Which Church?
Dr. Eustace J. De Souza—Bombay, India
2004

Dr. Eustace J De Souza is currently Director (Research), The Bandra Holy Family Hospital and Research Centre, and Emeritus Executive Director FIAMC Bio-Medical Ethics Centre Bombay.

What is the role of ethics and objective norms in the area of professional and inter-personal behavior? Beyond mere correctness at a social level, apart from such norms of etiquette as appropriate dress, manners, etc., there is a deeper need when we consider behavior in relationships between one person and another. This is the dimension of right and wrong that seeks to govern attitudes and actions. This obviously belongs in the realm of morality.

In other words, no ethical norm should permit any act or action that is morally evil.

We know from experience that there seems to be in all men an inbuilt assessor of right and wrong. This we call conscience. It is that “little bit inside of me that feels bad when the rest of me feels good!” The next question that arises is that if this is an inbuilt faculty, why do different people have differences in this regard?

What is this inbuilt director called conscience? How does it operate and how reliable is it? Well, apart from what nature provides, man is also a creature of environment. The debate of nature versus nurture is unending, with much “dust being raised by combatants; each side claiming truth and truth…”

In the final analysis, it must be realized that both nature and nurture play a part. This should not be ignored.

In current moral teaching, the watchword is, “Formed and informed conscience”. In this formation, the cultural background, family mores, influence of peers as well as the school and religion, all play a vital part. Certainly, the religious impact is of crucial significance because it deals with the most important relationship of all – that between a rational creature and the Creator. It is wise to keep this in mind because the need for established authority is prime and primal. It is here that religion and its practice is ultimate. Religion is the objective, organized system of belief in a superhuman controlling power that binds the creature to the Creator. While conscience may be the ultimate deciding factor guiding an individual, it is by nature subjective. But man is a social being, who lives in an environment of relationships. In any society where the individual is regarded as final authority, each one becomes “a law unto himself”, and the result will be chaos and a disregard for others.

For any social behavior, where many are involved, there has to be an over-riding authority. Now with regard to this over-riding authority; to those who believe in God as the final cause and to whom all created beings owe their existence; here lies the end point of authority.

I would not like to belong to a religion that could not or would not claim Divine Authority. While there are some dogmatic religions that claim divine authority, for me, the Roman Catholic Church has the required elements of authorized Authority.

Its founder, Jesus Christ, who is both truly God and truly man, clearly identified Himself as the promised messiah (a necessary Mediator between God and man).

Reading from the prophet, He pointed out, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21). “The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them”. (Matthew 11:5).

Then to Philip, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father;” (John 14:9 RSV)

So like Peter, who then asked, “Will you too, leave me”? The answer came loud and clear: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life;” (John 6:67 68).

Then, while acknowledging this “beyond human” authority, since Christ left us it is only logical that he would leave behind continuing authority empowered to deal with problems of faith and morals that would arise down the years. Problems that would require, as it were, a continuing update facility to meet the changing times on God’s terms, and keep consciences duly informed.

I have no difficulty with the doctrine of infallibility. In fact, to me it seems a necessity for Christ to form His infallible Church, to be truly the sacrament of His Eternal Presence on earth. Equally consistent is a need for an individual to head this Church. Equally constant and important is that this individual be vested with the power to guide the beliefs of this Church through evolving times and circumstances.

Certainly, “Thou art Peter and to thee I give the Keys of the Kingdom…” establishes the protocol. There is my reason, there is my answer.