Blog Archives

Is Lying Always Wrong? — part 1: intrinsic evil

Posted on 3 February 2011 by Ron Conte

If lying is intrinsically evil, then it is always immoral. The Three Fonts and Intrinsic Evil There are three fonts of morality: (1) intention, (2) moral object, (3) circumstances. In order to be moral, all three fonts must be good. … Continue reading →

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The Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ

Posted on 2 February 2011 by Ron Conte

The Virgin Mary spoke to Saint Bridget about the presence of the Son of God in her womb and about His Virgin Birth. “And when I had Him in my womb, I bore Him without pain, without any weight or … Continue reading →

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Did the Pope once support allowing married priests?

Posted on 1 February 2011 by Ron Conte

In 1970, nine German theologians, including Joseph Ratzinger, signed a ‘Memorandum for the Discussion of Celibacy’, which they sent to the German Bishops. The signatories were: Ludwig Berg, Mainz Alfons Deissler, Freiburg Richard Egenter, München Walter Kasper, Münster Karl Lehmann, … Continue reading →

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How should a constitutional amendment banning abortion be worded?

Posted on 31 January 2011 by Ron Conte

Perhaps the ultimate goal, within the legal aspirations of the pro-life cause, is a U.S. Constitutional Amendment banning abortion. This article considers serious problems that could result if the amendment is not worded correctly. The first problem is the extent … Continue reading →

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Intrinsic Evil

Posted on 30 January 2011 by Ron Conte

The Three Fonts of Morality There are three fonts of morality: intention, moral object, circumstances. What makes an act morally good? Three good fonts; no bad fonts. (1) intention — The first font is the intended end, i.e. the purpose … Continue reading →

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A Call for Less Civility

Posted on 28 January 2011 by Ron Conte

When a politician commits a grave error, his fellow politicians are slow to correct him, and their correction is only mild, if they correct him at all. When a physician working at a hospital behaves unethically, his fellow physicians are … Continue reading →

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The Errors of Michael Voris: distorted doctrine on Hell

Posted on 27 January 2011 by Ron Conte

Michael Voris presents an overly-simplified explanation of Hell containing several doctrinal errors. Like his other lectures, he speaks to his audience as if he were merely teaching what the Church teaches, as if there were no theological opinions in anything … Continue reading →

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Is a new ruling from the Magisterium needed on abortion?

Posted on 26 January 2011 by Ron Conte

Lack of Unanimity among Catholics There is a grave problem within the field of Catholic moral theology today on the matter of abortion. Many theologians have proposed new approaches to ethics such that some direct abortions are said to be … Continue reading →

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Did Jesus teach the doctrine of inclusiveness?

Posted on 23 January 2011 by Ron Conte

It is becoming more and more common for some Catholics to say that Jesus would support a particular social or moral position because Jesus was inclusive, or because He taught inclusiveness. Is this true, or are some persons rewriting the … Continue reading →

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Married deacons: celibacy, continence, chastity

Posted on 21 January 2011 by Ron Conte

1. Dr. Peters’ interpretation of Canon 1031 §2 is that the consent of the wife required therein is a consent to permanent and perpetual continence (i.e. to abstain from marital relations). Pope John Paul II gives a different interpretation of … Continue reading →

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The right to self-defense versus the right to bear arms

Posted on 19 January 2011 by Ron Conte

The right to self-defense is a fundamental human right. From the Catechism of Catholic Ethics, n. 228: “The right to self-defense is based on an ordered love of self, on a choice to defend the life given to you by … Continue reading →

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May married deacons have marital relations?

Posted on 18 January 2011 by Ron Conte

Over at the In the Light of the Law blog, Canon lawyer Dr. Edward Peters has several posts claiming that married permanent deacons and married priests (in so far as this is permitted in the Latin Rite) may not have … Continue reading →

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