Societal/Social Norms

 
Social norms, or mores, are the unwritten rules of behavior that are practice in
a group or society. Norms function to provide order and predictability in society.
People want approval and sense of belongingness, and those who do not follow the
norms will suffer disapproval or may even be outcast from the group. This is how
people keep society functioning, not just with direct rules but also expectations.
When people know what is expected of them, they will comply. While some people
seek to be different, most just want to be part of the group.

NORMS OF MORALITY
      These are standards on which human acts are based to determine their
goodness or badness. A proximate norm is immediately applicable to the acts while
the ultimate norm guarantees the validity of the proximate norm.
 
 
      A.   Proximate Norm of Morality arises from human nature. This is present in
everyone for all to immediately find out if the action they are about to do or the act
that they have just done is good or bad. Since this norm is in the human person, it is
also subjective. This proximate norm of morality is Conscience.
 CONSCIENCE
Conscience comes from the Latin word, CONSCIENTIA, meaning “a joint
knowledge” or “knowledge with.” Based on this etymological meaning, conscience is
not an entity that is devoid of other factors. According to the Catechism of the
Catholic Church (CCC), Conscience is the practical judgment of reason allowing the
person to recognize the moral quality of an act. So, Conscience is attached with our
reason/intellect.
Other definitions of Conscience:
it is considered as God’s voice that echoes in the heart and mind of an
individual. Conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of man. There he is
alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths (GS 16).
          Conscience has the final say in making moral decisions. It helps a person
make the final judgment on how to act in a given situation. In addition, it is the inner
voice summoning us to love the good and avoid evil, by applying objective moral
norms to our particular acts, and thus commanding: “do this, do not do that”. (CFC
723)
There are two moments of conscience: (Ante = before, Consequent = after)
 Antecedent Conscience – is a conscience that judges an act before it is
done. In other words, before an action is carried out; the Conscience
immediately gave a warning if it is a bad or gave approval if it is good.
A typical example is during a difficult quiz, a student thought of cheating but
since his/her conscience reacted that such is a bad action, the student did not push
through with it.
 Consequent Conscience – judges an act after it is done. In other words,
moral assessment comes after the completion of a certain act. This is the
case of people who act first before they think about the action they did.  
   Such are called reckless or imprudent. In our local language or dialects, you call
these “padalos-dalos” or  “darusudos”
  
Going back to the example above, consequent conscience works after the
cheating has been done by the student and so he/she starts feeling guilty about the
act that he/she committed. A part of him/her would say it is alright because
something good happened – he/she passed the quiz. However, another part of
him/her says he/she should have not done it because it was unfair to those who
reviewed. He/she finally realizes it as wrong.
 
Conscience is further classified into different forms:
 

1. Correct conscience - judges a good act as indeed good while a bad act is

indeed bad.

2. False conscience. This conscience judges a good act as bad and bad act as

good.
          One example is gambling. Gambling in any form is not good at all. In every
game, one wins at the expense of another person’s loss. Assessing this situation, one may
say that such action is good for it is a form of fun and a game of luck. Thus, the bad act
is perceived as good for pleases and comforts people. That is why, despite the clamor of
ending all forms of gambling in the country, how come until now, it is still prevalent?
Are people unaware of its negative effects to the wider community

3. Scrupulous conscience describes that one is always afraid of committing

errors; hence, he/she becomes rigorous in everything that he/she does. In
other words, such kind of conscience makes a person very legalistic (a person
interprets the letter of the law alone, not its spirit) in such a way that he/she
follow what is literally there in the law and follows it no matter its effects on
his/her life. What matters most is the fact that he/she will not commit any
error.
Fulfilling one’s Sunday obligation of attending mass is good act. This is in
accordance with the third commandment. Misunderstanding this Church law
subjects one to his/her scrupulous conscience. While it is true that everyone
needs to fulfill this obligation, it does not however bind sick people. So that
when a student of a Catholic institution goes to mass despite being sick,
scrupulous conscience is working on the person. In this case, he/she may not
attend mass anymore considering his/her condition but still forces
himself/herself due to his/her fear of committing a sin

4. Lax conscience is a case where a person keeps on excusing

himself/herself from every mistake committed. It is as if, he/she does not
commit any mistake at all.
Intentional violation of traffic rules is one example. Not stopping even when
the red light is on and giving the reason that no one sees anyway as there are
no traffic enforcers around. The driver justifies his/her mistake by saying that
anyway he/she will not be reprimanded since he did not hurt anyone. Another
example are students who are just contented with passing grades and do not
exert effort anymore.
 5. Certain conscience is a firm judgment that one is not in error. The person
always makes it sure that he will not commit any mistake.

6. Doubtful conscience is a case where judgment is always suspended because

of the uncertainty of the goodness and badness  of a human action. The word
‘doubt’ denotes the idea that one is not sure of what he/she is doing. A
person’s suspension of his/her desire for getting in shape until his/her doctor
gives clearance that he/she is fit to go through strenuous activities is one
good example. The suspension gives him/her a reasonable period to assess
whether or not such an idea would really help him/her or would rather bring
about a problem on his/her health.
 
LEVELS OF CONSCIENCE
 
      Instinctive level – dominated by fear of punishment and desire for
approval or reward.
                                    - Natural level, it is normal for children (it will not do bad
because of fear)
      Moral/Philosophical – operates not just on what is commanded by
authority but from the judgement or awareness of the inner goodness or
badness of an act.
      Christian level – one’s Christian Faith illumines, clarifies and deepens
what is perceive as truly worthy of being a person. It places moral striving as a
personal call to   wholeness and holiness.
 

General Norm: Always follow your conscience

Point to ponder: With the given kinds of conscience above, will you always follow
the general norm which is always follow your conscience?
 
