Le magistère de l'Église en matière morale

Abstract

Within the framework of an interdisciplinary reflection of the ethical problems arising from the beginnings oflife, and widening the debate to the function of the Magisterium in generai, the author asks himself about the quality and the nature of the moral teaching of the Church and of its parenetic discourse. After having discussed the hermeneutics of Vatican II and the sometimes contradictory requests made by the people of God to its authorised Magisterium, the author studies in succession the mutual relationship between faith and ethics as well as the various aspects of moral precepts : the ultimate foundation of the moral exigencies on the one hand, the normative orientations on the other, of which the respect is not identifiable simply to obedience in faith, nor to the acceptance of purely discipli- nary dispositions. It requires disponibility and assent but also calls for a spiritual coresponsibility and eventually authorises a certain form of distancing.