Back on August 1, 1978, shortly before he was elected Pope, Cardinal Albino Luciani gave an interview in which he expressed his initial response to the then recent news of the birth of the first “test tube baby.” In it, he concluded with some comments about the role of conscience in moral decisions.
I am translating from the original Italian, as provided to me by Dr. Lori Pieper.
” ‘I have read in a few newspapers that it is ridiculous to burden with moral problems those who are trying to avail themselves of magnificent conquests of science. Besides, there is the right to freedom of conscience,’ Very well, but morality does not occupy itself with scientific conquests; it is concerned with human behavior by which persons are able to use, either for good or evil, the advances of science. In reference to individual conscience, I agree; it must always be followed, whether it commands or prohibits; the individual, however, must strive to have a well-formed conscience. Conscience, in fact, does not have the duty to create the law. It has two other duties: to inform itself first of all of God’s law, then to judge then whether there is a syntony betwen this law and our proposed action. In other words, conscience must direct, not obey, the individual person.” (Bold print mine.)
There is a lot of misunderstanding out there about the role of conscience in our lives. The part we seem to neglect is our duty to really learn of God’s law, and to turn to the Church, Scripture and Tradition to inform us.
Papa Luciani, pray for us!
