Catholic Word of the Day: LEGAL MORALITY, 06-26-10

CatholicReference.net ^ | 06-26-10 | Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary

[Salvation]

Featured Term (selected at random):

LEGAL MORALITY

A term sometimes applied to those politicians who resort to the distinction between what is legal and what is moral. Morality, it is argued, is a private affair that does not pertain to the State as a religiously neutral society, no matter what it does legally. Morality is also said to belong essentially to the will. Provided the intention is good, it is immaterial what the State or the people, as citizens, do or permit juridically. A person simply dissociates his or her will from an objectively bad action (such as abortion) and thereby exempts himself or herself from any guilt or complicity. At best one should not be held guilty for allowing others, even as a legislator, the legal right of doing what one's own conscience says is wrong. "Legal morality" is a modern form of Machiavellianism.

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

[Salvation]

Whether politicians wish to disassociate their consciences from morality is their choice......but I have a sneaky feeling they won't like the results at the moment they die! Hehehe!

[Salvation]

MACHIAVELLIANISM

The political philosophy of Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) and of those who apply his principles in the government of civil society. It is a combination of treachery and intrigue, subterfuge and tyranny, and its substance is contained in Machiavelli's The Prince. The basis of political morality is expediency, where any means justify whatever is good for the State. Moral law and individual virtue must give way when the interest of the State demands it. Thus a ruler or legislator may continue to profess Christian principles as an individual while denying these principles in practice as a statesman.

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

[Salvation]

**The basis of political morality is expediency, where any means justify whatever is good for the State. Moral law and individual virtue must give way when the interest of the State demands it. Thus a ruler or legislator may continue to profess Christian principles as an individual while denying these principles in practice as a statesman.**

Describes the Pelosis, Kennedys, Daschles, Bidens, et al, doesn’t it?

[Salvation]

Catholic Word of the Day – links will be provided later by another FReeper.

 

Mass Salutation	Old Law	Nazarene
Subjectivism	Papal Coronation	Apostle
Subdiaconate	Mala Fide	Spiritual Espousals
Baptistery	Didache (Teaching of the twelve Apostles)	Aglipayanism
Tabernacle	Council of Trullo	Mortuarium
Repairing Scandal	Auriesville	New Law
Perfectae Caritatis	Violence	Tertian
Rule	Corpus Christi	Czestochowa
Solicitude	Evil Desire	Hexameron
Quadragesimo Anno	Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem	Latin Architecture
Apocalypse	Possessive Instinct	Alb
Cruelty to Animals	Cities of Refuge	Irregularity
Ordination of Women	Baptism, Matter and Form	Holy Shroud
Divine Essence	Duties of Parents	Divine Operation
Askesis	Legal Morality

Catholic Word of the Day Ping!

Please send me a FReepmail if you would like to be on the Catholic Word of the Day Ping List.

[Oratam]

“. . . no controling legal morality . . .”