"The Nature and Function of Conscience in the Writings of John Henry Ne" by Christian T. O'Brien
 

Date of Award

4-1966

Degree Type

Master's Essay - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Theology

Abstract

John Henry Newman's most penetrating and personal analysis of the nature of conscience is the work of his Anglican years. As a non-Catholic his basic and primary guide to salvation was conscience. The problem for Newman, a deeply religious man and a conscientious and zealous pastor of souls was how to make conscience, exposed and influenced by many factors, a safe guide, that is, one which would be conformed to objective reality. After his conversion conscience is no longer a personal problem for Newman. Finding the true Church of Christ, he possessed the infallible norm in the light of which his moral decisions could accurately and incontestably be judged true or erroneous. He notes that "the Catholic knows well, even if he cannot urge it in argument, that the Church is able to communicate to him that gift" (the gift Newman refers to is certainty: that is the teachings of the Faith are objectively true).

Comments

An Essay submitted to the Theology Department of Marquette University in Partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Theology, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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