Sources of Morality

Object chosen
End in view (intention)
Circumstances

Object – the good chosen toward which the will deliberately directs itself. The object is the matter of a human act. This morally specifies the act of the will, insofar as reason recognizes and judges it to be or not to be in conformity with the true good. CCC1751

Intention – resides in the acting subject. It lies at voluntary source of action and determines it by its end, so intention is an element essential to moral evaluation of an action.

The end is the first goal of the intention and indicates the purpose pursued in the action.

The intention is a movement of the will toward the end.

The intention aims at the good anticipated from the action undertaken.

Intention is not limited to directing individual actions, but can guide several actions toward one and the same purpose; it can orient one’s whole life toward its ultimate end. CCC1752

A good end (intention) does not make intrinsically disordered behavior (abortion, fornication) good. The end doesn’t justify the means. The intention doesn’t justify the means. CCC1753

Circumstances – including consequences – secondary elements (can increase or decrease moral goodness/evil of act). By themselves, circumstances cannot change the moral character of an act
Morally Good Act – requires goodness of object, end, and circumstances.

Evil end corrupts action – even if object is good in itself. Ex: praying/fasting in order to be seen by men.