Life in Jesus: Morality (Fall 2015)
Mr. Schonhoff (mschonhoff@iwacademy.org)
Website: http://iwaschonhoff.weebly.com
LAP #2: Moral Decision-Making
Essential Question: How do we apply Catholic theories of morality to actual
everyday life?
Note: All Retakes and Late Assignments from LAP 1 will be due by the end of LAP 2. Failure to
turn in late or missing work by the last class day on LAP 2 will result in a ZERO for that particular
assignment – no exceptions.
Overview: We will begin this LAP by comparing the Catholic understanding of morality to
secular ethical systems of thought. We will study the abstract idea of the conscience and what
its proper formation looks like. Finally, we will introduce the consistent ethic of life and how it
applies to moral dilemmas in the modern world.
Rationale: In the Incarnate Word Mission statement it says that we want to “challenge young
women of faith to achieve their God-given potential…and make a positive impact on the
world.” In order to reach our deepest potential, we must learn what it means to make difficult
choices and to constantly seek what is good over what is evil. By exploring what it means to
make good decisions and how we can address difficult moral dilemmas in our world, we begin
to develop who we are as Women of the Word, striving to follow the example of Jesus Christ.
As we understand more fully what it means to “let our conscience be our guide,” we can truly
begin to make choices that reflect our Christian faith.
Learning Goals & Objectives
1. Understand and explain why love is the foundation of Catholic Morality
2. Analyze secular ethical systems of thought and compare them to Catholic principles
3. Study the formation of the conscience and reflect on personal formation
4. Describe the consistent ethic of life and apply it to modern moral issues
5. Choose a modern moral dilemma and analyze it through different lenses in a paper
LAP 1 Summative Assessment
1. Your LAP 2 Summative Assessment will be an in-class test worth 30 points. The test
will consist of True/False, Multiple Choice, Matching, and Short Response Questions.
2. The test will be taken in class on Day 9. (Nic. & Vat: 10/12 (H); Chal. & Tre: 10/9 (G))
Open Lab Assignment
1. Open Lab Research Paper on a Moral Dilemma of your choice.
The paper is worth 30 points total. You will receive a handout in
class on Day 2 describing the paper in depth.
Date Due
Nic: 10/13 (J)
Chal: 10/13 (J)
Tre: 10/12 (H)
Vat: 10/14 (K)
Calendar of Events
Day 1:
1. Due at Class time: None
2. Topics Covered Today: LAP 2 Introduction: Catholic Morality
3. HW for Next Class: Read Handout on Relativism and answer
questions in Notes (5 pts)
Day 2:
Nic: 9/15 (A)
Chal: 9/16 (A) - W
Tre: 9/15 (A)
Vat: 9/15 (A)
Nic: 9/22 (D)
1. Due at Class time: Questions on Relativism (5 pts)
Chal: 9/17 (C)
2. Topics Covered Today: Secular Ethical Systems of Thought
Tre: 9/16 (B)
3. HW for Next Class: None
Vat: 9/17 (C)
Day 3:
1. Due at Class time: None
2. Topics Covered Today: Secular Ethical Systems Cont’d; Double
Effect & 3 Font-Principle
Nic: 9/24 (F)
Chal: 9/23 (E) - W
Tre: 9/23 (E) - W
3. HW for Next Class: Read Article 52 and answer review questions
in your notes (5 pts)
Day 4:
1. Due at Class time: “Conscience” Questions in Notes (5 pts)
2. Topics Covered Today: Formation of the Conscience
3. HW for Next Class: Read Articles 37-38 and answer review
questions in your notes (5 pts)
Vat: 9/24 (F)
Nic: 9/28 (H)
Chal: 9/25 (G)
Tre: 9/25 (G)
Vat: 9/28 (H)
Day 5:
1. Due at Class time: “Consistent Ethic” Questions (5 pts)
Nic: 9/29 (J)
2. Topics Covered Today: Consistent Ethic of Life; Beginning-of-Life
Issues
Chal: 9/29 (J)
Tre: 9/28 (H)
3. HW for Next Class: Read Article 39 and answer review questions
in your notes (5 pts)
Vat: 9/30 (K) - W
Day 6:
Nic: 10/1 (A)
1. Due at Class time: “End-of-Life” Questions (5 pts)
Chal: 10/2 (B)
2. Topics Covered Today: End-of Life Issues
Tre: 10/1 (A)
3. HW for Next Class: Read Article 40 and answer review questions
in your notes (5 pts)
Vat: 10/2 (A)
Day 7:
Nic: 10/6 (D)
1. Due at Class time: “War and Peace” Questions (5 pts)
Chal: 10/5 (C)
2. Topics Covered Today: War & Peace Issues
Tre: 10/2 (B)
3. HW for Next Class: Study Guide (5 pts)
Vat: 10/5 (C)
Nic: 10/8 (F)
Day 8:
1. Due at Class time: Study Guide (5 pts)
Chal: 10/7 (E) - W
2. Topics Covered Today: Review for Test
Tre: 10/7 (E) - W
3. HW for Next Class: Study
Day 9:
Vat: 10/8 (F)
Nic: 10/12 (H)
1. Due at Class time: None
Chal: 10/9 (G)
2. Topics Covered Today: In-Class Summative Test
Tre: 10/9 (G)
3. HW for Next Class: OL Research Paper (30 pts)
Day 10:
Vat: 10/12 (H)
Nic: 10/13 (J)
1. Due at Class time: OL Research Paper (30 pts)
Chal: 10/13 (J)
2. Topics Covered Today: Discuss Research Papers
Tre: 10/12 (H)
3. HW for Next Class: None
Vat: 10/14 (K)
Breakdown of Points
LAP 1 will consist of 90 total points, wrapped up in the following assignments:
 “Relativism” Questions (5 pts)
 “Conscience” Questions (5 pts)
 “Consistent Ethic” Questions (5 pts)
 “End of Life” Questions (5 pts)
 “War & Peace” Questions (5 pts)
 Study Guide (5 pts)
 Open Lab Paper (30 pts)
 In-class Summative Test (30 pts)