Where Do Morals Come From?

[TotusTuusMaria]

Are they derived from the Church or does the Church just promote/protect them?

[Thy Geekdom Come]

Morals are derived from God, who is all Truth. Morality can be (loosely) defined as the application of the Truth of God and His Will in our lives and actions.

God has revealed His Truth and His Will to us.

There is Divine Law, which is always true (the Ten Commandments, for instance). All other law is (or should be) based on divine law. Divine law centers around the fact that God is love. God's whole action is love; that's what He does. So all law is based on love: seeking what is good and right for God, ourselves, and others. Divine law is revealed to us through the Scriptures.

Natural law is found in nature and written on the human heart. Based on divine law, natural law guides the natural processes of things and shows us what is right and wrong in a way that can be known to all people, even those who have not received God's Revelation in Scripture (for instance, the fact that marriage is between a man and a woman is a matter of natural law; you don't need to read the Bible to know that).

Church law is based on Divine Law with a more specific application and is further processed by human reason (Canon Law, for instance, has some things which are somewhat arbitrary, but still based on and in line with Divine Law). Church law can change, but the underlying principles never change (what's right in some circumstances may not be right in other circumstances; for instance, usually the Western Rite of the Church won't allow married priests, but sometimes the situation allows it).

Civil law is also (supposed to be) based on and in line with Divine Law and natural law, but it isn't always (because governments aren't always morally sound); we are not bound to obey those civil laws that are not in accord with God's law or natural law. Civil law can change and does change frequently (more frequently than any other kind of law, I would say).

All law is meant to be based on the supreme law (the Divine Law, in a nutshell) of love, on which the Ten Commandments (and all morality) are based. Love is first for God, then for neighbors. When we follow the law, we act morally, and because we follow the law in love, we are able to participate in the love of God on which law is based; following the commandments allows us to be with God (John 15 talks a lot about this).

Lastly, conscience, which is an inner voice which helps us to determine whether we are doing right or wrong. Conscience must be educated, though; it doesn't come already formed. So we need to study God's law to understand what love commands us to do. That way, our consciences will be formed and we will be able to evaluate our actions.

[url="http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3.htm#1691"]The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1691 and following addresses morality.[/url] Morality can be a complicated issue, so it's best to read it in context.

God bless,

Micah