Challenges to the Formation of Conscience

             With all the classifications of

conscience, is it easy to determine whether one’s conscience is geared towards the
good or bad? To say, “Let your conscience be your guide” is easy, but in reality, to
act accordingly is difficult since many voices are heard within oneself especially in
making decisions. This is where the education and formation of conscience come in.
It is good to stress that the formation of conscience is a long process, not an
overnight activity. It is learned through experience and time. It is therefore important
to form one’s conscience because it stands as the ethical imperative of the Church –
to mold Christians who are responsible with a well formed and mature
conscience (McTavish, 2011).
While the formation of Conscience is a noble task, there are some factors
which hinders its good formation
            McTavish in his article, The Formation of Conscience, cites some challenges
in the formation and education of conscience which are worth mentioning: First, one
challenge can be attributed to extreme relativism, which means, everybody decides
according to what he/she thinks to be the good one, without consulting
knowledgeable people or other authorities. It is indeed detrimental to decision
making if a person depends only on his/her relativistic thinking. There will be no
room for clarification and proper advice.
            Another challenge to the formation of conscience is misinformation. This is to
say that every now and then, one hears reactions, comments and opinions from
people. Some are very convincing and persuasive. Yet, it is not a guarantee that it is
the truth. Many mistakes are caused by misinformation, so, people really need to
clarify matters of which they do not know their truth so as not to make horrible
decisions in their actions.
            Another factor that could lead to a gross difficulty in forming one’s conscience
is individualism. It is a drive towards one’s own satisfaction while disregarding other
people. In other words, it is an attitude of “my world and mine alone and outside of
me is not significant.”
 
To come up with a good formation of one’s conscience, people should brush aside
these hindrances mentioned above.
 
Formation of Conscience
  To meet the aforementioned challenges, there are suggested ways by which the
Christian moral conscience can be formed and educated.

1. Through Prayer – According to Lipio, prayer is of vital importance in the

process of conscience formation. Persons who wish to have a true Christian
conscience must be faithful in communicating with the Lord in their daily
lives (Lipio, 66)
   One needs to develop and practice a good prayer life. In this way one’s moral
conscience is formed. In prayer, a person is helped to discern what is good and what
is bad, how to accept and correct mistakes, and reflect on concrete experiences. It
should be understood that prayer is not something that is purely spiritual without any
connection to the concrete events of daily life. Rather, prayer is always connected
and relevant to the present and concrete experiences of people. That is why, prayer
helps form one’s conscience because it enlightens the mind and one’s able to
assess properly a moral situation from a Christian perspective.

2. Through Listening to the preaching of the Gospel – “In the homily,

preachers are exerting greater effort to be faithful to the biblical text and
mindful of the condition of the faithful, providing them assistance in
interpreting the events of their personal lives and historical happenings in the
light of faith” (McTavish, 2011). In this way, persons may see and realize their
actions in relation to what Jesus is telling them in the Gospel.

3. Through the Role of the Christian community – as children of God, people

always need to depend on one another especially on matters that they want to
be clarified with regarding their course of action. People do not live
individually but with others. Gaudium et Spes advises that, “In fidelity to
conscience, Christians are enjoined with the rest of humans in the search for
the truth, and for the genuine solution to the numerous problems which arise
in the life of individuals from social relationships” (Gaudium et Spes 16). The
Christian community can help in looking at issues from different angles, not
just form one viewpoint.
To sum up the three factors mentioned above in forming one’s conscience, CFC
explicitly says, “…to form the conscience of a disciple of Christ, the key obviously is
Christ and His Spirit, experienced within Christ’s community the Church. The
formative process takes place in faith and through prayer, by attending to the Word
of God and the teaching of the Church and by responsiveness to the gifts of the Holy
Spirit. Critical reflection on the events and experiences of our life helps us in forming
moral judgments. It is in living out the faith that we form our Christian consciences”
(558).

4. Through Multi-disciplinary approach – Other fields of science such as

psychology, economics, civil laws, natural sciences etc. are considered in
forming one’s conscience. However, these fields should not be the only
measure in decision making but these other perspectives should also be
considered, and it is where one can derive good decision.
    Thus, the formation of conscience is indeed a great challenge for all, not only
for Christians. To say that conscience is God’s voice is easy, yet in reality one may
get confused because there are conflicting voices. That is why it is best to
emphasize the importance of prayer because it is where one can truly be assured
that he/she hears and listens to God’s voice. Praying doesn’t only mean going to
mass alone or reciting formula prayers, but it is in its broader sense when one is
always in touch with the presence of God in his/her life. It is by experiencing His
presence that she/he may be able to realize what course of action he/she should
take, especially in very delicate and complicated situations.
Having a well formed conscience does not happen in a split of a second, but it is
a deliberate and lifelong journey. It is a challenge to form one’s conscience well but a
worthwhile one.

1. Ultimate Norm
      If the Proximate Norm of Morality like conscience is subjective since it is
dependent on the person, the Ultimate Norm of Morality is objective. These comes in
the forms of laws, decree or ordinances which are derived or formulated based on
higher orders that are found in Nature and the divine aspects of reality
 
THE NORMS WHICH GOVERN HUMAN CONDUCT
 
LAW
   Since not all are able to use properly their intellect and free will and not all
really have a formed and informed conscience at once, people have set for
themselves and for the community standards or guidelines to follow in order to live a
morally upright life. These rules are technically called Law/s. These Laws
are enacted as standards of life and to promote genuine human development. As
stated above, the human person or Nature as a whole is not a pure material entity
but has spiritual aspect. This spiritual aspect of reality reasonably presupposes that
there (God) is a Creator of the universe and the pattern/order of all things that exist.
So, for laws to achieve its noble purpose, they must be based on higher
norms/orders which are called the Eternal Law and the Natural Law.
 

1. Eternal Law
   Eternal Law can be described as the Divine reason and will commanding that
the natural order of things be preserved and forbidding it to be disturbed . Other
definitions of Eternal Law are: God’s divine plan for all His creatures and the
“exemplar of the divine wisdom as directing all actions and movements”. This Law
has the following characteristics:
  Eternal – this law is with God who has no beginning and no end. It governs
all the creatures of God from
                       the beginning until the end of time (for the material realities).
       Immutable – the Eternal Law is not subject to change.
       Absolutely universal – this Law is applicable to all creatures.
 

