Episode Transcript  

One

Why We Need Moral Clarity – The Story of Irene Gut Opdyke

During World War II, a young Polish nurse named Irene Gut Opdyke smuggled Jews to safety under Nazi occupation. She was clever, brave, and determined to save lives. But one day, a Nazi officer discovered what she was doing. He made her a sickening offer, “Become my mistress, sleep with me,” he said, “and I’ll stay silent. Refuse, and I’ll report everything.” Irene was horrified, but she felt trapped. To save the people she was protecting, she gave in. She surrendered her body to a man she despised, hoping her sacrifice would buy their lives.

At first glance, her choice looks courageous. But Christ and the Church teach something deeper: We may never do evil that good may come of it. (CCC 1789) Irene’s intention and the hoped-for outcome were noble. Her desire to save the innocent was real. But the action she chose, fornication, is always morally wrong.

This is why we need prudence, the virtue that sees clearly and acts rightly. And according to the Church, every moral act must pass three tests (CCC 1750):

• The object – What are you doing?

• The intention – Why are you doing it?

• The circumstances – When, where, and how are you doing it?

If even one of these is bad, the act is not morally good. Let’s look at each in turn.

Two

The First Test – The Object: What Are You Doing?

A good intention or desired outcome isn’t enough. What you choose to do must be good in itself.

This is the first and most basic test: the object of the act. The Catechism defines it as “the matter of a human act… the specific kind of behavior chosen by the will.” (CCC 1751)

Some acts are intrinsically evil, always wrong, no matter the motive or outcome: lying, murder, torture, slavery, direct abortion and euthanasia, fornication and adultery, contracepted sex, direct sterilization, IVF, and artificial insemination, or homosexual acts (CCC 2357).

These acts cannot be made good by circumstances or reasons. They violate the dignity of the human person and the moral law. Irene’s goal was good. But the act she chose, fornication, sleeping with someone with whom you are not married, was wrong.

God never requires us to sin to save others. He may ask for heroism, but not evil. Prudence begins with seeing clearly what we are actually choosing to do.

Three

The Second Test – The Intention: Why Are You Doing It?

Even if what you do is good, why you do it matters. The second criterion for evaluating a moral action is the intention behind it. In other words, “Why are you doing this?”

A good action can be spoiled by a bad motive. Take these examples:

A man gives flowers to his secretary. If he does it to express gratitude or lift her spirits, the intention is good. But if his goal is to seduce her, the same act becomes morally corrupted.

Someone donates money to the Church. If the gift is offered out of love for God, it’s a beautiful act. But if the donor seeks praise or influence, the action is tainted.

In both cases, the outward action is good, giving a gift. But a selfish or manipulative motive turns a good deed into something morally wrong. A good action is ruined by an evil intention. 

Four

The Third Test – The Circumstances: When, Where, and How?

The third test of morality is the circumstances—the concrete details surrounding the act (CCC 1754). 

For example, a father is given a full Thanksgiving meal to take home to his starving family. On his way, he sees some starving dogs and, moved by pity, gives the meal to them instead.

The object (feeding the hungry) is good. The intention (compassion) is good. But the circumstances (his own starving family) make the action wrong.

Even good acts done with the right intention can be ruined when done in the wrong circumstances.

Five

The Test of Prudence – When the Only Choices Are Heroism or Sin

Let’s summarize: A morally good act requires three things: A good object (what you do), a good intention (why you do it), and good circumstances (when, where, and how you do it). (CCC 1755)

But here’s the tension: People often raise the most extreme cases to justify evil actions. They say, “But what if it’s the only way?” or, “Wouldn’t any decent person do whatever it takes?”

Still, the answer remains the same, “It is never permissible to do evil so that good may come of it.” (CCC 1789)

There are moments in life when we are left with only two choices: heroism or sin. And God always gives the grace to choose heroism.

Consider abortion. Some say it’s necessary to save the mother’s life. Others propose it as a solution for rape. But abortion always involves directly killing an innocent human life. There is no such thing as a prudent abortion. No motive or circumstance can justify it.

Difficult cases don’t change moral truth. They simply prove that, at times, heroism is required. And in those moments, we look to the saints.

St. Gianna Molla was pregnant with her fourth child when doctors discovered a life-threatening ovarian cyst. They recommended abortion. But she insisted, “If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate, choose the child. I insist on it. Save him.”

She gave birth to a healthy baby and died shortly after. She didn’t choose death. She chose sacrificial love. That’s what prudence looks like, not clever moral loopholes, but courage to choose the good at any cost.

Let us pray, Mary, Seat of Wisdom, help us see clearly and choose rightly. Give us courage to reject sin and embrace heroic love. Form in us the virtue of prudence, so we may never trade goodness for comfort, nor truth for convenience. Help us love as you loved at the Cross, without compromise.

Suggested Resolutions:

Choose one resolution for today to help you grow closer to God, or create your own. Here are some ideas to inspire you. 

• At the end of each day, consider the three elements of a moral act in your examination of conscience. Often we stop at considering the act, but ask yourself why you did what you did and the circumstances surrounding it.

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