Theological Virtues:

FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY

Theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity; they animate it and give it its special character.

Every person is infused by this theological virtues, which allows them to act as God’s children.

Unlike the Cardinal Virtues (which can be practiced by anyone), Theological Virtues are gifts of grace from God, and what the practice of the virtues aim at, is God himself.

There are three theological virtues:1. Faith

2. Hope

3. Charity

Faith

Belief in God, and in the truth of His revelation as well as the obedience in him

The theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe in all that he has said and revealed to us.

The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live on it, but also profess it and confidently bear witness to it.

Hope

Theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness

Also, with this virtue, we place our trust in Christ’s promises and rely on not only our strength, but also on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Believe in the promises of God and desire to achieve the gifts and promises.

Hope is therefore, the want to attain the promise of God to those who love him and do his will.

Charity

Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.

The practice of all the virtues is animated and inspired by charity, which “binds everything together in perfect harmony”.

By practicing Charity, we no longer stand before God as a slave, but, a son “responding to the love of him who first loved us”.

The fruits of charity are: joy, peace and mercy.

Symbolism of the Theological Virtues

Faith- cross, pointing upward, staff and chalice, lamp, candle

Hope - anchor, harp, flaming brand, palm

Charity/Love - flaming heart, with children, gathering fruit

Moral Virtues

Virtues concerned with practical life

The fruit and seed of morally good acts

Moral Virtues are acquired through human effort

Four virtues are:1. Prudence

2. Justice

3. Fortitude

4. Temperance

Prudence

Ranked first cardinal virtue by St. Thomas Aquinas because it concerns intellect. He defined it as “recta ratio agibilium”.

The virtue that allows us to judge what is right and what is wrong in any give situation.

Because it is easy to fall into error, prudence requires us to ask the opinion and counsel of others

to take counsel carefully with oneself and from others

to judge correctly on the basis of the evidence at hand

to direct the rest of one's activity according to the norms determined after a prudent judgment has been made

Justice

Moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will too give their due to God and neighbor

Justice toward men disposes one to respect the rights of each, and to establish in human relationships the harmony that promotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good

In other words, it is the constant and permanent determination to give everyone his or her rightful due.

Justice respects the rights of others whether those rights are natural or legal

Fortitude

The moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good.

Strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and overcome obstacles

Fortitude is not foolhardiness or rashness; rushing in where angels fear to tread

Temperance

The virtue that attempts to keep us from excess

Examples are abstinence and chastity

Temperance is primarily concerned with the control of the desires of the flesh, but when it manifests itself as modesty, it can also restrain the desires of the spirit, such as pride.

In all cases, the practice of temperance requires the balancing of legitimate goods against an inordinate desire for them.

Occasion of sin

In Roman Catholic teaching, an occasion of sin is an external

set of circumstances—whether of things or persons—which either

because of their special nature or because of the frailty common to

humanity or peculiar to some individual, incite or entice one to sin

John A. Hardon, indispensable Modern Catholic Dictionary

“Any person, place, or thing that of its nature or because of human frailty can lead one to do wrong, thereby committing sin”

Types of Occasion of Sin

Remote- An occasion of sin is remote if the danger it poses is very slight.

Near or Proximate- An occasion of sin where the danger is imminent or certain

Abortion

The medical process of ending a pregnancy so it does not result in the birth of a baby.

Also known as termination or termination of pregnancy

Ended either by medication or by surgical procedure

“Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being”

Types of Abortion

Surgical Abortion- medical procedures done at a health care provider’s office or clinic

Medical Abortion- do not involve surgery or other invasive methods but rely on medications to end pregnancy

Surgical Abortion

Abortions performed prior to nine weeks from the last menstrual period(seven weeks from conception) are performed either surgically (a procedure) or medically (with drugs).

From nine weeks until 14 weeks, an abortion is performed by a dilatation and suction curettage procedure.

After 14 weeks, surgical abortions are performed by a dilatation and evacuation procedure.

After 20 weeks of gestation, abortions can be performed by labor induction, prostaglandin labor induction, saline infusion, hysterotomy, or dilatation and extraction.

Surgical Abortion Procedures

1. Manual Vacuum Aspiration:  within 7 weeks after last menstrual period 

Dilators (metal rods) are used to stretch the cervical muscle until the opening is wide enough for abortion instruments to pass through the uterus. A hand-held syringe is attached to tubing, which is inserted into the uterus. The fetus is suctioned out.

Suction Curettage: after 14 weeks from the last menstrual period

The abortionist uses a dilator or laminaria to open the cervix. Laminaria are thin sticks from a kelp species that are inserted hours before the procedure and allowed to slowly absorb water and expand, thereby dilating the cervix. Once the cervix is dilated, the abortionist inserts tubing into the uterus and attaches the tubing to a suction machine. Suction pulls apart the fetus’ body and out the uterus. After suction, the doctor and nurses must reassemble the fetus’ dismembered parts to ensure they have all the pieces.