2. Natural Law
         Natural Law is understood as the light of understanding placed in us by God so
that we know what to do and what to avoid.  Or the law of human conduct which
arises from human nature as ordered to its ultimate natural end and which is
recognized by the light of reason. Natural Laws are discovered and understood by
people with the aid of reason.
   In simple words, Natural Law are the pattern or order of all things which are
discovered through experience and reasoning or even common sense.
         Examples of the Natural Law are the following: Fundamental moral principles
such as “Good is to be done and evil is to be avoided”, “Never do unto others what
you do not want others do unto you,” “the end does not justify the means,”” “Honor
your parents;” “Preserve life;” “Do not murder;” and others.
         With the examples above, you might ask about the Ten Commandments, that
are these Natural Laws?
Except for Commandment Number One to Three, the next Seven Commandments
are basically Natural Laws. Actually, people by nature know or will discover these
Commandments using their intellect and conscience.
 
The Four characteristics of the Natural Law:
 Universal – This law is applicable to all creatures. Example: the rule, “you
shall not kill” is applicable in all countries.
      Recognizable - The person will realize or notice the existence of the
Natural Law through observations, interactions with others, and through
deeper reflection of his/her activities or of his/her very own existence.   So,
there is no excuse for one not to obey the Natural Law since they are
noticeable or realizable.
      Obligatory – Since this very law will lead the person to his/her well-being
and to his/her desired destiny, there is no better choice for the human person
than to obey it. Not obeying it would lead to the things that the human person
would like to avoid in life such as sickness, calamities, and ultimate to death
or total destruction.
In reality, most of the sickness and calamities we experience today are all effect of
what people did to mother Nature or not respecting the order in nature or not
following Natural Law.    
        Immutable – Since the Natural Law is in accordance with the divine plan
or with the Eternal Law, it will never change or is not subject to
change. Example: The Ten Commandments despite being an ancient set of
law is still relevant all throughout the ages.
 

3. Positive Law - the word “positive” means being promulgated or “published.”

- Positive Laws are the specific (laws) formulations derived from the Natural
Law and the Eternal Law. These are the specific application of the Eternal Law or the
Natural Law in different human or societal contexts. Positive laws are formulated
since the Natural law often appears in general forms/principles.
As the Eternal Law is seen or expressed through the Natural Law, the Natural
Law is also seen, expressed or applied through the Positive Law. A Positive Law
which does not respect the Natural Law contributes to the damage on the
development of the human person and of the whole creation.
 
Positive Law is categorized into two: the Divine Positive Law and the Human Positive
Law.
  The Divine Positive Law – this is a God-given law which is promulgated for
all creatures or only for a specific group of community. A good example is
the Ten Commandments which God gave to the Israelites through the prophet
Moses. (Divine means God)
 The Human Positive Law – this is an ordinance of reason promulgated for
the common good by one in charge of the community or by a competent
authority. Examples of human positive laws are the ordinances of a certain
place or the constitution of a certain country. Other examples or terms for
human positive law are: Civil Law and the Ecclesiastical Law (Law of the
Church). To better understand the meaning of the human positive law, let us
analyze all the key words in the definition.

1. Ordinance – it is a decree or a command and not a request; it demands

obedience. One has to follow it.
2. Reasonable – it means a certain positive law is based on reason and not on
mere emotion. It must be useful or good which means it must attain its goal. A
positive law is also reasonable if it has the following  characteristics:
      Just/fair
      Honest – in harmony with higher laws (Eternal and
Natural Laws)
      Possible for fulfillment/attainment – means realistic
      Useful – it is a means or tool to attain a goal
      Relatively permanent – change if no longer effective/no
longer serves its purpose.
   Example: Before, people were allowed to wear slipper when
driving a car, now it is no   
   longer allowed since the shoes gives better protection than the
slipper.
       Must be promulgated – made known, announced,
published, written, before it takes effect.
      3. Common Good – a law must serve the interest of the majority and not favor
only few individuals.
      4. Competent Authority – one who enacts or authors a law should be someone
who is knowledgeable, just, wise, and respectable.
 
Other descriptions of a Positive Law:
o  Territorial or Contextual. The application of the law sometimes depends on
the context (place and time) or territory
Example: People on the mountains which is usually cold in climate differ in their way
of dressing from those on the lowlands; such as wearing jacket is necessary in
Baguio while people  in Cagayan only wear jackets during cold seasons
o  A law continues until it is changed by another. (Relatively permanent)
              As stated above, time and place may cause change or revision of a certain
law. When we were children, we were not allowed to enter the room without slippers,
but now students are not allowed to enter the classrooms with
slippers. Why? Slippers are no longer allowed for formal affairs and for protection
but shoes. Another example is the people on the mountains who used to wear G-
strings (bahag), but now for more descent and body protection purpose, they are all
wearing pants. 
 

The Two General Applications of the Norms of Morality

 
          As we have stated other factors in the application of the Norms of Morality
such as time, place, and others, there are two general applications of the norms of
morality.
 

1. Normative Morality – These are laws or norms that are or should

be universally implemented. For example, the dignity and worth of a human
life is a universal concept freely embraced by all individuals regardless of their
profile (religion, ethnicity, gender and others). All cultures put a high regard for
life and attach respect and honor to it. The rule is “you shall not kill”. So, there
are laws that crossed all boundaries such as cultures, time, place, and others.
The Commandments Number Four to Ten are good examples of this.

2. Descriptive Morality – this is the application of a universal law to a specific

place, time, and other particular conditions of certain communities/ societies.
With this, the law becomes exclusive and applicable only to a certain society.
As we have stated above, the application of a universal law to the people on
the mountains may differ from those living near the sea since their source of
income or livelihood may be totally different.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

God strongly revealed His plan for His people through the Ten
Commandments. When Moses and the rest of the Israelites were on their way to the
Promised Land, God was gracious enough to guide His people on what was the right
thing to do and what can open the door of blessings for them. He gave guidelines on
how they would live harmoniously with Him and with the rest of the society.
In full obedience to the command of the Lord, Moses started his sojourn at
Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments on tablets of stones. God gave
the Commandments to remind His people that there are certain acceptable
guidelines that they need to follow in order to live a life that would reflect their
respect for their own lives, the lives, honor and dignity of others, and to deepen their
faith and fellowship with Him.
 
