John Paul II's Contribution to Catholic Bioethics


Book Description

Any list of the most influential figures of the second half of the twentieth century would arguably have to begin with the name of Pope John Paul II. From 1978, when he was inaugurated, to the present, over a quarter of a century later, the Pope has been a dominant force in the world, both within the Catholic and Christian Church, and in the larger international community. Among the areas in which the Pope has been of signal importance to contemporary discussion, argument, and policy has been the field of bioethics. This collection brings together for the first time in an accessible and readable form a summary and assessment of John Paul II's contribution to bioethical issues and theories. It includes discussion of the Pope's views on the dignity of the person and the sanctity of human life, and the application of these views to various difficulties in medical ethics such as abortion and embryo research, the right to health care and the problem of suffering. Throughout, attention is paid to the way in which the Pope stands as a recognizably authentic voice for the Catholic faith in the medical arena.




Live the Truth


Book Description




On Conscience


Book Description

Prepared and co-published by the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, this book is a combination of two lengthy essays written by Cardinal Ratzinger and delivered in talks when he was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Both talks deal with the importance of conscience and its exercise in particular circumstances. Ratzinger's reflections show that contemporary debates over the nature of conscience have deep historical and philosophical roots. He says that a person is bound to act in accord with his conscience, but he makes it clear that there must be reliable, proven sources for the judgment of conscience in moral issues, other than the subjective reflections of each individual. The always unique and profound insights that the new Pope Benedict XVI brings to perennial problems reminds the reader of his strong warning before the recent Papal conclave of the great dangers today of the "dictatorship of relativism."




The Gospel of Life


Book Description

Reaffirming the "greatness and inestimable value of human life," Pope John Paul II discusses in this encyclical letter the present-day legal, ethical, and moral threats to life. In view of today's climate of practical materialism, he addresses, among other issues: abortion artificial reproduction techniques contraception death penalty euthanasia legitimate defense sterilization suicide The Holy Father encourages the faithful to promote and develop the Christian message concerning life, based on the goodness and dignity of life and on the human responsibility to share in the fullness and truth of God's love. In order to build a new culture of human life through prayer and action, he welcomes evangelization efforts and stresses the role of the family in bringing this to fruition. Noting the unique role of women in promoting a "new feminism" that overcomes discrimination, violence, and exploitation, the pope recognizes the witness of love through motherhood and also adds a special word to women who have had an abortion. The letter concludes by looking to Jesus, in order that all may contemplate the life that was made manifest, and to the example and solace of Mary, who is the mother of life.




Artificial Nutrition and Hydration


Book Description

Pope John Paul II surprised much of the medical world in 2004 with his strongly worded statement insisting that patients in a persistent vegetative state should be provided with nutrition and hydration. This collection of essays featuring some of the most prominent Catholic bioethicists addresses the Pope’s statements, the moral issues surrounding artificial feeding and hydration, the refusal of treatment, and the ethics of care for those at the end of life.




Catholic Bioethics for a New Millennium


Book Description

Can the Hippocratic and Judeo-Christian traditions be synthesized with contemporary thought about practical reason, virtue and community to provide real-life answers to the dilemmas of healthcare today? Bishop Anthony Fisher discusses conscience, relationships and law in relation to the modern-day controversies surrounding stem cell research, abortion, transplants, artificial feeding and euthanasia, using case studies to offer insight and illumination. What emerges is a reason-based bioethics for the twenty-first century; a bioethics that treats faith and reason with equal seriousness, that shows the relevance of ancient wisdom to the complexities of modern healthcare scenarios and that offers new suggestions for social policy and regulation. Philosophical argument is complemented by Catholic theology and analysis of social and biomedical trends, to make this an auspicious example of a new generation of Catholic bioethical writing which has relevance for people of all faiths and none.




Catholic Bioethics and the Gift of Human Life, Third Edition


Book Description

"In this revision of his already classic text, William May shows us once again the wisdom of the Catholic Church's moral tradition in its application to contemporary bioethics. Illuminating and engaging - and with the attention to nuance that marks all of May's writing." - Edward J. Furton, M.A., Ph.D., Ethicist and Director of Publications, The National Catholic Bioethics Center "Since it was first published, Dr. May's text Catholic Bioethics and the Gift of Human Life has served an irreplaceable role in Catholic moral education. His new revision adds clear systematic treatments of several additional issues of pressing moral concern to the Church and society. Catholic educators everywhere will welcome this excellent revision. I welcome it! - E. Christian Brugger, Associate Professor of Moral Theology, Institute for the Psychological Sciences "With so much bioethical thinking supporting the 'culture of death,' I can think of no better champion of a 'culture of life' than Professor William E. May. Professor May has given us a book which is useful not only for its masterful summary of the moral magisterium on bioethics, but also for its treatment of such issues as contraception, artificial reproduction, the care of the dying, human experimentation, and the definition of death and organ transplants." - Dr. Mark S. Latkovic, Associate Professor of Moral Theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary What the Church teaches - and why - on issues of euthanasia, in vitro fertilization, genetic counseling, assisted suicide, living wills, persistent vegetative state, organ transplants, and more.




The Gospel of Life


Book Description




Catholic Bioethics and the Gift of Human Life, 2nd Edition


Book Description

"In this revision of his already classic text, William May shows us once again the wisdom of the Catholic Church's moral tradition in its application to contemporary bioethics. Illuminating and engaging -- and with the attention to nuance that marks all of May's writing." -- Edward J. Furton, M.A., Ph.D., Ethicist and Director of Publications, The National Catholic Bioethics Center "With so much bioethical thinking supporting the 'culture of death,' I can think of no better champion of a 'culture of life' than Professor William E. May. Professor May has given us a book which is useful not only for its masterful summery of the moral magisterium on bioethics, but also for its treatment of such issues as contraception, artificial reproduction, the care of the dying, human experimentation, and the definition of death and organ transplants." -- Dr. Mark S. Latkovic, Associate Professor of Moral Theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary What the Church teaches -- and why -- on issues of euthanasia, in vitro fertilization, genetic counseling, assisted suicide, living wills, persistent vegetative state, organ transplants, and more.




Pope John Paul Ii and the Apparently 'Non-Acting' Person


Book Description

Drawing on Pope John Paul's extensive theological and ethical writings this important book explores the status of people with profound intellectual disabilities who some regard simply as 'non-acting'. This book demonstrates that all human beings, whatever their situations or capacities, are acting persons made in the image of God and that all principles whether from Catholic Social Teaching or from Pope John Paul's Theology of the Body apply to every human being as much as to any other. The book also considers liberation theologies of disability and the Pope's reflections on suffering as well as the controversial area of the provision of hydration and nutrition for one most profoundly disabled person, the person in persistent vegetative state. In addition it reflects on spirituality in the life of the profoundly disabled based on Karol Wojty a's thesis on St John of the Cross. As the title of the book explains, the profoundly disabled are only apparently non-acting: no one can discount the possibility of an inner spiritual life and alongside all human beings the profoundly disabled have spiritual needs, are called to a life of holiness and are asked to cooperate in that calling as far as they are able. Moreover, all have a part to play in God's plan of salvation for all are 'workers in God's vineyard'.