THEOLOGY 202 COURSE SYLLABUS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
PROFILE OF THE SCHOOL AND STUDENTS:
St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur is a Catholic School dedicated to the formation of the
whole person – education in faith, academic excellence in a caring environment, and
community service in charity. The school endeavors to assist the students to grow in
their faith in order to bring Christ to the world.
It strives for academic excellence through a curriculum comparable with that of
quality and effective schools and integrates the Catholic faith in all academic
disciplines. The school also responds to the gospel call to community and service in
the spirit of Christ by providing opportunities for social transformation through
service-oriented outreach programs to the Church and the community.
The school aims to form the students to journey in union with God as it zealously
proclaims Christ as the good news to all. Thus, the school helps the students to be
creative, transformative and responsive to the needs of the society and the Church.
This educational institution is owned and administered by the Sisters of St. Paul of
Chartes for male and female students coming from different income bracket families
and different religious orientation.
THEOLOGY COURSES: (*Prerequisite subjects for Theology 208)
First Year College:
First Semester: * SS 101 Salvation History / The Old Testament
Second Semester: * SS 102 Christology / New Testament
Second Year College:
First Semester: * THEO 101 Fundamental Moral Theology
Second Semester: THEO 102 Special Moral Theology
TOPIC: Special Moral Theology
AUDIENCE: Second Year College Students during the Second Semester
KIND OF MATERIALS: LCD and laptop
NUMBER OF SESSIONS: 18 meetings / 78 hours
LENGTH OF TIME PER SESSION: 1 hour and 30 minutes
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COURSE TITLE: Christian Morality: Responding to Contemporary Moral and Social Issues
COURSE CODE: THEO 102
CREDITS:
3 units
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is intended for the second year second semester
college students. This course leads the students to deepen their
understanding and critically apply what they learned in the
Fundamental Moral Theology 1 course. It begins with a discussion of
human rights which are based on the human being's dignity, rooted
in his/her being created in the image and likeness of God. It also
discusses the pressing issues in our society today concerning human
sexuality, bioethical issues, socioeconomic issues, ecological and
environmental issues.
COURSE OBJECTIVE: This course is ordered for the students to:
• Become more aware about pressing moral and social issues
today.
• Understand the moral implications of these issues.
• Respond appropriately to these issues; in particular, organize a
community-based project that addresses an environmental
issue, which is an urgent need at that particular time and area.
THEO 102: CHRISTIAN MORALITY: RESPONDING TO CONTEMPORARY
MORAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES
The course begins with the human persons, “the center and crown of all
things on earth” (CCC 361). Humans have dignity and rights as persons
which must be known and understood, respected and observed by
everyone. The topics that follow greatly affect the humanity, the
society and environment where he lives.
Part I.
Part II.
Part III.
Part IV.
Part V.
Human Rights: Human Being and Their Actions
Human Sexuality Issues
Bioethical Issues
Socioeconomic Issues
Ecological and Environmental Issues
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PART I. HUMAN RIGHTS: HUMAN BEINGS AND THEIR ACTIONS
Context: The establishment and maintenance of social order among human beings
are anchored through fundamental human rights. However, many people
erroneously regard certain things as rights and confuse them with
caprices and whims because they misunderstand the meaning of rights.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Human Dignity
Definition and Purpose of Rights
List of Human Rights
Limitations of the Human Rights
Conflicts of Rights and Duties
Required Readings:
Genesis 1:27
Evangelium Vitae, 1 and 2
Dignitatis Humanae, 1
Caritas in Veritate, 15
Deus Caritas Est, 16
Catechism for the Catholic Church, 718
Catechism for Filipino Catholics, 1136-1137, and 11
Recommended readings:
Brownlie. Basic Document on Human Rights. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1988).
Curran and R.A. McCormick, eds. Global Human Rights. (New York: Paulist Press,
1986) 376.
PART II. HUMAN SEXUALITY ISSUES
Context: Human sexuality is humanizing but dehumanizing. Our modern society
has distorted or insufficient understanding on the real meaning and
purpose of one's sexuality. This deficiency is shown through numerous
sex related cases, such as:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Masturbation
Pre-marital sex/ fornication
Adultery
Rape
Prostitution
Homosexual acts
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Required Readings:
Genesis 19; Exodus 20:14, 17; Deuteronomy 5:17; Deuteronomy 22:21
Leviticus 19:29; Romans 1:26-28; 1; Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:26
Matthew 15:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; Colossians: 3-5
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2332-2333, 2351-2359, 2387-2391
Catechism of the Filipino Catholics, 1071, 1066-1069, 1071,
Gadium et Spes, 12 and 79
Recommended readings:
Genovesi, Vincent. In Pursuit of Love: Catholic Morality and Human Sexuality.
