Self-contradiction

I contradict myself when what I do is ‎the opposite of what I say. For example, I say publicly that we must help the poor, the materially poor, that is, and then ignore the poor Badjao woman who stretches out her hand to me as I stop my car on the red light even if I can give a small coin. I ignore by not looking at her; or with my hand I wave her away; or I don’t look in her direction closing my eyes pretending to sleep. Or I rationalize… saying to myself – “‎The city government or the DSWD should take care of the poor Bajaos”; or “the police and traffic enforcers should not allow them on the street intersections to avoid being run over by speeding cars and motorbikes.” On the surface or objectively, this is self-contradiction. Another word for it is hypocrisy. Is this wrong? Is this sinful?

In our moral teaching there is what is called Objective Morality and Subjective Morality. The former simply means that on surface, that is, the public and visible act or behavior of the car driver ignoring the beggar is wrong and sinful. ‎Why? Who says it is wrong and sinful? Answer: God’s law or commandment as interpreted and taught by the Church.

The latter or subjective morality means ‎that my conscience tells me it is wrong and sinful. But it can also tell me it is not wrong and sinful. My conscience is the ultimate judge of what is morally right and morally wrong. But moral conscience or the inner power that can distinguish between right and wrong must be trained or formed on and by God’s laws and commandments. Ignorance of these divine precepts can excuse one from being guilty or, to use the moral term, culpable.

Formation of conscience and moral education is the responsibility of the families, Churches, and schools. The self-contradictions of us all in the Church, society and governments are the reasons for the present moral crisis in our country.