Rica Jane Cuntapay Mon. & Thurs.

1:30-3:00 PM
CAS1-A AB Psychology Rev. Gemma L. Oco-Cruz
SUMMING -UP
1. List down all the ethical issues discussed and debated according to the
following categories: Family Ethics, Bioethics and Socio-political Ethics. Which
do you think is the most controversial moral issue and why?

FAMILY ETHICS BIOETHICS SOCIO-POLITICAL

A Case on Family Issues
ETHICS
A Case on the Use of A Case on Judgment Call
Condoms
A Case on Same-sex
Relationship
A Case on Seal of
Confession
A Case on Direct
Execution
A Case on Perfect Crime:
Capital Punishment or Life
Imprisonment
A Case on Youth Offender

The most controversial among all this issue is the case on perfect crime: capital
punishment or life imprisonment since reinstituting death penalty continues to be a debate
in our country. The current administration highly supports the restoration of the law
because “it can lessen the crime rates in the country”. However, there are no enough
evidences that capital punishment can lower crime rates and deterrent criminals from
violating the laws.
The justice system in the Philippines is not hundred percent correct. Take the
administration’s program on war on drugs as an example. Many innocent lives were lost
because of wrong accusations and violation of due process. Manipulation of the cases
because of faulty and biased system prevail. Authority, money, influence, and fraud could
sway the judicial system in the Philippines. Due to the rich and powerful men influencing
the decision of the case, it does not even matter if the accused is truly guilty of the crime
or innocent because the end result will be based on their choice. The case would then be
manipulated through forged evidence, false witnesses, or forced confessions. The judge
would then have to incriminate the accused man for his alleged crime. This leads innocent
people to die without having the chance of parole and their freedom
In the New Testament, a woman who was accused of adultery was brought to
Jesus and He said that only those without sin could stone her as punishment and in the
end, every single person walked away (John 8:1-11). The Catholic body relies on God’s
value on human life as important. Only God can decide whether a man should die or not
and it is in His hands that the death will come not through capital punishment.
2. Aside from the issues debated in our class, cite another serious contemporary
moral problem our country faces. Explain why it is a serious moral issue. What is
your moral stand on this issue? Defend.
Legalizing divorce is one of the most controversial topics in our country since our
culture emphasizes the importance of family and our close family ties. In addition, we are
a Catholic community which greatly influence our moral stands on the issue.
I am in favor on legalizing divorce in our country to avoid adultery. Adultery is a
voluntary sexual intercourse between a married man and someone other than his wife or
between a married woman and someone other than her husband. First, a man or a
woman does not need to be trapped in a horrible marriage especially if they do not have
the love for each other anymore. Adultery can also cause broken trust and loss of
intimacy, so it is better to just stop and move on with the relationship than force each
other to feel the same way as they used to before. Also, adultery has a great impact for
the children. An article in 1989 published in the New York Times explains that children
may suffer if their parents commit adultery, even if the children are not aware of the affair.
The article explains that children might sense that the parent is committing mental energy
to things outside of the family. As a result, the child may experience stress and anxiety.
Not only might children be more likely to experience psychological effects because of the
adultery, they also might be more likely to commit adultery themselves upon reaching
adulthood. The Times article from 1989 quoted Dr. Annette Lawson, a sociologist, as
saying that although many “swear they will never [commit adultery], it appears to become
a patterned response learned in childhood.”
Legalizing divorce is an escape to abusive partners who causes physical and
psychological abuse. Physical abuse can result in temporary pain, long-term injuries and
even death. Bruises, broken bones and concussions are some common immediate
results of physical aggression. Abuse can also increase chances of spouses suffering
from depression, suicidal thoughts, post-traumatic stress disorder or substance abuse,
says a study published in the "Journal of Women’s Health." The fear and anxiety that can
result from being abused or continuously threatened can also make it difficult to extract
yourself from the relationship.
Not every marriage was joined by ‘God’ even it took place in church. This may
seem like a rationalization, but Jesus’ statement in Matthew 19:6 (“Therefore, what God
has joined together, no human being must separate”) does not apply to all marriages
especially if adultery and abuse is done. The enactment of divorce in the Philippines can
serve an important function in legally and emotionally freeing people from the pain that
they experience in their former relationship and allows them to form more stable
relationship with other people.
3. As a Christian how should you confront these moral issues? What best moral
guidance can you offer in dealing with these problems? What would you use as
moral basis or authority in coming up with moral decisions? Explain.
4. What is the most significant learning experience you gained in our Christian
Ethics class? How did it help you? How do you think Christian Ethics will enable
you to become a better person? Explain.