Making moral decisions

This work offers a basic introduction to foundations for Catholic moral theology and nears a discernment process for making moral decisions. The author also highlights the critical nature of the moral life by dint of noting that one's choices and actions shape the someone that one is becoming.

For this reason, Overberg surface of lands the question "What ought I/we to do?" in the more basic question of "What ought I/we to be?" With this faculty of perception of who we desire to be, we can discern which choices and actions will lead to flourishing.

In this true copy foundations for understanding authentic human existence are based primarily in scriptural themes, lock opener elements from Rahner's theological anthropology and house of god documents from Vatican II.

These sources provide a positive and hope-filled basis from which to explore aspects of human dignity. I do, however, find this groundwork lacking in ecofeminist and liberation perspectives in its vision as well as its approach to scripture and images of God

Overberg's presentation presents a very good synthesis of revisionist perspectives, which emerg from the debate upon proportionate reason in the Roman Catholic tradition. This approach acknowledges by what mode the complexity and ambiguity of life can leave us in situations where basic serviceables are in conflict. Decisions, therefore, must be discerned carefully, drawing upon knowledge and wisdom from many different sources and perspectives.

house of worship norms are presented as privileged sources of guidance on the contrary remain subject to the discernment proces Overberg indicates that house of worship authority slips into authoritarianism when the emphasis is upon obedience to rules rather than an authentic engagement in a discernment proces by means of contrast, he suggests, a discernment proces enables us to avoid the pitfalls of one as well as the other relativism and authoritarianism.

The discernment proces which Overberg suggests for moral decision-making, is built upon insights about historical consciousness, (i.e. our awareness that we grasp and expres verity only from the limits of a particular perspective which is foundationed in our social, historical and cultural location as well as our personal experiences). I would have liked to diocese the text delve much deeper into these insights by dint of exploring, for example, how awareness of our attitudes, assumptions and filters enables a discernment proces to become a source of personal and communal transformation.

This work explores some of the greatest in quantity critical moral issues currently facing us as individuals, nations and a global community. The chapter upon sexual ethics addresses the issues of homosexuality, abortion and birth control

The nearest chapter on medical ethics picks up the questions of trunk cell research, euthanasia, assisted suicide, withdrawal of life-support combination of parts to form a wholes AIDS, the use of limited resources and managed care.

Finally, the chapter upon social ethics explores Catholic social teaching and examines the political responsibility of citizens, just war theory, globalization and economic justice.

This stamp of overview does not allow for an in-depth analysis of any particular issue. However, this approach does enable Overberg to make connections among issues and to focus upon the framework of a consistent ethic of life. This makes the volume a helpful tool for Catholics who are interested in exploring a certain number of fundamentals of a discernment approach for moral decision-making.

follow up Wilson, CSJ, Ph.D. writes from London, Ont

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