The Main Proposals for the Content of Moral Theology in the Light of the Documents of the Council’s Renewal

Abstract

In the analyses to date only the conciliar guidelines concerning the basic issuesof moral theology have been considered. %is does not mean at all that in thedocuments of the Council’s renewal there are no indications on many issuesthat are simply discussed in the detailed part of moral theology. Such a subjectis the issue of religious freedom, which is linked to the treaty on faith. %eCouncil’s postulate is also to discuss the problem of the priesthood of the faithfulin connection with the treatise on the honour of God (de religione). Moralissues of dialogue and ecumenism, including the participation of Catholicsin the religious life of other faiths (communicatio in sacris), are awaiting elaboration.%e Council’s guidelines for the moralistic theologian also refer to theissue of contemporary social life, which has become the subject of the secondpart of the Gaudium et spes Constitution and were developed by Paul VI in theencyclical Populorum progressio.It seems superfluous to give a complete list of conciliar indications in thearea of moral theology which relate to detailed topics of this theological discipline.In the Council’s renewal of theology, it is not a question of seeking newcontent, but of showing the “old” truths and principles in a living relationshipwith the revealed word of God, taking into account the needs of the humanrace of our time.