Module Code:    MT123
Lecturers:          Rev Dr Hugh Connolly, Rev Dr Pádraig Corkery
Department:      Moral Theology
Module Level:   1
Credit rating:     6 ECTS Credits
Pre-requisites:  BD/BTh Philosophy, MT 121 or similar

Aim:  To introduce theology students to the study of the development and contemporary problematic of sin, repentance and virtue (Part I) and to the reflections of the Christian Tradition on war and pacifism (Part II).

Learning Outcomes:  At the end of the course, the student will:

• Have obtained an overview of the scriptural, doctrinal and liturgical documentary sources of the theology of sin
• Have an insight into changing theological models of sin
• Have an understanding of the call to repentance and on-going conversion
• Be aware of the ongoing debate within the Christian community on the morality of particular wars and warfare in general
• Know the challenges to the ‘just war’ tradition in a nuclear age
• Have a clear understanding of the development within the Catholic moral tradition to war and pacifism
  

Time Allowance for Constituent Elements:
Lectures:           24 hours
Tutorials:             4 hours
Assignment:      10 hours
Private study:     24 hours

Indicative Syllabus:

• Original, Mortal and Venial sin
• Sin and relationship/Social sin
• The call to conversion and repentance
• Has sin changed?
• The Nature of Virtue
• Virtue, Discipleship and the Integrity of the Moral Life
• The Cardinal Virtues? The Theological Virtues, Virtue Ethic
• The origins and content of the ‘just war’ tradition
• The nuclear age and ‘just war’
• The morality of the death penalty
• Hunger strikes as a weapon of war
• The origins and content of Christian pacifism

Elements and Forms of Assessment:
Continuous Assessment and Essay:        25%
End of semester examination:                  75%

Module Code:   MT 124
Lecturer:           Rev Professor D Vincent Twomey, SVD
Department:      Moral Theology
Module Level:   1
Credit Rating:    4 ECTS Credits
Pre-requisites:   [BD/BTh Philosophy], MT 121 or similar

Aims:  To introduce theology students to the major developments in the history of moral theology and their underlying philosophical and theological assumptions.

Learning Outcomes:  At the end of the course, the student will:

• Understand why Vatican II called for a renewal of moral theology 
• Have obtained an overview of the history of moral theology
• Have a basic knowledge of the scriptural, patristic, scholastic, and the later manualist approaches to moral reflection
• Have a basic knowledge of the approach to moral theology found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Veritas Splendor
  

Time allowance for constituent elements:
Seminar:           20 hours
Private study:    10 hours

Indicative Syllabus:

• The Gospel Sources of moral theology
• The patristic heritage
• The scholastic period
• The manuals of moral theology
• Moral theology after the Council
• The nature of freedom, happiness and law
• Part III, Catechism of the Catholic Church
• Veritatis Splendor
  

Elements and Forms of Assessment:
Essays:                      50%
Tutorial participation:    50%

32 lecture and tutorial hours

1. Moral theology. Sources and methods. The Bible and moral theology. Tradition and moral theology. The manuals. The 'renewal' of moral theology.
2. Morality, law, convention. Why be moral? Fontes moralitatis. Act and person. 'Fundamental option'. Moral responsibility. Hostes voluntarii. Conscience. Making moral decisions. Situation ethics. Conscience and principle. The Act of Two Effects. Intrinsic evil. The Natural Law.
3. Religion and morality. Christian faith and morality. The primacy of agape. Agape, the virtues and principle. Sin and repentance. Morality and worship. Magisterium and morality.

14 lecture and tutorial hours

What is spirituality? Spirituality and psychology. Spirituality and morality. Spirituality and religion. Principal spiritual traditions. History of Christian spirituality: some key authors. Contemporary approaches.

15 lecture and tutorial hours

The stance of the New Testament Scriptures on violence. The witness of the early church. The development of the 'just war theory'. The application of the just war approach to contemporary warfare. The reflections of the universal and national churches on nuclear deterrence. Contemporary interest in Christian pacifism. The developing church teaching on the death penalty. The morality of a politically motivated hunger strike.