            The Ten Commandments was a follow up of the covenant between God and
His people and the promises connected with it. This was revealed When
God/Yahweh introduced Himself to Moses as the God of their forefathers starting
with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The Ten Commandments reveals the moral responsibility of a Christian in two

(2) dimensions: towards God and towards others. For people to live a fruitful Christian
life, it is not sufficient that they solely focus their attention on their relationship with
God, living harmoniously with others also plays a vital role. The vertical bar of the
cross points to a loving relationship with God and His sovereignty upon one’s life.
The horizontal bar of the cross reminds the human person’s responsibility towards
fellow human beings and other creatures. Jesus Himself revealed that people must
make peace with others and continuously make conscious effort to live harmoniously
with them.
As Christians who are on a continuous journey towards perfection, the Ten
Commandments is a great springboard for reflection on relevant guidelines that we
must live by to respond to our moral responsibility towards God and others. When
we accept and follow the Commandments wholeheartedly, we are worthy to be
called God’s children. However, when we choose to deviate from the
Commandments by misusing our freedom, we separate ourselves from the love of
God and the harmonious relationship with others.
 
MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS GOD IN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. First Commandment
I, The Lord, am your God… You shall not have other gods besides me. You
shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above
or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth. You shall not bow
down before them or worship them. (Exodus 20:2-4)
 
The Context when God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites
        First, In Egypt and in other countries, there was the problem of identifying who
really is the God of all. With this difficulty, most often they identify God with any
creature such as the sun, moon, even the pharaoh, animals and others. Second,
all people are searching for the meaning of life (true contentment) and
immortality. Third, the Israelites were busy worshipping the golden calf.
         Why did God-YHWH insist to stick with His covenantal relationship with the
Israelites and even followed it up with the Commandments? Before His covenantal
relationship with the Israelites, there was the human search for the meaning of
life and its elements such as security or stability, harmony, true contentment, and
especially the longing for immortality. With all these human longings, the
commandments especially the first one is God’s gracious answer. This is God’s own
initiative as part of His salvific plan for humanity. As CFC says, “True happiness and
our final destiny are achieved within the framework revealed in God’s laws” (880). 
As Christ taught, “eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Him whom
You have sent, Jesus Christ” (John 17:3).
The Catechism for Filipino Catholics reminds people that knowing the true God is
liberating. It sets people from restlessness in searching for true contentment and
everlasting happiness (883). Not knowing the true God will lead people astray and
they will not achieve the noble human aspirations mentioned above.
God has formed the Israelites as his special possession and gave them the Ten
Commandments to proclaim Him as the true God for all people. The prophet Amos
proclaimed Yahweh as the God of all, and this was ultimately realized by the coming
of Jesus, the savior of all.
 
Violations against the First Commandment
         There are various instances when one shows the sin against the First
Commandment. Indifference reveals the outright neglect of a Christian to reflect on
God’s love and His innate goodness. Indifference neither accepts nor rejects God’s
power and love. Ingratitude is the failure to respond to the love of
God. Lukewarmness is the refusal to recognize the sovereignty of God over one’s life
and all. The grave violation against the first commandment is hatred towards God. It
is basically a complete opposite of the love of/for God, denying His existence,
goodness and sovereignty.
         Furthermore, the first commandment rejects the submission of Christians to
other “gods” which sometimes are manifested in superstition, idolatry, divination,
magic, irreligion, atheism, and agnosticism. Superstition is a belief on some things
but rooted on unfounded and unknown reasoning.  Another violation of the First
Commandment is polytheism which is a belief in more than one God. Polytheism
obviously rejects the principle of having a God since with their number then there is
really no god at all. Divination, another violation of the First Commandment refers to
complete reliance on horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, and interpretation of
omens and lots as a basis to seek guidance in determining the direction of an
individual’s life. These forms of divination are direct recourse to other mediums to
conceal the future or seek for relief from temporal sufferings. This is indeed a
manifestation that one doubts his faith in God, his promises, goodness and
sovereignty.
         With the changing of times, there are several distractions that beset Christians
on how they demonstrate their veneration and worship of God. Christians are more
pre-occupied with material possession, gaining more social stature, acquiring
technological gadgets -- people spend most of their time fulfilling their temporal
needs, such as over pre-occupation to work, addiction to increasing material wealth,
spending more time in television, internet and others. These are unconscious
manifestations of their disregard to the primacy of God, thus a clear deviation from
the first commandment. Generally, anything or anyone that tries to take over the
primacy of God over the lives of the Christians is indicative of disregard or
unresponsiveness to the divine charity and unconscious veneration of earthly
possessions and social stature.
 
Point to ponder:  How is the First Commandment  being violated in the Philippine
context and at present? Why are we suffering from many forms of chaos in our
country? What are the things that many people consider as more important than God
or even as their god?
 
