In my November 30 post on “Random Thoughts”, I commented on the Pope’s remarks about the development of conscience, using the example of a male prostitute’s use of a condom as a first sign of taking moral responsibility for his actions. I was trying to point out that the Holy Father was not, in my opinion, legitimizing the use of condoms in certain situations, but rather explaining in a concrete example how conscience gradually develops in individuals.
I noticed today that the Catholic News Service (CNS) published an article clarifying once again the Pope’s comments. Fr. Maurizio Faggioni, a moral theologian and a consultant to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, spoke to CNS a few days ago and said the Pope’s comments should be seen in the light of traditional principles of moral theology which understands moral decision-making as a path that involves a series of progressions, that there can be intermediary steps toward moral awareness.
My point exactly.
