What is an Informed Conscience?
Read the following scenario and answer the questions:
Roger Smith, a quite competent swimmer, is out for a leisurely stroll. During the course of his walk he passes by a deserted pier from which a teenage boy who apparently cannot swim has fallen into the water. The boy is screaming for help. Smith recognizes that there is absolutely no danger to himself if he jumps in to save the boy; he could easily succeed if he tried. Nevertheless, he chooses to ignore the boy’s cries. The water is cold and he is afraid of catching a cold — he doesn’t want to get his good clothes wet either. “Why should I inconvenience myself for this kid,” Smith says to himself, and passes on.
1.) There are always TWO sides to a conscience. What would Roger’s conscience be telling him?
In order to make a decision doctor’s access a wide range of medical knowledge and patient history in order to diagnose a problem and treatment. The same principle can be applied to making moral decisions. We must be well informed regarding all the facts of the situation, moral values, virtues and laws in order to make our final decision. Therefore, an informed catholic conscience is an educated conscience that knows in any given situation.
Roger Smith’s conscience would be telling him to either help the boy with his swimming, or not to care less about him but focus about himself and do what is right for himself not the boy.
2.) Think of an example of Jesus’ teaching and explain how his teachings can help us to make an appropriate decision?
Jesus’ main teaching is to love one another. Roger displayed no love, but if he was a holy person who alsways prayed, God would have lead him to righteousness and helped him make the correct decision in by helping the young boy.