Is it really sinful to make or carve an image/statue? Read Exodus 25:10-22.
        The first Commandment has a follow-up reminder of not making graven image
or statues and worshipping them as gods. This follow-up reminder does not prohibit
people from making any image or statues such as statues of heroes and the
saints since the warning emphasizes on not worshipping them as gods such as
the golden calf.
        In the Book of Exodus where the Ten Commandments is found, there is also a
chapter (25:10-22) which shows God instructing His people to make the images of
the Seraphim and the Cherubim (angels) on top of the Ark of the Covenant. Later on,
the Ark of the Covenant was an image in itself which for the Israelites was a sign of
God’s presence in their midst. In the New Testament, there are even images which
directly point to God Himself such as the Dove during the baptism of Jesus and the
tongues of fire during Pentecost. These examples clearly tell that images which
remind people of God’s presence are not prohibited since God Himself is also using
images or signs and symbols in communicating with His people. These images are
strongly emphasized as reminders of God or of His presence, and they are NOT to
be considered as substitute for Him or totally equated with Him since this will be very
degrading on His part. God as a transcendent and perfect Being cannot be limited by
a permanent image, statue or even by a permanent name or word or language. 
        From the above discussion on the use of images, it is also clear that the
Catholic practice of venerating sacred images is not a violation of the First
Commandment. Showing respect to the sacred images was the same with the
Israelite’s practice of showing respect to the Ark of the Covenant and the other
reminders of God’s presence in their midst. Veneration should not be equated with
adoration or worship. Adoration, praise or worship is only reserved for
God while veneration is for all sacred images. Veneration is simply giving respect to
the sacred images like by touching, kissing and other ways which may have their
cultural origin.  CFC says sacred images and statues can offer valuable help or
genuine aid for Christian prayer and worship (892). A biblical example of
veneration was when God asked Moses to remove his sandals and staffs since the
ground where he stood was holy. So, even the ground when God uses is becomes
holy. Another example was when Jesus got angry with the people when they did not
respect the sacredness of the Temple (Matthew 21:12-13).   
        In venerating sacred images, CFC reminds people to be always aware of the
temptation from these images which is: from merely reminding us of God, they tend
to gradually “become” a god, an idol. An image can either bring the reality it
represents to mind, to aid devotion and attention, or it can become a substitute for
the reality itself and thus become an object of idolatry. The Commandment reminds
people that God the Creator is infinitely beyond any of His  creatures; no image or
mental concept can ever “capture” Him. Deus simper major – God is always greater
(891).

2. Second Commandment
You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God in vain. (Exodus 20:
Sanctity of the Name
For the Israelites, a name has great value. A name is very closely connected with
the person if not totally identified with him/her. A name also indicates the kind of life
that the person will have or his/her mission. As shown in many instances in the
Sacred Scriptures, there were changes in the names of people such as the names
of Abraham from Abram, Sarah from Sarai, and others. Thus, a name is equated
with the identity or even the dignity of the person. As CFC says, “The name stood for
the person, the name made the person present and active” (895). It is in this context
that the Second Commandment should be understood. Since God is a Holy One, His
name, which for the Israelites is intimately linked with Him, should also be treated
with reverence. There were even years in the history of the Israelites when they did
not even mention or pronounce the name “YHWH” since it is too holy to be uttered.
So, they used other titles such as Adonai (Lord), Eli and others.
 
Violations against the Second Commandment
 Generally, the commandment abhors the misuse of the name of the Lord,
considering the sovereignty and authority that come with it. False representation of
God is profanity, a discredit to is true nature and divinity.  This often comes when
people make an oath and using the name of God to curse or invoke punishment.
This maligns the true nature of God and discredits His sovereignty and goodness. It
is not within the realm of humans that God may be compelled to act on our behalf to
inflict punishment on others. This commandment also clearly prohibits the casual use
of God’s name in interjections and curse. The blasphemous use of God’s name and
the act cursing portrays indecency and disrespect to God, in general.
  However, despite the strong prohibition, some people still fall into the trap of
using the name of the Lord in vain. A concrete manifestation of violating this
commandment is through perjury. Though more appropriate to legal
situations, perjury pertains to a willful and voluntary act of telling something with the
intention of not fulfilling it. It refers to the act of fabricating the truth in the guise of
eluding punishment or reprimand.
  In relation to this Commandment, there are many ways on how people and even
students violate it in the Philippine context.  Some examples of this are: some of
the politicians use the name of God to make their promises more appealing to
people when they campaign before elections, some of them only attend the Holy
Mass before election to be seen by people, some of them gave donations to the
Church or to newly wed couple or even volunteer to become God-parents during
baptism of infants and wedding. For Louisian students, during face-to-face
classes many students attend the Mass for the sake of attendance, even these
days, many students pass Sunday reflections without attending the Mass, and even
some copy the reflections of others just to obtain points, and many others.
 

3. Third Commandment
     Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Six days you may labor and
do all your work but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God.                 
No work may be done then either by you or your son or daughter or your male
or female slave, or your beast or by the alien who lives with you…on the
seventh day God rested…and blessed it and made it holy. (Exodus 20:8-11)
   
  There are two things that this commandment emphasizes: the time for God and
the respect for the human person. How does one show this respect for God and the
human person? As Scripture and tradition teach, this is shown primarily
by worshipping God as a community, as His people, and respecting others by giving
them time to rest.
   Aside from worshipping God and resting, what are other implications of the
Third Commandment? How should one make the day of the Lord holy? Is this done
only in the chapel or church? Some people attend the Holy Mass but after their
participation, they go back to their usual lifestyle which is often not consistent with
Christian living. So aside from worshipping God in the church, do people also make
the day of the Lord holy in their homes, in their dealings with others, and in their
dealings with nature? The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP-II)
stresses that all of life is worship or the whole of life must be an act of worship as St.
Paul also pointed out in his letter to the Romans (167-168). Worship should not be
separated from the totality of life. There should be no dichotomy between the two.
 
Violations against the Third Commandment
What then does this commandment prohibit? The teachings of Jesus are clear
such that anything that does not amount to honoring God and respecting others is a
direct manifestation of violating this commandment. Anything that does not glorify
God and respect the dignity of others must be avoided. Resting is not only limited to
rest from physical work but also mental and the whole part of the human person that
needs it to be reinvigorated.

