Tag Archives: natural law

Unnatural behaviour

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Quentin

This is, I take it, the best known passage on Natural Law. It’s only a couple of thousand years old. “There is indeed a true law—right reason—that is in harmony with Nature and present in all things, unchanging and eternal … Continue reading →

Posted in Moral judgment | Tagged | 11 Comments

Washing machines and the Natural Law

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Quentin

Before Christmas we were discussing “Some of my best friends.” It took us into the subject of homosexuality and, inevitably, into Natural Law. I thought it might be useful to write a little primer on this, so that we can … Continue reading →

Posted in Bio-ethics, Moral judgment, Quentin queries | Tagged | 23 Comments

Men and men; women and women

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Quentin

Let’s discuss an uncomfortable subject: homosexuality and homosexual acts. We are aware that the Church firmly teaches that homosexual acts, being contrary to the natural law, are intrinsically disordered, and under no circumstances can they be approved. (Catechism 2357) We … Continue reading →

Posted in Church and Society, Moral judgment, Pope Francis, Quentin queries | Tagged , , | 84 Comments

Eunuchs in the choir

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Quentin

Moral theologians at loggerheads? So it may seem to us amateurs. Let’s try to understand the problem by starting with natural law which underpins our moral decisions. This is based on our understanding of human nature as God has created … Continue reading →

Posted in Bio-ethics, Catholic Herald columns, Church and Society, Pope Francis, Quentin queries | Tagged , , , | 97 Comments

Absolutely no exceptions

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Quentin

When we consider the differences between right and wrong we naturally go to the Commandments – and in most instances to the “social” commandments. But we are aware that they need some interpretation. For example, we understand immediately the value … Continue reading →

Posted in Moral judgment, Philosophy, Quentin queries | Tagged , | 128 Comments

It’s only Natural

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Quentin

The Natural Law, which underpins the assessment of moral behaviour in the Catholic tradition, is often seen as a complex concept, rooted in the distant past – and only of academic interest nowadays. It certainly has a long history which … Continue reading →

Posted in Bio-ethics, Catholic Herald columns, Moral judgment, Philosophy | Tagged | 57 Comments

Fair means or foul

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Quentin

Houston, we have a problem. In my column of October 5, in the context of ethical problems for the future, I wrote: “Our long-established habit of deducing moral imperatives from structure will have to survive our acceptance that God created … Continue reading →

Posted in Bio-ethics, Catholic Herald columns, Moral judgment, Quentin queries | Tagged , , , , | 87 Comments