Tag Archives: conscience

Are you conscientious?

Posted on June 21, 2018 by Quentin

While the idea of conscience has always been important in the Church, it is certainly much more emphasised in recent times. I would date this from Vatican II when its importance was clearly described. But of course it has always … Continue reading →

Posted in Scripture, Spirituality, virtue ethics | Tagged | 7 Comments

The Holy Spirit and you

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Quentin

Relying on the Holy Spirit is a dangerous game. That may sound an odd remark given that Jesus assures us that the Spirit will bring the Church and its members to the truth. But, while the action of the Spirit … Continue reading →

Posted in Moral judgment, Neuroscience, Quentin queries, Spirituality | Tagged , | 86 Comments

The best of intentions

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Quentin

How often do you examine your conscience? I was taught to do so every day as a constituent of my night prayers. So there I was in the dormitory at school thinking of all my sins. And there was good … Continue reading →

Posted in Moral judgment, Quentin queries | Tagged | 85 Comments

Obedience? Forget it.

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Quentin

We have, from time to time, reviewed the question of conscience, but I wonder whether we have fully taken in a momentous change ushered in by Vatican II. We are all aware of the words of Gaudium et Spes: “Conscience … Continue reading →

Posted in Moral judgment, Quentin queries | Tagged | 34 Comments

Beware of the elephant

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Quentin

For 45 years the Catholic Church has had an elephant in the room. When it was young it trumpeted a good deal but, after a while, we decided to let it be, hoping that it would go away. But it … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic Herald columns, Church and Society, Moral judgment, Spirituality | Tagged , , , | 91 Comments

The right to be wrong

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Quentin

Let’s go back this week to pre-history – that is, the 1950s, before Vatican II. At that time, I was a junior member of a large, international, financial company, and I had been asked to say grace at a company … Continue reading →

Posted in Quentin queries, Scripture, Spirituality | Tagged , , , , | 42 Comments