In the first three commandments, we received the gifts of God’s self-revelation

to humanity. We also learned what constitutes a proper response to this self-
revelation and thereby a proper relationship with God. The final seven
commandments are gifts that primarily reveal God’s will for us in our relationships
with each other.
After the first three commandments prescribing our duties toward God comes
seven others laying down our obligations toward ourselves and our fellow human
beings. There is first a special commandment regarding the important duties of
children toward their parents, and of parents toward their children. This is the Fourth
Commandments. Commandments 5th, 6th, and 7th are concern with actions, 8th is
concerned with words and 9th and 10th are with our desires.
MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS OTHERS IN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

4. Fourth Commandment
Honor your father and your mother: That your days may be long upon the
land which the Lord your God has given you. (Exodus 20:12) 
Family as the Most Fundamental Unit of the Society
The fourth commandment underscores the imperative of respecting and honoring
one’s parents or elders with a guarantee of individual blessings. God reveals that
after one’s moral responsibility towards God, an individual is also called to show
respect and to honor others, having one’s parents as the foremost people to whom
he/she accords such. The family is the most fundamental agent of
socialization within a society. The strength of the moral fabric of the family, mutual
respect between parents and children, reverberates and brings positive effect to
society.
 
    The moral duty towards parents is not limited to fully submitting to them when
they are still providing for one’s needs and education, but it extends even up to their
old age, especially in times of illness and distress. This support is an
acknowledgement and a gesture of gratitude to parents for the life, love and effort
given by them. The material and moral support is a manifestation of giving back to
the parents the immeasurable love and sacrifices they have unselfishly given to their
children.
    The commandment implies that parents are innately good that they are
primarily concerned for the well-being and welfare of their children. Their actions and
decisions are geared towards the holistic development of their children and a
response to the growing needs of the society. The parents are always n continuous
search for the good of their children, and that as a simple gesture of gratitude for
these unselfish acts, children are bound to obey their parents.  However, modernity
has been contributing to the corruption of the moral fabric of the family, including the
parents. Sometimes, there are parents who are not mindful of the needs of their
children and worse, do all sorts of abuse towards their children. Some children scorn
their parents and show no apparent trace of respect towards them. However, the
Commandment calls for respect and honor for parents by virtue of their stature as
parents.
        Honoring our parents is geared towards active obedience. Children are
encouraged to listen to the wisdom of parents on issues pertaining to their lives. In
case of conflict of ideas, the lines of communication should be made open to
properly sort out the issues and draw a win-win resolution to the problem. Obedience
does not mean blind, entirely following the whims and desires of parents, but
learning how to communicate one’s views and opinions to further resolve the issues
without straining the relationship or harbor ill feelings towards parents. Most of
rebellious children emerged from families which failed to communicate with one
another. Hatred builds up until each member of the family gets fed up with each
other.
        The song “Anak” reminds Christians on the indispensable roles parents play in
the lives of their children that despite the lack of respect and gratitude of the children
towards their parents sometimes, parents endure all the pains and sufferings and
always seek what is good and beneficial for their children. They stick with their
children in their most difficult times and shelter them with love and security with the
many challenges life can offer.
 
Point to ponder: How do many young people and students violate this
Commandment?
Reflect on this question in relation to the relationship of the young people with their
fellow youth and their studies.
 

5. Fifth Commandment
You shall not kill. (Exodus 20:13)
The Primacy of life
  The fifth commandment emphasizes the importance and the dignity of human
life. No one has the innate right to take this away from his/her own self or from
others. Neither it is a right that can be bestowed on anyone. The primacy of life is
anchored on the fact that human beings are created in the image and likeness of
God, thus, must be accorded full respect. The inherent value of human life implies
that in any dealings, one does not have any entitlements to take away the life of
others. It reminds individuals that even in hatred and anger, there is a need to
consider the value of life and must make continuous effort to respect and honor
it. God is the giver of life and He alone is entitled to end the life He has given.
 
Violations against the Fifth Commandment
     Murder and willful abortion are the direct violations of this commandment. PCP-
II stresses the crime against the unborn who can neither defend their God-given life
nor cry out in even the feeblest or cries for help. Their cries do reach the heart of the
Creator (382). It further stresses the Church’s condemnation of directly-willed
abortion (585). Any action that deliberately takes away the life of other people is
completely against this commandment.
    Regarding euthanasia, debates have spurred questions on whether it is justified
and acceptable or not. It is understood as an action that aids an ailing person to die.
It connotes that an ailing individual is either in extreme pain or in a state of
comatose, that the chance for survival is considered to be too slim and the best
option to alleviate the pain is to shorten the life of the patient. Therefore, death is the
only foreseen solution to ease the suffering of the ailing individual.
    God is the giver of life and He alone is entitled to end the life He has given. The
act of euthanasia actually degrades the dignity of people who are sick, vulnerable
and disadvantaged, since they are already regarded as burden and difficult to bear
rather than people to endure it in the name of love, hope and faith. The Church
upholds that as life is a gift from God, thus sacred, must strictly adhere to the Natural
Law, allowing nature to take its course in ending the life of a person.
   The Catechism of the Catholic Church explicitly mentions human acts that
completely run contrary to the commandment. These are direct and intentional
murder and the cooperation in it, direct abortion, euthanasia, and suicide. God
places primacy on the value of life, thus must be respected and protected. Directly
aborting a fetus and ending the life of those suffering (or in near-death situation) are
direct violations of the commandment. Suicide, on the other hand, is considered a
grave offense that completely disregards the love of God and the dignity of human
life (470).
 

