Acts of man which are under the control of the will and therefore done knowingly and willingly; not acts which happen by accident, as falling, or by nature, as growing, or by instinct, as dodging a missile, but acts performed by choice, that is, after deliberation and decision. They are imputable to their human author to the extent that he has knowledge of his own activity and its import, and to the extent that he has freedom of election. The moral or ethical character of the human act lies in this, that it is freely placed with knowledge of its objective conformity or nonconformity with the law of rational nature, the moral law.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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