D & C (Dilation and Curettage): within first 12 weeks

The cervix is dilated. A suction device is placed in the uterine cavity to remove the fetus and placenta.  Then the abortionist inserts a curette (a loop-shaped knife) into the uterus. The abortionist uses the curette to scrape any remaining fetal parts and the placenta out of the uterus.

 D & E (Dilation and Evacuation): within 13-24 weeks after last menstrual period

The fetus literally doubles in size between the 11th and 12th weeks of pregnancy. Soft cartilage hardens into bone at 16 weeks, making the fetus too large and strong to pass through a suction tube. The D & E procedure begins by inserting laminaria a day or two before the abortion, opening the cervix wide to accommodate the larger fetal size. The abortionist then both tears and cuts the fetus and uses the vacuum machine to extract its remains. Because the skull is too large to be suctioned through the tube, it must be crushed by forceps for removal. Pieces must be extracted very carefully because the jagged, sharp pieces of the broken skull could easily cut the cervix.

Saline: after 15 weeks of pregnancy

This procedure is conducted in the same manner as amniocentesis (a prenatal test used to diagnose a fetus’ potential chromosomal abnormalities). A long needle is inserted into the woman’s abdomen, directly into the amniotic sac. It is at this point that a saline abortion and amniocentesis differ. In a saline abortion, amniotic fluid is removed from the woman and replaced by a strong saline (salt) solution. As the fetus’ lungs absorb the salt solution, it begins to suffocate. It may struggle and may even have convulsions. The saline also burns off the fetus’ outer layer of skin. Saline abortion can take one to six hours before the fetus is no longer viable. The woman begins labor after approximately 12 hours, and she may take up to 24 hours to deliver. Because the procedure is often quite long, many times the woman is left to labor alone.

 Prostaglandin: after 15 weeks of pregnancy

This procedure is conducted in the same manner as a saline abortion, except prostaglandin (a hormone that causes the woman to start labor) replaces saline. Prostaglandin activates contractions. It can cause overly painful or intense labor; there have been cases in which the violence of the contractions ruptured the mother’s uterus.1 This type of abortion is not preferred by abortionists because there is a 40% higher chance of a live birth.

Hysterotomy: after 18 weeks

This procedure is the same as a cesarean section (in which the doctor cuts through the abdomen and uterus to deliver the baby), except that in a hysterotomy, no medical attention is given to the baby upon delivery to help it survive. Most often, a wet towel is placed over the baby’s face so it can’t breathe. Sometimes the baby placed in a bucket of water. The goal is to have a baby that won’t survive.

D & X (Dilation and Extraction): from 20 weeks after last menstrual period to full term. Also called “partial birth abortion.”

This procedure takes three days. During the first two days, the woman’s cervix is dilated. She is given medication for cramping. On the third day, she receives medication to induce labor. As the woman labors, the abortionist uses an ultrasound to locate the baby’s legs. The abortionist then grasps a leg with forceps and delivers the baby up to its head. Next, using a scissors, the abortionist creates an opening in the base of the baby’s skull. A suction catheter is inserted into the skull opening, and the baby’s brains are suctioned out. The skull collapses, and the rest of the baby’s body is delivered through the birth canal.

Chemical Abortion

Abortion brought about by medication

Can be accomplished by a variety of medication given either as a single pill or a series of pills.

79-95% success rate

Women tend to favor medical abortion since it is generally safer than surgical abortion because it avoids the risk of unnecessary injuries to the cervix or uterus.

Chemical Abortion Options

RU-486 (Mifepristone): within 4-7 weeks of the last menstrual period. Also called “the abortion pill.”

This drug interferes with levels of progesterone, a hormone that keeps the fetus implanted in the wall of the uterus. The woman is prescribed progesterone and then returns to the clinic two days later to receive a prostaglandin drug that induces labor and expels the dead fetus. A third visit may be required if the baby is not expelled, at which time a woman has a 5-8% likelihood of needing a surgical abortion to complete the process. RU-486 is documented to be unsafe for women.2

 Methotrexate and Misoprostol

Methotrexate is used for treatment of cancer, and Misoprostol is used for ulcer treatment. In a chemical abortion, these two drugs are used in combination. Methotrexate causes cells in the placenta (the organ that nourishes the fetus) to die.  Misoprostol empties the fetus from the uterus by causing the uterus to contract and push the fetus out. Methotrexate is a drug used in chemotherapy and has the potential for serious liver toxicity.

“Morning After” Pill: sometimes used in rape cases

Up to 72 hours after intercourse, a woman is administered large doses of birth control pills (or levonorgestrel, also known as Plan B) to prevent the embryo from implanting in the uterus wall. Twelve hours after the first dose, a second dose is given. Large doses of birth control pills work to prevent ovulation and hinder sperm motility.

End of Report!Thank you!

1. Roger Floyd Dela Rosa

2. Itsei Nishida

3. Earl Kevin Aguja

4. Jules Cajayon

5. Ernel Estolano