6. Sixth Commandment
You shall not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14)
Family and Marriage
The Sacrament of Marriage brings together husband and wife into the bonds of
everlasting love, with a promise to stay together “in sickness or in health, till death do
us part.” The importance placed upon marriage, especially on remaining faithful to
one’s partner, is revealed in one of Jesus’ teachings during His public ministry. Jesus
says:
 
 …have you not read that at the beginning the creator made them male
and female and declared, for this reason a man shall leave his father and
mother and cling to his wife, and the two shall become one? Thus, they
are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, let no man separate what God
has joined. (Mt. 19:4-6)
 
  This commandment also portrays that the expression of love is not merely limited
to sexual intimacy, but more on companionship, shared vision to build a family
founded on Catholic faith, and respect for the dignity of the spouse. However, in
order for a relationship to work, the spouses have to understand and love each other
despite their imperfections, and weathering the hard times together.
  True love is founded on mutual trust and contentment of partners towards each
other, with a commitment to be there for each other through thick and thin; a
commitment to fulfill their marriage vows
 
Violations against the Sixth Commandment
Adultery applies only to married partners. It happens when one or both of the
couples have sexual relations with other partners. The sexual intimacy shared within
the context of marriage must be continually reserved as the expression of affection
and the deepest union that only belongs to married people. Both man and
woman must grow in chastity, enjoying sexual intimacy within marriage.
Adultery, aside from its impact on the relationship between an individual and God,
is also an action that harms society especially the family as the most fundamental
unit. Those who commit adultery have broken their commitments in the sacrament of
marriage, injuring the covenant of the marriage bond. Moreover, they offend the
dignity and rights of the other spouse, and undermine the social institution of
marriage by breaking the contract on which it is based (CCC, 2335). Moreover, there
are other violations of this commandment which include divorce, polygamy, free
unions (cohabitation, concubinage), and sexual acts before or outside of marriage.
Marriage is best described in Hebrews 13:4 – “Let marriage be honored among all
and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and
adulterers.” The commandment explicitly disallows sexual relations outside the
bounds of marriage. Both married couples must be loyal to each other, cherishing
and valuing each other.
 
SEXUALITY AND MARRIAGE
 
      Sex or Sexuality refers to the whole composition of the human person
whether male or female, and
this is wholly good and sacred. Sexual Love is willed by the creator, a human
value and it is wholly good.
The purposes of sexuality are procreation (Genesis
1:28,29), companionship (Genesis 2:18, Tob 8:6), and Education/formation of
Children/welfare of family. God’s words “and the two shall become
one”  strongly mandates that monogamy is really the intended nature of a
family. With this, sexual love (sexual intercourse) is only proper between
husband and wife.
 
          There are many violations of the Sixth Commandment in line with the
holistic concept of sexuality or with the re-appropriation of the application of the
Sixth Commandment in our present time. These are also found in the Bible if
we search them one by one.  Generally, this is called fornication, but let’s
enumerate them one by one. Premarital-sex, masturbation, rape, bestiality,
paresthesia, pornography, homosexuality, prostitution, lesbianism, annal sex,
adultery, extra-marital sex, concubinage, polygamy, polyandry and Incest.  
 
           With the many ways of how people today violate the Sixth
Commandment and how they abuse their sexuality and the sexuality of others,
there is a need to consistently practice the values such as modesty, and
chastity and to master our sexuality. Modesty is the sense of shame or respect
in the realm of sex, while chastity is cleanliness in one’s sexual life whether one
is single, married or whatever gender one has.
Mastery of sexuality does not mean suppressing one’s sexual life but finding
the proper development and channel of sexual energy such as sports, physical
work, dance, and the likes.

The Seventh and Eighth commandments are concerned primarily with our
duties toward two possessions of our neighbor - their material goods and their good
reputation. Since human beings have the tendency to be self-centered and neglectful
of the rights of others, God considered it necessary to lay down the
explicit commands: "Thou shalt not steal" and "Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbor". Like the other commandments, these two commandments
prescribe more obligations than those which they explicitly assert. The seventh
commandment forbids not only stealing but every type of dishonest dealing; the
eighth forbids not only falsehood but also many other sins of the tongue such as
gossiping, the unlawful revelation of secrets, and the likes.
 
The Ninth and Tenth commandments are closely related with the Sixth and
Seventh. The Ninth forbidding interior sins regarding matters of purity, while the Sixth
forbids external acts; the Tenth forbidding those internal sins and the external
performance of which is forbidden by the Seventh commandment.
In our days there is much dishonesty, due largely to the excessive desire of
people for riches and luxuries. In business, in politics, even at home, many people
are so anxious on how to enrich themselves that they are entirely unconcerned with
the rights of their fellow human beings. Moreover, crimes of theft and robbery, often
accompanied by violence or even murder, are becoming prevalent.
 
MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS OTHERS IN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
 
7. Seventh Commandment
 
You shall not steal. (Exodus 20:15)
 
Respecting one’s property
 
   The commandment recognizes sense of decency regarding one’s material
possession, being contented with what one has, and not coveting others’ goods. This
commandment is a reminder of the Christian virtues of temperance, justice and
solidarity.
First, Christians must learn to discern that excessive attachment to material
possession instills greediness and vicious attitude of continuously desiring for more
even to the point of stealing and fooling others. Jesus taught His people to put to
moderation this attachment. Worldly goods, though important, must remain
subordinate to the spiritual and intimate relationship with God.
 
Secondly, justice encourages Christians to accord respect and dignity to what
rightfully belongs to others. When people need to be compensated, any form of
stealing from their compensation is not acceptable. Justice requires people to
recognize that others are working hard for what they are and have. One should not
violate the decency of their hard work and property by unjustly stealing these away
from them.
 
Violations against the Seventh Commandment
How do some students commit the sin of stealing? Stealing may come in various
forms, such as: cheating during exams, tampering documents, working poorly,
asking additional allowance for a requirement that is not really asked in school, and
others.
The violations against this commandment include kidnapping and many forms of
exploitation such as exploitation in food, housing and clothing. Violation against this
Commandment also includes stealing from public properties, social structures and
conditions which should serve the common good (CFC, 901-903). This is where the
attention and conscience of some of our present-day government officials who
practice graft and corruption and perpetuate sinful social structures should be called
to. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) mentions in detail the different
actions that amount to violation against the commandment. In general terms, theft is
considered as the taking or using of another’s property against the reasonable will of
the owner. CCC enumerates various circumstances through which theft is committed
in different contexts, such as paying unjust wages, speculation on the value of goods
in order to gain an advantage to the detriment of others, forgery of checks or
invoices, tax evasion, business fraud, willful damage of properties, usury, corruption,
private abuse of common goods, and work deliberately done poorly (508).
Since the common good is essential for the survival of all, CFC further stresses
the need for respect of the dignity and integrity of creation (906).
 

