I was thinking I could use some information on Catholic moral teaching, specifically "the end does not justify the means". I am almost positive that this was discussed at length in a papal document years ago. So I tried to figure out how to find it in Verbum, without success. I tried Catholic topical index, but no topic seemed relevant to get me to a group of papal encyclicals. I also tried the catechism, which of course references this, but with no relevant papal document footnotes.
Now, I suspect the phrase "the end does not justify the means" was never used explicitly, making the search more difficult. I did find in about 3 minutes of Google searching, that Veritatis Splendor/John Paul II, referenced Paul VI Humanae Vitae, on this topic:
"Though it is true that sometimes it is lawful to tolerate a lesser moral evil in order to avoid a greater evil or in order to promote a greater good, it is never lawful, even for the gravest reasons, to do evil that good may come of it (cf. Rom 3:8) — in other words, to intend directly something which of its very nature contradicts the moral order, and which must therefore be judged unworthy of man, even though the intention is to protect or promote the welfare of an individual, of a family or of society in general"
So - I wish I did not have to go to Google when I have a more challenging search. Even knowing the answer now (or it least a couple of the documents), how would you find this in Verbum? I hope there is a reliable way! Thanks
