The Department of Moral Theology at the Faculty of Catholic Theology in Graz was established as an independent institute in 2010 (previously the Institute of Moral Theology and Dogmatics) and focuses on medical and bioethics in research and teaching. The professorship for Health Care Ethics has also been based at the institute since 2019. In the future, the area of bioethics will also be increasingly expanded to include questions of natural and environmental ethics and responsibility for creation.

As an academic sub-discipline of systematic theology, moral theology is of central importance to the Faculty of Theology in terms of research and teaching. Moral theology" stands at the interface between secular and religious/church discourses. It aims to illustrate the connection between faith and reason on the basis of a Christian-humanistic anthropology and to make a decisive contribution to the promotion of humanity and human coexistence. As a scientific discipline, moral theology is networked in many ways both within the university (e.g. in questions of the relationship between man and nature within the framework of the profile area "Climate Change Graz") and transdisciplinary (cooperation with numerous institutions of the city of Graz, the diocese of Graz-Seckau and the province of Styria). In addition, the Institute has had an excellent international presence within the CEEPUS network (Central European Exchange Program for University Studies) for many years.

The subject "Moral Theology" can be found in all studies of Catholic theology (specialized theology, teaching subject Catholic religion, foundations of theological science). It also plays a relevant role in the teaching of humanities and cultural studies (Applied Ethics, Ethics as a subject, Religion Culture Society), for which the Faculty of Catholic Theology is responsible.

The subject of moral theology is represented in all Catholic theology courses. In addition, the Institute plays a central role in the degree programs "Master's Degree in Applied Ethics", "Master's Degree in Religion Culture Society" and the new Bachelor's degree program "Ethics as a Teaching Subject" (since 2021), which are supervised and co-managed by the Faculty of Catholic Theology, in the form of teaching activities and supervision of theses.

The Institute is also involved in the medical ethics curriculum at the Medical University of Graz and regularly organizes interdisciplinary conferences on bioethical and medical ethical topics.