How well do we know the moral teachings of the faith?

The results of this quiz were outstanding! As of this morning 92 had taken this quiz and 90% was the average score. There is a margin of +-5% on this test but even so the results are above average. There were only a couple of questions that caught people off guard and only one question in which more than 50% of the people answered incorrectly. I will examine that question first.

This answer may seem to go against the teachings of the Church. However, I will give you a quote from John Paul II which justifies this action and then explain it a little more in detail. John Paul II stated:

Basically, the Holy Father was saying that in a situation in which there is no choice that completely adheres to the teachings of the faith, a person MAY vote for the least of the evils. The understanding is that voting for the candidate whose teaching are closest to the the faith seeks to prevent a candidate who is completely counter to the Church teachings. A person is NOT obligated to vote for that candidate although their only other option is to abstain from voting. Only 35% of persons answered this correct, although that is still an impressive number of person who understood the Church's teachings on voting.

The other three moral scenarios were answered correctly by over 2/3 of those who took the test. This give me great hope for the future of the Catholic Church, especially in how our faithful will respond to the real life issues facing us today.

This was the only other question in which less than 50% of the people got correct. The desire to do good simply for the esteem of others is a sin against pride. It also questions whether the person is really doing good. Another example would be a person in a store who is given back too much change and only returns it because he knows the person behind him saw the cashier give him the incorrect amount. Returning the change may be doing a good but one questions whether the person is doing good or simply giving it back because he would otherwise be caught.

Again, the results of this quiz are outstanding and very positive for the future of our Church.

I had posted a survey last week on Quibblo to see how people viewed the Catholic faith. After examining the survey, I realized that a number of the questions were somewhat confusing and that there was not an option for non-Catholics to check on questions about the sacraments. So, I have re-created the survey and ask that you take it again. The new URL for the survey is:

http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/1DwVNuc/What-do-you-believe-about-the-Catholic-Church

Again, this survey is COMPLETELY anonymous so I would ask you to be straightforward and honest with your answers. I am going to give it about 10 days for persons to take the survey so I won't discuss it in a blog entry until the end of the month. Please feel free to pass the URL on to your friends to take. Anyone can take the survey including non-Catholics. I will be sending it to everyone in my address book (about 400 people) so hopefully we will get a good response. Until next time...God bless.

posted by: crossman at 06:51 | link | comments (6) |
blog

Comments:

#1  19 May 2008 - 08:41

 

These quizzes are fun and educational. I'm sure they're a lot of work for you, but a lot of people are getting a kick out of them!

Blessings,
Joe

Anonymous

#2  19 May 2008 - 22:35

 

I enjoyed this quiz quite a bit and I appreciate the responses to the commonly missed questions.

I have a follow-up question on the desire to good for self-perception. Perhaps it is simply in wording, but... I thought that desire in and of itself is not sinful, but that acting on a corrupt desire is where sin is committed?

And to further a scenario for curiosity's sake: With the example of giving back money to the cashier simply because the person behind you saw that you received too much money... Would it be more or less sinful to keep the money than to give it back only because the person behind you saw? Perhaps you recognized your desire to good was only for self-image: then you are stuck between keeping the money or giving it back to fulfil this desire.

Once again, great quiz. With this clarification, I should get 100% next time!

Anonymous

#3  20 May 2008 - 09:41

 

Looks like your old seminary is more full than ever. Deo Gratias!

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/religion/story/7C900690777E5BC08625744C000E550F?OpenDocument

Blessings,
Joe

Anonymous

#4  20 May 2008 - 17:13

 

You make a very good point on both counts. Desire itself does not constitute a sin so the question is not properly worded. Thank you for pointing that out.
The second it is kind of a conundrum with that example. Returning the money only because someone saw would certainly be less sinful because the sin would be pride or vanity.
Not returning the money would be a greater sin as it would be stealing. If it is just a few cents in change it would be venial. If the clerk accidentally gave you back a $100 then it would be mortal.
You are correct in that it really has no way out without committing a sin. If the person recognizes that it is only because of their self-image that they are returning it then one could say the person at least knows he did it for the wrong reason thus reducing his culpability.

Figuring out right and wrong is all kinds of fun isn't it!!! This is not your 1950's black and white TV...this is HDTV with 65 millions colors!

crossman

#5  20 May 2008 - 17:24

 

Just one other side note...
Some might say that if you're gonna sin you might as well go all the way. THAT, however, is a major sin in itself because it can encompass a number of sins.
1) It can be the sin of gluttony (going to excess)
2) It can be the sin of greed (wanting as much of something - i.e. the biggest of the sin)
3) It can be the sin of presumption (I can commit the worst sin since I'll be forgiven)
4) It can be the sin of lust (fulfilling my greatest desire)
5) It can be the sin of selfishness (wanting it solely for me)

With that in mind, tending toward the lesser of the sin would certainly be the best.

crossman

#6  21 May 2008 - 14:55

 

Thanks for the clarification, Father.

And funny enough, I kind of enjoy the intricacies of morality. So long as it's not my right and wrong I'm looking at!

Thanks Father.

Kayla

Anonymous

Comments: