Moral Muscle

Boston College is to be congratulated for its publication, “C21 Resources” published by BC’s The Church in the 21st Century Center: A Catalyst and Resource for the Renewal of the Catholic Church.  The fall 2016 issue is devoted to conscience and is entitled “Conscience at Work.”  The cover photo has Pope Francis kneeling outside a confessional with his back to the camera, and he is reconciling himself to God through the priest ministering the sacrament.

The managing editor, Karen Kiefer, begins the issue with a piece profiling “conscience in the Catholic tradition: honing our moral ‘muscle” and “conscience and Pope Francis: responsible freedom.”  She states, “…Attending to the presence and call of God amid the world’s complex moral, political – and ordinary household – dilemmas requires vigilant discernment to make good choices.”  

She ends by concluding, “May this issue of ‘Resources’ insights from the riches of Scripture and tradition, moral exemplars, and companions on the journey invite you to deepen your understanding and practice of conscience, which is at once to deepen our encounter with God.”

One article is writer by Thomas Groome, Director of the Church in the 21st Century Center at Boston College.   He writes about “Crafting conscience in your child: 10 things parents can do "including “help them do moral reasoning for themselves; affirm their innate goodness; draw out their story; share how your own conscience works; remember mercy and forgiveness; and when needed, apologize yourself.” 
 
He follows up on Pope Francis excerpts from Amoris Laetita such as: “Parents are also responsible for shaping the will of their children, fostering good habits and a natural inclination to goodness.  This entails presenting certain ways of thinking and acting as desirable and worthwhile…”  Groome notes, “children can learn how and why to play fair to siblings and friends and be encouraged to play fair.”

I add that playing fair is something all adults need to learn or re-learn.   Many of us feel aggrieved for one reason or another and believe the one not to be playing fair should be an object of justified retaliation.   Where are you Jiminy?

Children learn by watching what parents say and do.   A well-crafted conscience is impossible with large doses of “Life with the Kardashians” and hours spent on shoot-em-up, blood-everywhere video games.   Moral muscles are not honed; they are weakened especially when war is glorified and killing is the way to settle disagreements.

Google “C21 Resources.”   It’s a wealth of conscience-forming material helping all us Pinocchio’s keep a short noses.  

Deacon David Pierce