Catechism no. 1754 explains the circumstances: "The circumstances, including the
consequences, are secondary elements of a moral act. They contribute to increasing or
diminishing the moral goodness or evil of human acts (for example, the amount of a theft). They
can also diminish or increase the agent's responsibility (such as acting out of a fear of death).
Circumstances of themselves cannot change the moral quality of acts themselves, they can
make neither good nor right an action that is in itself evil."
Although the circumstances are secondary, they are an important consideration in moral action
because:
