Easter

Solid process helps us in moral decision-making

By Jackie Staley

	A Compass series

Anna, 45, was unhappy in her job. She dreaded the daily challenges and found them both tiring and unsatisfying. Should she change to a job that paid much less but would allow her more free time for her family? The downside was having substantially less income to continue her generous donations to her parish and other charities - which was both important to her spirituality and which brought her joy. How could she resolve her dilemma and experience inner peace?

Weighty decisions require a process that works through options within the context of God's guidance. Here are five simple yet comprehensive steps for making a moral decision with integrity.

	E a s t e r
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1. Pray. This may seem obvious and even simplistic. Yet praying well, in hope and sincerity, opens us to God's guidance. What counts is what's in our hearts. Such prayer disposes us to choose what is right and good.

Jesus made it clear that prayer is effective: "Ask and it will be given to you, search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For ... everyone who asks, receives; everyone who searches finds; everyone who knocks will have the door opened" (Lk 11:9-10).

St. Augustine's prayer can be ours: "Indeed, Lord, to your eyes the very depths of man's conscience are exposed, and there is nothing in me that I could keep secret from you ..." (Confessions, Bk 10, 2).

On the subject of conscience, a Vatican Council II document has this to say: "Conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of a person. There he is alone with God, whose voice echoes in his depths" (Gaudium et Spes, No. 16).

Praying well connects us to that secret sanctuary where we face God.

2. Read, collect information. Just as one would read information about an expensive product before buying it, we need to become informed about the moral issue that we face. In faith we discover what others with expertise are saying, and if possible, what guidance the official church has given us, for example in The Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Collecting information can become confusing since opposing views assault us, especially when using the Internet and other media sources. At the point of confusion, the next step in making a moral decision becomes all the more important.

3. Consult a wise person. This can be the most difficult step - finding a wise person to consult. Many persons may be informed, but the gift of wisdom means to speak:

• both from knowledge and

• perspective gained from lived experience

• within a prayerful life of love and service.

Scripture considers a wise person as one who keeps their relationship of creature to creator in clear focus, that is, one who never forgets that relationship. We call such a person not only wise, but holy.

How does one find a wise person? Ask yourself whom you know that fits the criteria above, then listen carefully to his/her advice before making an important decision.

4. Pray. Having followed the three steps above, we bring our knowledge and understanding before God again in faith and humility. If we have put in the time and effort of prayer, study and consultation, we may not necessarily find it easy to make the decision. It still may seem like a "leap in the dark." Yet opening oneself once again to God's guidance is surely critical.

5. Make the decision with trust in the Holy Spirit's guidance. Trust is the key word here. Trust and do not look back and begin to doubt that God has been part of the process. If one truly asked for God's guidance, then making the decision with confidence in God's loving mercy ought to bring peace.

Can mistakes be made? Oh, yes. But just avoiding mistakes in life is not the goal. Loving, trusting and turning to God for guidance in making moral decisions is helpful and essential.

(Staley is the retired evangelization consultant for the Green Bay Diocese. She has a master's degree in theology from Mt. Angel Seminary and is a member of Resurrection Parish, Green Bay.)