YLSM-Systematic Moral

This course will explore basic questions of Christian morality. Particular emphasis will be placed on the human person, freedom and knowledge and conscience formation. The role of natural law, Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium will be addressed.

Catholic Moral Theology and Bioethics : Introductory course acquaints student with basic principles and topics in Catholic morality and bioethics and their application in specific issues: beginning and ending of life, genetics, transplantation, experimentation, and the ministry of pastoral care in the hospital. The course teaches the role of natural law, the nature of the human person as a moral person, freedom and knowledge, and the formation of the conscience.

This course offers an introduction to the basic principles and topics in Bioethics. The subjects covered will be selected from the following: suffering; Catholic identity in health care; issues at the beginning of life; genetics; transplantation; experimentation; distribution of health care; issues at the end of life.

This course bases the ethics of sex and marriage on a Christian understanding of the human person, discusses marriage as institution and as sacrament, and deals with issues such as marriage permanence, marital fidelity, contraception, the virtue of chastity, homosexuality, and vowed celibacy from a moral and pastoral point of view.

An advanced course that establishes the fundamental teaching in the Church’s social doctrine and its development from the early church to the modern period. Key modern encyclicals in social justice are studied with special attention given to documents of the papacy, the Holy See, the USCCB and Catholic bioethical theologians, covering topics and scenarios relevant to the priestly vocation.

This course will examine the dynamic and transformative relationship between the human person and God in Christ through the Holy Spirit. The Trinitarian origins and goal of spirituality will be emphasized as well as the concepts of grace uncreated and created, the gifts of the Spirit, freedom, sin, conversion, growth in holiness, prayer, and prayer practices.

Spiritual Theology explores the truths of divine revelation and religious experience, those aspects of the supernatural life which pertain to its development and practice, as well as the progression through which souls move toward the transformation which brings the spiritual life to its perfection. This course also considers the characteristics of spiritual direction and focuses on key texts that have shaped Christian spirituality from late antiquity to the twenty-first century. The course consists of lectures, case studies, and class presentations with discussion.