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What is conscience, and must I always follow it?

Catholic.id Editors · Reviewed against the Catechism

Moral Life

The short answer

Conscience is the inner judgement of reason by which we recognize whether an act is good or evil. We must always follow a certain conscience — but we also have a duty to form it well, through Scripture, Church teaching, prayer and wise counsel, because a conscience can be mistaken.

God's voice within

"Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey" (CCC 1776). Saint Paul says even those without the written law show "that the demands of the law are written in their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness" (Romans 2:15).

Conscience is a judgement

Conscience is not a feeling or a preference. It is a practical judgement of reason applying moral truth to a concrete situation: this act, here and now, is right or wrong (CCC 1778).

Always follow it — and always form it

  • We must follow a certain conscience. To act against it is to act against what we believe to be right (CCC 1790).
  • But conscience can err. Ignorance, bad example, passion or the refusal to seek truth can distort it (CCC 1791-1792). When the ignorance is our own fault, we are responsible for the wrong we do.

So a Catholic has two duties: to follow conscience and to form it.

How to form a good conscience

  • Read and pray with Scripture.
  • Learn what the Church teaches and why (CCC 1785).
  • Make a regular examination of conscience.
  • Seek wise counsel — a priest or spiritual director.
  • Practise the virtues, especially prudence.
  • Pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Not "anything goes"

"Following my conscience" is not the same as doing whatever I feel. A well-formed conscience seeks the truth humbly — and a Catholic conscience takes the Church's teaching seriously as a trustworthy guide.

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