I’ve just published the fourth in my series of articles titled Contraception and Heresy. This article focuses on the moral object of sexual acts, and the evil moral object in any use of contraception, which is the deprivation of the procreative meaning from sexual acts.
Contraception and Heresy – Part 4 – The Moral Object of Contraception
From the Catholic News Agency: However, two obstetrician-gynecologists from the Diocese of Phoenix’s Medical Ethics Department said Sr. Keehan was misrepresenting both the facts of the St. Joseph’s Hospital case, and the ethical principles of Catholic health care. … “It … Continue reading
Sr. Margaret McBride is the St. Joseph’s hospital administrator who Bishop Olmsted declared was automatically excommunicated for her official approval of a direct abortion at the hospital. His declaration implies that everyone else at the hospital who were involved to … Continue reading
I’ve just posted a new article to Catechism.cc:
The Phoenix Abortion Case – M. Therese Lysaught’s grave doctrinal error
Lysaught is the moral theologian at Marquette University who rendered a written opinion to the hospital justifying the Phoenix abortion. My article refutes her position. Appallingly, one of the ways that she justifies abortion in cases pertaining to the life of the mother is by reference to the approval that both Rhonheimer and Grisez give to a certain partial birth abortion procedure, described by Grisez as “an operation in which instruments are used to empty and crush the head of the child so that it can be removed from the birth canal.”
She argues that Rhonheimer and Grisez approve of abortion in this case, therefore the Phoenix case should also be approved. But Grisez openly admits in that same cited passage of his book that his position on this point is not only contrary to the usual approach to medical ethics, but contrary to past decisions on the subject by the Magisterium (on multiple occasions). Grisez even admits that this type of partial birth abortion is direct.
Beloved children of God, we live in a sinful world and so, when we teach and live the truths of faith and morals taught by our Lord Jesus Christ, we will suffer reproach. Unfortunately, we will suffer reproach not only … Continue reading
In these public comments, moral theologian Fr. Faggioni suggests great discretion in discussing sexual acts, which is generally a good approach. But the circumstances are such, at the present time, that proponents of unrestrained sexual expression in marriage, as if … Continue reading
over at Vox Nova, M.Z. Forrest takes issue with Bishop Olmsted’s assessment of the medical facts. M.Z. quotes the Bishop: It also was clear that the exceptional cases, mentioned in ERD #47, were not met, that is, that there was … Continue reading
New Oxford Review is a solidly orthodox Catholic online magazine. I’m not saying that I agree with the contents of every article. Faithful Catholics can and should at times disagree on matters that are not essential to the Faith. And the articles are written by a wide range of different authors. But the articles are typically insightful, theologically-sound, and they have a depth of understanding on various topics that is greater than many other online sources.
I also find their daily summary of Catholic new stories, in the right column of their front page, to be a useful starting point. It helps me to stay informed about issues in the news of concern to Catholics.
Drug companies spend many millions of dollars promoting ED medications. I’m sure they realize that most of the persons using these medications are using them as a prescription recreational drug, not as a treatment for a valid disorder. What they … Continue reading
Some Catholic commentators claim that the Magisterium has no teaching on whether or not contraception is moral outside of marriage. This claim implies that the administrators of a Catholic hospital can use their own moral judgment as to whether or … Continue reading
In which year was Christ our Savior born? In terms of salvation, it does not matter — he was born as part of God’s plan to offer salvation to every human person without exception. But it is an interesting question, since it speaks to the historical circumstances of his life, and also has some bearing on how we date other events in his life and in the early Church.
My view, explained at length in my book, Important Dates in the Lives of Jesus and Mary, is that Jesus was born in 15 B.C. This date is years earlier than the dates given by other scholars. However, there is no agreement among Biblical chronologists as to the year of the Birth of Christ.
The Church teaches that the birth of Jesus Christ was virginal and miraculous. “In union with the whole Church we celebrate that day (night) when Mary without loss of her virginity gave this world its savior. We honor her, the … Continue reading
the reproach of Christ 