(Quezon City: Jesuit Communication, Inc., 2003), 127-131.
McBrien, Richard. Catholicism, 3d ed. (Minneapolis, Minn: Winston Press, 1980)
993-999.
Rubio, Julie Hanlon. Family Ethics: Practices for Christians. (Washington, D.C.:
Georgetown University Press, 2010) 97-119.
PART III. BIOETHICAL ISSUES
Context: Bioethics is the discipline dealing with the ethical implications of
biological research and applications that are contrary or threatens the
human dignity and our Christian moral values, such as:
1. Abortion
2. Euthanasia
3. Birth Regulation
4. Genetic Intervention
Required Readings:
Genesis 4:8; Exodus 20: 13; Deuteronomy 5:17
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2268-2283; 2292-2296
Catechism of the Filipino Catholics, 1037, 1038
Dignitas Personae No. 9-1,
Evangelium Vitae no. 72,
The Gospel of Life. Pope John Paul II (1995)
Gadium et Spes, 51
Donum Vitae I, 3; 23
Recommended readings:
Joffe, Carole. The Regulation of Sexuality: Experiences of Family Planning
Workers (2010).
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Mattison, William C. Introducing Moral Theology: True Happiness and the Virtue.
(2008).
Gomez, Fausto B. Current Practical Issues in Bioethics. (University of Santo
Tomas Publishing House, 2002).
United State Conference of Catholic Bishops. Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities.
(2001).
Lanigan, Barbara T. Human Dignity and Bioethics (2009).
Calhoun, Ada. “The Rise of DIY Abortions.” New Republic Vol. 243 Issue 20
(December 31,2012); 14-17. MAS Ultra – School Edition, EBSCO host
(accessed May 10, 2013).
Finer, Louise, and Johanna B. Fine. “Abortion Law Around the World: Progress
and Pushback.” American Journal of Public Health Vol. 103 no. 4 (April
2013); 585-589. MEDLINE with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed May 10,
2013).
Juarez, Fatima, Josefina Cabigon, Susheela Singh, and Rubina Hussain, 2005. “The
Incidence of Induced Abortion in the Philippines: Current Level and
Recent Trends.” International Family Planning Perspectives Vol. 31 no. 3
(2005); pp. 140-149. MEDLINE with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed May
10, 2013).
PART IV. SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUES
Context: The fundamental function of the economy is service to humanity and not
profit domination of those who are in power. Our society has alarming
immoral conduct of activities which in some cases are forms of social
injustice and crimes which threatens the society.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Poverty
Crisis on Education
Health Problems
Underemployment and Unemployment
Graft and Corruption
Crime and Violence
Abuse and Misuse of Social Media and Other Technologies
Required Readings:
Genesis 1:26; Exodus 20:12-17; Matthew 5:33
Gadium et Spes, 74-76
Inter Mirifica, 2, 8-12
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Communio et Progresio,
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2493-2499; 1181; 1187-1189; 2234-2243
Catechism for the Filipino Catholics, 1160-1165
Plenary Council of the Philippines, 304-305; 342-344;
Recommended readings:
Sheldon H. Danziger and Robert H. Haveman. "Understanding poverty"(2001)
Ardianto, Yustinus. The social media phenomenon and ministry 3.0 : Toward a New
Way of Moral and Faith Formation for the e-Generation in the Archdiocese of
Jakarta(2007)
Gustavo Gutierrez. Option for the Poor
Bernard Haring CSSR. Free and Faithful, Vol3. (Claretian Publications), 277.
PART V. ECOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Context: The Philippines is suffering from the degradation of the Natural
Environment. It has 50 major rivers now polluted due to abuse and
neglect. Approximately 2/3 of the country’s original mangroves have
been lost. More and more environmental problems are coming around
the archipelago.
1. Destruction of Natural Resources
2. Pollution
3. Community Involvement
Required Readings:
Genesis 1: 1-31;
An Invitation to Reflection and Action on Environment in Light of Catholic Social
Teaching.
http://nccbuscc.org/. http://nccbuscc.org/sdwp/ejp/bishopsstatement.shtml
(accessed May 11, 2013).
Maser, Chris. Earth in our Care: Ecology, Economy and Sustainability. Rutgers
University Press, 2009
Holden, William N., Jacobson R. Daniel. Mining and Natural Hazard Vulnerability in
the
Philippines: Digging to the Development or Digging to the Disaster?. London Anthon
Press, 2012
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Recommended readings
Verzola, Roberto. "Society, Ecology and Transformation: A Program for Transforming
Philippine Society based on the Green world view"(1999)
Ramos, Victor. "The Governance of Ecology: Struggles and Insights in Environmental
Statesmanship"(1997)
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