Fundamentals of Christian Morality

Respecting God’s Gift: Life

Ric A. Cervera

St. Paul University Iloilo

The most basic way we “love one another” is by respecting the God-given gift of life and by improving the quality of human life.

Parents are pro-creators of human life, acting as God’s free loving agents through responsible transmission of human life and promotion of the quality of life.

The Fourth Commandment

“Honor your father and mother.”

Filial respect parents is to be given:

• not just for the good of the individual family, but as necessary for the community itself.

• not because of their actual competence, productivity, or natural virtues, but simply because of their status as parents.

Common Obstacles in Keeping the Fourth Commandment

• parents who neglect or abuse their children

• “generation gap” between parents and offspring

• children’s and youth’s “growing up” periods

The Fourth Commandment enjoins parents to care for and respect their children as persons in their own right.

Christian Faith view the family

• Covenant relationship

• first and vital cell of society

• domestic Church

“You shall not kill.”

The Fifth Commandment

Attacks against human life, integrity and dignity

Attacks against integrity (mutilation, physical and mental torture)

Attacks against human dignity (subhuman living conditions, deportation and prostitution)

Direct attacks against life (murder, abortion, euthanasia, suicide)

Common abuses against physical well-being

• smoking

• alcoholism

• drug addiction

Christ Perfected the Fifth Commandment

• linking it directly with its ideal, love, even with love for our enemies

• interiorizing and intensifying it by forbidding even anger of the heart