8. Eighth Commandment
 You shall not bear false witness against others. (Exodus 20:16)
 
Upholding the Truth
  This commandment reminds us of the moral imperative of according respect to
others; the value of integrity and honesty towards others and the decency of
speaking the truth about others and not discrediting and dishonoring them through
rumor-mongering or baseless gossips.
  The commandment prohibits altering the truth and discrediting the integrity and
honor of other people. Since we Christians worship and honor God who is the truth
and who wills the truth, expectedly, we must also speak truthfully of others as a clear
indication of our respect to God.  Speaking against others, and eventually, against
the truth is an infidelity against God.
 
Violations against the Eighth Commandment
  According to the CCC, one is guilty of slander if she/he discloses another’s faults
and failings to other persons without valid reason, and one is guilty of calumny (a
misinterpretation intended to harm another’s reputation) who harms the reputation of
others and gives occasion for false judgments about them by remarks contrary to the
truth (2477).
    Moreover, gossips and slander also are violations of the
commandment. Gossips pertain to spreading baseless accusations or statements
against others. Slander is related to gossip but it is with the intention of discrediting
others towards their prejudice or disadvantage.
   One concrete example of speaking falsely against others is lying. One lies when
he/she speaks or acts against the truth in order to lead someone into error, thus the
presence of deceit. Lying weakens the fundamental relations towards God and
towards others. Failure to reveal the truth affects others’ ability to know, which is a
precursor to every judgment and decision they need to make.
   Students are susceptible to gossiping. This usually happens in their circle of
friends when they talked about someone they dislike or hate. When someone
commits a mistake or does not conform to what others are doing, they ostracize that
individual, saying all unpleasant remarks about him/her. In some cases, when they
envy others, they are more vulnerable to bearing false witness against the others.
Peer pressure will also force them to connive with their peer in lying just to get away
from the troubles their members are in.
 

9. Ninth Commandment
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. (Exodus
20:17)                                                                
 
    In the Gospels, Jesus taught about controlling one’s sexual desires or not
allowing sexual appetite to take complete hold of one’s reason that will eventually
cause him/her to be lustful. Jesus, in His public ministry, emphasized that our
thoughts and attitudes determine the commission of lustful behaviors. He implored
His disciples to live not only to respect others in external manner, but also
in internally, through their minds and intentions.
 The Catechism for Filipino Catholics says that Christ perfected this teaching in
His sermon on the Mount when He said: “You have heard the Commandment,
‘You shall not commit adultery.’ What I say to you is, anyone who looks lustfully at a
woman has already committed adultery with her in his thoughts/heart”  (Mt 5:28). St.
Paul also exhorted his converts saying, “Put to death whatever in your nature is
rooted in earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desires, and that lust which is
idolatry” (Col. 3:5). To the Ephesians, he wrote, “make no mistake about this: no
fornicator, no unclean or lustful person-in effect an idolater has any inheritance in the
Kingdom of Christ and of God” (Eph. 5:5) (868).
 The commandment recognizes that sometimes, the desire of the flesh
overpowers right reasoning and the will. The commandment reminds Christians to
make a conscious effort to continue to fight against the desires and the lust of the
flesh. Through God’s grace, Christians overcome these lustful desires through 1)
chastity, 2) purity of intention, words and emotions, and 3) prayer.
 The commandment calls upon Christians to embrace the virtue of modesty.
Modesty guides Christians to look at others and to behave toward others in complete
accord with the dignity of the human person – and not looking at others lustfully.
 
Violations against the Ninth Commandment
 In reality, the spiritual fabric to look at others with modesty is slowly disintegrating
with the onset of mass communication which continually exposes the society to
liberality in relation to purity, faithfulness, and modesty.
 The entertainment industry has drastically changed the moral norms pertaining to
relationships. It seems natural to see celebrities switching partners, within a short
period of time. This has unconsciously changed the notion of marriage and true love,
convincing others that casual engagement in sexual pleasure is the fad, and doing it
is normal. The most vulnerable to the influence of the negative notion of marriage
and love are young people who are most exposed to mass media. Perhaps for them,
it is easy to enter and leave a relationship; thus, faithfulness and stability which are
characteristics of true love are seen as less valuable.
 
Point to ponder: Who will suffer gravely if the family is broken?  For young people, which
is being shattered or destroyed if they are into sexual promiscuity or even into early and
unwanted pregnancy?
 

10. Tenth Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods. (Exodus 20:17)
  
 The tenth commandment forbids the lust of the eyes to the excessive desire for
material possession. It prohibits greed and envy which can lead to stealing. The
desire to own excessive material possessions compels others to steal or defraud
others.
 The greedy and envious desire for material possession serve as precursor to the
commission of other sins like violence and injustice. Greed pertains to the desire for
earthly possessions and goods without limit, completely disregarding spirituality and
growth most of the time. The tenth commandment tells us to be contented with what
we have. Sometimes, people feel jealous of what others possess or achieved. Envy
and sadness over others’ success and possessions violates the value of loving one’s
neighbor which is the core of the 4th to 10th Commandment.
  Covetousness is the root of many evils. When people feel envious of others,
they commit crimes in order to be like others or own what others
have. Stealing, murder, and all sorts of evil tale place because of the insatiable
desire of human beings for material wealth and possessions.
  In modern times, violations against coveting others’ goods are clearly manifested
in stealing money, illegal cutting of trees, vote-padding during elections, using
substandard materials in construction, paying laborers unjustly, and others.
    Men and women have to fulfill their physiological needs, however, the desire to
meet this must be within the bounds of acceptable norms. Modesty and contentment
are therefore necessary for all Christians. When they see others improving, they
should look at it as an inspiration and not as a threat.
   The Christian faith reminds people to embrace modesty and contentment and
recognize that God is the source of everything and that He graciously provides for
His people.
 
         The Ten Commandments are sum up in the words of Jesus when He said,
"'You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul,
and with your whole mind.' This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the
second is, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments
depend the whole Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:35-40)