What role does conscience play in our spiritual lives?

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

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James Keenan (0:33)

I think too many people think of sin as something they did. And I want people to think of that sin is something that they didn't bother to do.

So I want to flip it, because I think that's what the gospel is about. You know, other than Judas, it's hard to find somebody who did something that's really in the gospels problematic. It's more the failure to do something that's shameful, or at least for the Christian, sinful.

James Martin (1:10)

Welcome to The Spiritual Life. I'm Fr. Jim Martin. On this podcast, we reflect on how people experience God in their prayer and in their daily lives. And I'm joined by my in the studio producer. Such a treat. Maggie Van Doren. Maggie, good to be with you in person again.

Maggie Van Doren (1:24)

It's always good to be here in person with you, Jim.

James Martin (1:27)

And I'm really excited about this week's episode. One of my favorite teachers, we're speaking with Fr. James Keenan. Can you tell us a little bit about Jim Keenan?

Maggie Van Doren (1:37)

Yeah. So James Keenan is a Jesuit priest and one of the world's leading Catholic moral theologians. He is the Canisius Professor of Theology at Boston College, where he also serves as Director of the Jesuit Institute and Vice Provost for Global Engagement.

James Martin (1:55)

Yeah. He's had an incredible career. Over the course of his distinguished career, Jim has written or edited more than two dozen books and hundreds of articles on subjects ranging from virtue, which is a big topic for him, and conscience to mercy, bioethics, church leadership, and the moral life. Among his many books are The Works of Mercy, The Heart of Catholicism, Virtues for Ordinary Christians, that's one of my favorites, Moral Wisdom, A History of Catholic Theological Ethics, which is a kind of survey, and The Moral Life. He's just, I mean, he's outstanding in his field, and a beloved professor, first at Weston Jesuit School of Theology, where I had him, and now at Boston College.

Maggie Van Doren (2:35)

Yeah, what stood out about him as a professor?

James Martin (2:38)

He really knows his stuff, and he has a facility with it that shows you how deep his study has been. So he really, there's hardly any question you can ask him about Aquinas, or moral theology that he doesn't know. He's a great presenter. He's very funny, and he makes it really accessible, too.

He spoke at our Outreach Conference at Georgetown this past summer, and just blew people away, because I think real moral theology really hits people where they are, and so it's always, in a sense, applicable to people's lives. So he's really one of my favorite people, favorite Jesuits, and certainly favorite presenters as well.

Maggie Van Doren (3:16)

Yeah, and as scholastic as James Keenan is, he is, as you said, so relatable.

I think our listeners are really going to enjoy hearing the stories that he shares in this episode. And yeah, it's just a real treat.

James Martin (3:29)

Yeah, we're very lucky to have him.

Maggie Van Doren (3:31)

Now, the audience question that, well, it's Fr. Jim and Fr. Jim, the both of you will be taking up together, is from Christopher. And Christopher asks, What is the role of conscience when we are faced with difficult decisions? And what do we do if our conscience leads us to make a decision that may be against Catholic teaching?

So that is a perfect question to tee up for a moral theologian like Fr. James Keenan.

James Martin (4:01)

When I saw the choice of questions, I thought this one is for Fr. Jim Keenan. And he's probably one of the best people in the church to answer it.

Maggie Van Doren (4:09)

Yeah, it's a home run. If you'd like to ask Fr. Jim a question, you can always write to us at thespirituallifeatamericamedia.org.

James Martin (4:17)

Well, okay. Thanks, Maggie. And now on to our conversation with Fr. Jim Keenan. So Fr. Jim Keenan, my friend, my mentor, my moral theology professor, welcome to The Spiritual Life.

James Keenan (4:36)