September 3, 2026

Natural Morality

 

In Catholic thought, the term “nature” refers to a philosophical interpretation of human nature.

Thus, it does not refer to instinctive urges, such as having sex with anyone we are attracted to, but rather to the belief that, by nature, human beings reproduce life. Therefore, there should be a stable, faithful couple who raise children, and all this should make us happy because we are fulfilling our nature.

Indeed, one can even renounce sex in order to devote oneself to the service of God, as they say, because the deepest nature of human beings is their attraction toward God.

Likewise, when we are hurt, our impulse is to respond to evil with evil, but forgiveness would be more in keeping with our spiritual nature.

Nor is what commonly happens necessarily natural; on the contrary, we are all sinners because we act against the law of God, which is supposedly within us.