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How would you answer the question "Is it better to do the right thing for the wrong reason or the wrong thing for the right reasons"???? A teenager recently posed this question and I'm not sure how to answer. I would say that right and wrong are objective things, so it's always better to do the right thing, no matter your motivation. Can you cite any Catholic or ethical teaching on this matter?
Hi, Johann:
Thanks for the question.
You are on the right track for sure. Of course it is a fundamental axiom of the positive natural law to "do good and avoid evil." Doing is acting - and our acts must be directed to the objective good. Sometimes it is possible to do the objective good for less than perfect motives; but since the good is objectively so, it is always good in itself.
Honestly, I can hardly think of truly doing evil for a good reason; one would have to be mistaken in their judgment about what the objective good is - because one would be going against a properly formed conscience to deliberately choose evil, knowing that it is bad. Theywould have to mistakenly believe in some way that it was good, even though it really isn't.
To answer your request: I am sorry that I cannot right off think of a particular chapter and verse reference that sepcifically addresses this question as posed. This is not to say that none exists. I can only recommend that you just keep studying and searching if you want to find such a reference. If you do, please share it with us all here at AllExperts.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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