a
morally evil action justified.

12. c. The Circumstances of the Act.
This dimension or element answers the question
directly related to the circumstances surrounding
the decisions like: who, when, what, where, etc...
Note: circumstances does not determine the
goodness or wrongness of an act; however, it
lessens your responsibility or culpability in
the given act.
Example: a destitute, jobless and trying-hard
pickpocket compared to a wealthy,
powerful and educated corrupt politician
Note: the right to live is more important that
luxurious abundance

13. 2. Inquire about the Moral Norms
Affecting Your Act.
Normally, we seek the guidance of others (especially the
elder ones) when making decision. The main reason for
this is our awareness that our decisions can affect others
also.
Note: Asking the advice or guidance of others does not take
away our responsibility for our actions. We have the
final say in our decisions. It is still our decision, our
responsibility.
Since we are in a community, our moral norms are expressed
in various ways: laws (civil, Church and divine). These are
important sources of truth and wisdom to guide us and lead
us to the truth.

14. 3. Imagine Alternatives and
Consequences
Think and reflect on the consequences
or effects of your decisions.
We ask:
What can happen if I choose to do this act?
What alternatives do I have?
Can I identify short or long term
consequences. . .
Note: Think not only of the short term effects
but also long term effects.
Reflect on the example given in your
textbook.

15. 4. Listen to your emotions
They say that feelings or emotions are
impediments to objective decision-making.
Example: “Gamitin mo ang utak mo, huwag ang
puso mo.”
But if properly “educated” and used sincerely,
emotions can be of great help for us to arrive at an
objective and responsible decision. But
be careful of media, it can sometimes
make us insensitive to certain emotions.
Ex. Too much portrayal of bloodshed,
immorality. . .

16. 4. Listen to your emotions
Another example:
We experience outrage whenever we witness acts
of injustices and oppression. We experience a
feeling of joy whenever we witness acts of
charity and compassion.
These emotions, in an implicit way are telling us
that that thing is wrong and the other is correct. It
gives us a certain norm to follow and
something to guide us.
Educate the mind and the heart.

17. How then to educate our hearts?
• Be aware of our emotions as we experience
them
2. Striking a healthy balance between the extremes
of repressing them or giving them free rein.
3. Ordering our impulses and motivations reasonably.
4. Becoming sensitive to other people’s feelings
5. Nurturing our relationships

18. How then to educate our hearts?
Emotions, when properly formed and
channeled, direct us from narrow self-
centeredness to a compassionate
commitment to the good of others.
Challenge: LOVE
AND DO ANYTHING
YOU WANT TO DO.

19. 5. Implore God’s Help in Prayer
But first of all, what is prayer?
• An intimate conversation with God
(St. Theresa of Avila).
•A personal loving relationship with
God – this is the heart of prayer
•But not simply memorized
prayers . . . you can have your own
prayer

20. Forms of prayer: Praise; thanksgiving;
supplication; contrition; offering
Kinds of prayer:
Personal/private
(Meditation/personal prayers/recollection/ retreats
Communal (sacraments, public worship . . . )
But prayers are not only in words or rituals;
it can also be done in loving service to the Lord.

21. Jesus : A Person of Prayer
Christ: our ideal Person of Prayer
He prayed during important events
(crossroads) in his life:
Lk 3:21 : Baptism/desert
Lk 6:2 : choosing of his disciples
Lk 9:29 : Transfiguration
Jn 17 : Last Supper
Lk 22:47 : Gethsemane
Lk 23:34 : On the cross

22. But how actually do we pray?
•Read and pray the Bible
•Visit the Blessed Sacrament
•Examination of Conscience
•Keep a journal
Reminders:
2.Be humble 5. Proper
disposition
3.Be serious of what you are 6. Observe silence
doing
4.Avoid distractions 7. Concentrate
5.Don’t rush; take your time 8. Have nothing in
mind but God’s
love

23. God answers all our prayers!
HOW?
God has 3 ways of answering
our prayers:
1. YES!
2. NO!
3. LATER!

24. Growing in Virtue, Growing in Christ
As Christians, we need to ask help from
Jesus, especially during difficult situations.
To help us make good decisions, it is not
enough to know the laws;
We have to discover and nurture certain
Christian virtues (these are sources of
motivation and power to do what is truly
good.

25. What is a virtue?
it is any developed capacity of the mind or
will to accomplish moral good. We have 2 kinds:
1. Theological virtues
Faith: the virtue by which we firmly believe all
the truths God has revealed
Hope: the virtue by which we firmly trust God,
who is faithful to his promises,
Love: the virtue by which we love God above
all things for his own sake and our neighbors
as ourselves for the love of God.

26. 2. Cardinal Virtues:
•Justice: the virtue that disposes us to give to
everyone what belongs to him; to give
what is due to God and neighbor; to live
according to the commandments;
safeguards the dignity and rights of man
(to live, freedom, honor, good name)
• Fortitude: the virtue that disposes us to do what is
good despite of any difficulty; it gives us
strength to do good and avoid evil.

27. c. Prudence:
the virtue that disposes us in all
circumstances to form right judgments
about what we must do or not; it teaches
us when and how to act in matters
relating to our eternal salvation
d. Temperance:
the virtue that disposes us to control our
desires and to use rightly the things
which please our senses (ex. vices)