Help in Decision-making

This came to me recently when I was watching a news report and thinking about the current state of our country:   ignorance and immorality are a dangerous combination.

Admittedly, this is nothing new, not exactly a profound thought, but nonetheless, true.  

Let me explain . . . 

Ignorance is a "lack of knowledge or information" and morality relates to "principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior."

Whenever we move forward on information without having a sense of right and wrong, our behavior will not have the benefit of sound reasoning, because it is our sense of right and wrong that leads us to judgment.

For instance, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1786) instructs us, a well-informed conscience leads us to right judgment (with reason).  As we "strive to interpret data" through our experience, using prudence and the "advice of competent people and the help of the Holy Spirit" there are some rules that apply in every case (1789):

- One may never do evil so that good may result from it

- the Golden Rule: "Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them."

-Charity always proceeds by way of respect for one's neighbor and his conscience: 'Thus sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience . . . you sin against Christ.' Therefore 'it is right not to . . . do anything that makes your brother stumble.'

It is interesting, as we read in Paragraph 1790, if we deliberately act against our conscience, we condemn ourselves.  Of course, the assumption, again, is that we have a well-formed conscience. There is a lot more to learn about this that I do not have the space to cover here, so I highly suggest you turn to the Catechism to read all about it.

Finally, to sum it all up (1794), "The more a correct conscience prevails, the more do persons and groups turn aside from blind choice and try to be guided by objective standards of moral conduct.^"

^{This returns me to my original premise that ignorance and immorality are a dangerous combination, one that the state of our country today proves to be true if the behavior of our people is any indication.}

^{But, alas, all is not lost to this mere observation, because it is possible that things can and will improve for the betterment of all, because:}

 ^{"The Word of God is a light for our path. We must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. This is how moral conscience is formed." (CCC1802)} 

^{Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.blogspot.com}