The moral tradition of the Church has always held that there are certain acts that by their nature are sinful. No circumstance can justify them. Questions arise in situations like Chapter 8 of Pope Francis’ Amoris Laetitia. Was he recommending situational exceptions to moral norms or a more sympathetic pastoral approach to people who find themselves in these situations? Richard Doerflinger joins us.

Further Reading

“Lived Experience” and Moral Tradition: Rivals or Partners?

Guest Info

Richard M. Doerflinger has conducted doctoral studies in Theology at the University of Chicago and the Catholic University of America, and served as Associate Director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities. A Fellow with the University of Notre Dame’s de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture, he presented a version of this article last year at the Center’s 25th annual Fall Conference, “‘That Which I Also Received’: Living Tradition.”

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