Overview

  • Introduction
    Jesus Christ, the true light that enlightens everyone (Nos. 1-3)
    The purpose of the present Encyclical (Nos. 4-5)

  • Chapter One: "Teacher, What Good must I Do ...?" (Mt. 19:16)
      Christ and the answer to the question about morality
      "Someone came to him..." (Mt 19:16) (Nos. 6-7)
      "Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?"
      (Mt 19:16) (No. 8)
      "There is only one who is good" (Mt 19:17) (Nos. 9-11)
      "If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandment"
      (Mt 19:17 (Nos. 12- 15)
      "If you wish to be perfect" (Mt 19:21) (Nos. 12-15)
      "Come, follow me" (Mt 19:21) (Nos 19-21)
      "With God all things are possible"(Mt 19:26) (Nos. 22-24)
      "Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Mt 28:20)
      (Nos. 25-27)


    Chapter Two: "Do Not Be Conformed to this World" (Rom 12:2)
      The Church and the discernment of certain tendencies in present-day
      moral theology
      Teaching what befits sound doctrine (cf. Tit 2:1) (Nos. 28-30)
      "You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (Jn 8:32) (Nos 31-34)

    1. Freedom and Law
        "Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat" (Gen 2:17) (Nos. 35-37)
        "God left man in the power of his own counsel" (Sir 15:14) (Nos 38-41)
        Blessed is the man who takes delight in the law of the Lord (cf. Ps 1:1-2) (Nos. 42-45)
        "What the law requires is written on their hearts" (Rom 2:15) Nos. 46-50)
        "From the beginning it was not so" (Mt 19:8) (Nos. 51-53)

    2. Conscience and Truth Man's Sanctuary (Nos. 54-56)
        The judgment of conscience (Nos. 57-61)
        Seeking what is true and good (Nos. 62-64)

    3. Fundamental Choice and Specific Kinds of Behaviour
        "Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh" (Gal 5:13) (Nos. 65-68)
        Mortal and venial sin (Nos. 69-70)

    4. The Moral Act
        Teleology and teleologism (Nos. 71-75)
        The object of the deliberate act (Nos. 71-75)
        "Intrinsic evil": it is not licit to do evil that good may come of it (cf. Rom 3:8) Nos 79-83)

    Chapter Three: "Lest the Cross of Christ Be Emptied of its Power"(1 Cor 1:17)
      "Moral good for the life of the Church and of the world"
      "For freedom Christ has set us free" (Gal 5:1) (Nos 84-87)
      Walking in the light (cf. 1 Jn 1:7) (Nos 88-89)
      Martyrdom, the exaltation of the inviolable holiness of God's law (Nos. 90- 94)
      Universal and unchanging moral norms at the service of the person and of society (Nos. 95-97)
      Morality and the renewal of social and political life (Nos. 98-101)
      Grace and obedience to God's law (Nos. 102-105)
      Morality and new evangelization (Nos. 106-108)
      The service of moral theologians (Nos. 109-113)
      Our own responsibilities as Pastors (Nos. 114-117)

    Conclusion
      Mary, Mother of Mercy (Nos. 118-120)
Index / Introduction

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Pro-Life Activities | 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington DC 20017-1194 | (202) 541-3000 © USCCB. All rights reserved.





Pro-Life Activities | 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington DC 20017-1194 | (202) 541-3000 © USCCB. All rights reserved.