ethics vs morality
Submitted by kiowas on August 30 2001 08:23:30
| I have an ethical/moral dilemma Id like to get some input on. I have recently become involved with some children in a center for abused and neglected children. The children I am working with are children who have been in some horrible situation where they were taken away from their parents and they live in this place until their parents are judged capable of taking them back, or until someone else in their family does. Some of these children will go on back to some family member, others will be there for many years. The rules of the institution (and I believe the laws back them up) say that I cannot discuss religion with these children. However, these children do not go to church and have no other source of spiritual growth. I find this troubling, since these children, although they are too young to understand what is going on now, will one day grow up and begin to understand what is going on and they will find themselves in need of some spiritual support that they have grown up without. Part of me says that I should respect their families respective religions (which no one knows what they might be) and refrain from talking to them about God. However, the logic of this isnt very strong since their family must have done something horrible to get their kids taken away and therefore deserve no respect at all. Then again, rules are rules, and the rules say you dont talk about religion. However, there is a law that is above the law of the land, and that is God's law, and God commands us to spread the word. I can think of very few people who will need God as much as these children will when they grow up, and I dont feel right about being gagged by the law of the land in such a way that prevents me from giving these children the invaluable tools they will need later in life, and prevents me from following God's command to spread his word. So, it comes down to a matter of ethics vs morals. Ethically, I should follow the law and the rules of the institution and refrain from giving these children that which they most need. Morally, I shouldnt allow the rules and laws to interfere with doing what is best for the child. What do you guys think? |
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