A Topic of Moral Theology
Acting with a doubtful conscience
Doubt, suspicion, opinion; it is not lawful to act with a practically doubtful conscience; the safer course
The works themselves ask 5 questions under this heading — see them together with their answers.
Also asked about as…
acting while unsure if it's a sin · doing something when in doubt · not sure if it's allowed (ed.)
In the index as Doubt · Conscience · Safer, safe, less safe · Certitude · Equiprobabilism · Inquiry · Probabiliorism, probabilism, equiprobabilism · Use of probable opinions · Diligence · Judge · Law · Mean · Necessity · Opinion · Physician · Possession · Precept · Presumption · Principles · Probability · Prudence of the confessor · Reflex principles · Reflex principles for forming conscience · Reflex principles of morality
In the manuals
Read the manuals side by side → — each work's whole treatment in its own column
A Manual of Moral Theology for English-Speaking Countries
Vol. I, Bk. II, Chapter III. The Doubtful Conscience, nn. 1, 2 & 3 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)
Commentaries on the Nature of Moral Theology, on Conscience and Probabilism, on the Fourth Precept, and on the Sixth and Ninth Precepts of the Decalogue (Commentarii)
Bucceroni, Commentaries (1910), Second Commentary: On Cons…, VI. On Doubtful Conscience, nn. 142, 143 & 157 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)
Manuale Theologiae Moralis
Vol. I, Pt. I, Tract IV. On Conscience, Ch. V, Art. II, On Moral Doubt, § 1. On The Notion And Division Of Doubtful Conscience Or Moral Doubt, n. 330 — 330. Principle. It is never licit to act with a practically doubtful conscience (at least if positive doubt remains). Thus almost all Catholic theologians, and this is deduced as a corollary from the principle of the pre… Read in context →
Vol. I, Pt. I, Tract IV. On Conscience, Ch. V, Art. II, On Moral Doubt, § 2. On The Means For Solving Practical Doubt, nn. 331, 332, 333, 334, 335 & 336 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)
Summa Theologiae Moralis
Vol. II, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On the Cardinal …, Second Part: On the Virtue…, Ch. II, Question Two: On the Speci…, Article II: On Positively Doubtful Conscience, nn. 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 & 94 (85 passages — hover a number to read it)
Vol. II, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On the Cardinal …, Second Part: On the Virtue…, Ch. II, Question Three: On the Practical Formation of a Certain Conscience, nn. 105, 106, 107 & 108 (33 passages — hover a number to read it)
Compendium of Moral Theology
Vol. I, Tr. II, Chapter II. On Certain and Doubtful Conscience, nn. 33, 34, 35, 36 & 36, Q. 2 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)
Summa Summae S. Thomae (Billuart)
Billuart, Summa Summae, Tomus II. On the Prima Sec…, On Human Acts, On Conscience, Whether it is lawful to act with a doubtful, probable, or more probable conscience?, nn. 1–15 (15 passages)
Christian Theology, Dogmatic and Moral, in Compendium
Bk. II, Diss. I, Chapter IV — On the doubting Conscience, n. V — V. Question II. Is it a sin to act with a conscience in doubt about sin? Answer. All affirm that you sin. You doubt whether that contract be licit; and, the doubt remaining, you celebrate the contract: it is certain that… Read in context →
Treated under the broader heading The Doubtful Conscience — Noldin, Summa of Moral Theology · Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology · McHugh–Callan, Moral Theology · Bucceroni, Moral Enchiridion (4th ed., 1905) · Bucceroni, Institutions of Moral Theology · Bucceroni, Cases of Conscience · Gury-Ballerini, Compendium of Moral Theology (8th ed., 1884) · Tanquerey · Vermeersch, Theologia Moralis · Marc, Institutiones Morales · Konings, Theologia Moralis · Concina, Theologia Christiana III · Coppens, Moral Philosophy — these works do not divide the matter as finely as we do here, so their treatment stands one heading up (ed.)