Theo 262(B)
BIO-ETHICS & SEXUAL ETHICS (3 units)
Romeo Intengan, SJ
M 10:10 - 12:00 nn
F 9:00-9:50 am

Building on the students’ grasp of fundamental Christian ethics (fundamental moral theology), the course introduces the student to the fundamental approaches and the basic content of the theological ethical disciplines of Christian bioethics and sexual ethics. These two disciplines will be given one after the other, bioethics being taken up during approximately the first half of the course, and sexual ethics during the second half of the course. The presentation of each of these two disciplines will have two main parts—a fundamental part and a concrete part. In the fundamental part the main concern will be correct approach and method, while in the concrete part the method will be applied to concrete areas of concern in each of these disciplines. Both the fundamental and the concrete parts will present Scriptural foundations, key insights from the moral theological tradition, the official teaching of the Church, and main questions raised and solutions proposed by contemporary philosophical and theological reflection, in their intrapersonal, interpersonal, and societal aspects. Skill in applying the principles and insights grasped during the course will be promoted by the presentation and discussion of specific cases, especially of the type found in actual pastoral practice.

Topics covered in bioethics include the following: personal and social responsibility for health, autonomy and informed consent, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice and equitable distribution, truthfulness and confidentiality, abortion, death and dying, taking or risking human life, special interventions for transmitting human life, special interventions to impede the transmission of human life, research on human subjects, and reconstruction and programming of human beings, and eugenics.

Topics covered in sexual ethics include the following: historical and sociological context for the meaning and morality of sexuality, heterosexual relations in general, premarital sexuality, marital sexuality, virginity and consecrated celibacy as forms of Christian living of sexuality, homosexuality, and masturbation.

Evaluation of the students’ progress in these disciplines will be through examinations and the quality of the students’ participation in class discussions and projects.

Prerequisite: Fundamental Moral Theology

Maximum number of students: 30