Ethical Studies

Any 4000 level “E” course fulfills the Ethics concentration requirement.

E 4000 Introduction to Moral Theology
An introduction to the basic themes of the Christian moral life, including its personal, social, and cosmic dimensions. Using classical texts and contemporary case studies, students focus on the particular sources, authorities, and methods of the Roman Catholic ethical tradition. Attention is given to the relationship between methods of systematic theology and ethical methods.

ES 4002 Ethics, Spirituality, and Global Climate Change
Human-forced global climate change is a reality that Christians cannot ignore. While engaging the scientific, economic, and political realities that show the urgency of climate change issues, the deeper spiritual and moral resources available in the Christian and Roman Catholic traditions explore are explored. Students are assisted in finding ways to integrate their spirituality and ethical practice and to engage in concrete actions that seek resolutions to the many issues global climate change presents to our world.

EMP 4100 Catholic Social Teaching and Mission: Living the Values of the Reign of God
This course is one of three “integrating courses” that are built around several elements that make up the evangelizing mission of the church. Integrating courses integrate the four perspectives that make up the foundational courses: pastoral identity, methodological skill, contextual awareness and knowledge of Christian Tradition. The focus of this particular course is the tradition of the social teaching of the Catholic Church and how it contributes to the church’s mission of justice, peace, the integrity of creation, and reconciliation.

E 4200 Ethics of Power and Racial Justice
“Racist ideologies and behavior are long-standing: they are rooted in the reality of sin . . .” (The Church and Racism, #2. Globally, most experts on racial justice see the Catholic Church primarily among those who “Preach but don’t practice.” In light of this, it is morally imperative for all future ministers to obtain sufficient moral knowledge about the sin of racism and equip themselves with adequate strategies for the task of working for racial justice. This course addresses racial justice using the methods of theology, ethics, and the social sciences.

E 4205 Natural Law of Christian Ethics
This course surveys the relevance of some Western and non-Western natural law traditions in view of establishing a vision of a universal common good that can generate a Christian ethical discourse capable of intercultural and interreligious communication.

E 4207 Ethical Significance of Christian Humanism
This course is a critical study of the debate about the existence and nature of Christian humanism and its relevance for the ethos and mission of the church.

E 4208 Proclaiming Shalom in a Violent World
How does the church understand and actuate its mediatory role between God’s offer of peace in Christ and the search for peace on the part of the human community? The question is approached historically and systematically.

E 4310 Christ, Community, and the Moral Life
This course is designed to study the implications of Christology for the life of the Christian community as an ethical community in an increasingly secular, scientific, and culturally and religiously pluralistic world.

E 4315 Medical Ethics
This course will examine the general ethical principles and methods that concern the medical profession and the Ethical and Religious Directives issued by the US Catholic Bishops Conference. Consideration will be given to topics such as beginning of life and end of life issues, experimentation with human subjects, genetic engineering, access to health care, and patient autonomy.

E 4342 World Poverty, Development, and Life's Liberation
Investigate and assess the world's division into rich and poor countries. A study of poverty, development, and liberation in light of scripture and Catholic social teaching using today's kairos for Christian communities as a focus.

E 4344 Global Economic Justice adn Christian Faith
This course will examine the impact of globalization on economic life in light of Christian faith and the call for justice. Consideration will be given to the ethical dimensions of economic activity, to understandings of justice, particularly as expressed in the Catholic social tradition, and to proposals for addressing inequities.

E 4345 Spirituality, Liturgy, and the Quest for Justice
This course looks at ways on integrating spirituality and liturgy with the church's commitment to the justice in the world. It will examine how classical forms of spiritual development such as the Ignatian Exercises as well as more recent forms of liberationist, ecological and feminist spiritualities can aid the quest for justice. Key figures such as Thomas Merton will also be highlighted.

CE 4400 Mission and Peacemaking
Systemic violence (social, cultural, economic, political, and ecological) is globally widespread. Drawing on Catholic social teaching, theology of peace, and some contextual pastoral experiences, this course helps students develop a theological and pastoral vision for the praxis of social peacemaking.

E 4400 Care for the Earth: Ethics and the Environment
This course is a basic introduction to environmental ethics. The focus is on the need for Christians to respect the environment and the behaviors that need to follow from that reverence. Various environmenta1 ethics methods are explored. Christian and Jewish sources, especially the Franciscan tradition and Catholic magisterial statements are plumbed.

E 4405 Sexual Ethics for the Christian
A study of sexuality and sexual behavior, especially among unmarried Christians. It investigates the moral tradition, the elements which form a contemporary Christian vision of sexuality, and how these relate to sexual conduct.

E 5100 Holocaust and Genocide: Ethical Reflections
An examination of major ethical issues arising within the Nazi Holocaust. Topics include anti-Semitism the loss of personal morality, God and ethical decision-making, the importance of ritual in shaping ethical behavior, ethics and unjust structures, and human rights. Ethical issues in modern genocides, such as Rwanda, Bosnia, and Cambodia, are also considered.

E 5105 Christian Perspectives on War and Peace
An examination of perspectives on war and peace within the Christian tradition. Both historical position and contemporary outlooks are considered. Special attention is given to the developments within Catholicism and the U.S. Bishop's Peace Pastoral as well as church statements since the Gulf War.

E5106 A Free Market Economy, Ethics and Globalization
The world has largely accepted a free market economy as the way to increase general prosperity, reduce poverty, and promote the general welfare. This course will explore the real strengths of a market economy, why ethics is foundational to its successful functioning and what are its limitations. In this light, globalization as an economic phenomenon will also be explored.

E 5107 Catholic Environmental Ethics: Sources, Norms, and Issues
Catholic theological ethics has always considered care for the Earth as moral imperative. This seminar explores the Catholic doctrinal and moral grounding for dealing with the complex and often perplexing issues that constitute today's environmental crisis. Key theological and ethical sources and norms are explored using case studies. Students focus their learning on an actual case project in which they demonstrate ways of achieving conversion from our abusive relationships with the Earth, to moral, sustainable and reverential ways of living.

E 5204 Love and Justice
Various ethical systems have developed around the central theme of love or of justice or their interaction. Differences in the understanding of these concepts constitute different approaches to morality. This seminar analyzes, compares, and critically assesses the ways in which these themes function in Christian ethics and theology.

E 5205 Ethics and Moral Pluralism
Moral pluralism has been a defining factor in moral reflection. This seminar explores recent work on the prospects for a common morality using philosophical analysis of pluralism, examining human rights as a kind of common morality, and studying developments beyond Hans Kung’s Global Ethic and the Parliament of World Religions. Special attention is given to Catholic moral theological issues raised by these discussions.

E 5210 Politics and Christian Conscience
An exploration of the relation of Christian life to political life. The origin, place, and role of conscience in both are investigated. Conscience is related to the historical realities of community and traditions and to the unity of theory and practice in the exercise of political conscience.

E 5215 Religion and the Shaping of Public Ethical Values
A seminar studying the public role of religion in shaping values in global society. Church/State relations and human rights are considered.

E 5220 Revolution and Liberation: Ethical Perspectives
An examination of various interpretations of revolution and liberation in classical western political philosophy, Third World thought, and present-day theological and ethical literature. Special attention is given to Latin American liberation theology.

E 5320 The Making of Moral Theology
This course is an overview of the development of Catholic moral theology from the patristic period to the present. Special attention is given to the directions and concerns of Catholic morality since the Second Vatican Council.