Few Catholics study moral theology, and it is not a problem. A working knowledge of morality is already present in one’s soul. While not necessary, its study can only benefit one’s spiritual advancement. For the sake of reader interest, let’s get right to the heart of moral theology, which is the moral act itself. We will define and elaborate following.
The Three Elements of a Moral Act
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1750, The morality of human acts depends on:
― THE OBJECT chosen; is what is being done, either spiritually or physically. I may swing a bat to hit a ball, to scare off a burglar, or some other reason. Some moral systems call this object, the means to an end.
The object is the thing that we do, it’s the tool which we grasp: praying, lying, loving, swinging a bat. The means is another term for the object: speaking, looking, eating, working. The object describes what we are doing, either
physically or spiritually.
Each step in the progression of swinging a bat is an object: walking to home base, observing the pitch, evaluating the pitch of the ball, swinging or not swinging, and more. In another example: each micro action in an act of violence is a separate object: we must evaluate each violent or non violent action according to the laws of just use of force, and there will be many.121
121 The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2302-2330, details the 153
― THE END in view is the intention, or why is it done; for what end do I swing a bat. To hit a ball, hit an attacker, to pose for a photo, to exercise or some other reason? There may even be ends within ends: for pride, preservation, paycheck, etc. These dual or secondary ends may be legitimate, or illegitimate, just as may be the primary ends.
The end is the intended result. It is possible the actual result is not what we intended, as we may not have complete control over the results of an action. The end, is both our motive for acting, and the intended goal of our action. The end
is why we do something.
― The CIRCUMSTANCES of the action are all other factors beyond the object and the end. In the Catholic moral system which has three components—object, end, circumstances—
the circumstances is a bit of a catch all category. The term
‘circumstances’ is self explanatory, but this category also includes the extended results of our action, and any other factor which is neither object or end.
“safeguarding of peace, and the legitimate use of force”, a portion of which is quoted here.
From CCC 2309: “The strict conditions for legitimate defense by
military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a
decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy.
At one and the same time:
— the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community
of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
—all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be
impractical or ineffective;
— there must be serious prospects of success;
—the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than
the evil to be eliminated, [this is the principle of double effect]. The
power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in