Perspective
Medicine and a ‘sense of the sacred’
As clergy, we touch upon very holy realities when we baptize, consecrate the Eucharist, give absolution to sinners or anoint the sick. These special moments engage divine grace in deep […]
Perspective
Pushing back against evil
During a recent speech in Texas, I mentioned that “Drag Queen Story Hours” are being sponsored by local public libraries across the country. Toddlers and kids are brought in and […]
Perspective
Palliative sedation and nearing death
Because suffering almost always imposes itself on us during life, and especially at the end of life, it can be helpful to reflect on the need to accept some personal […]
Perspective
Contradictory suicide messaging
In July 2014, police found the body of 18-year-old Conrad Roy inside his truck in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, having died from carbon monoxide poisoning. As the case unfolded, it became apparent […]
Perspective
An authentic democracy
Those of us who have grown up within the womb of a democratic society may not always recognize how radical the idea behind such a society actually is, nor how […]
Perspective
Securing authentic children’s rights
Children require extensive support and protection to meet their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. They are uniquely dependent on their parents because they are particularly vulnerable. Often they are unable […]
Perspective
The corpse raiders
Most people recognize the importance of obtaining consent before retrieving organs from the bodies of deceased persons. They also understand the necessity of showing respect for those bodily remains following […]
Perspective
Nobody gets hurt?
A few years back, I gave a talk titled “Thinking Through the Transgender Question” at a local parish. In the audience were several individuals supporting the transgender movement. During the […]
Perspective
It’s not just about the frozen embryos
I remember a conversation I had with a married Catholic couple a few years ago. They were feeling lost and desperate over their inability to conceive a child. They were […]
Perspective
‘Exceptions’ and the undermining of the moral law
Whenever we make small exceptions to universal moral rules, we shouldn’t be surprised that the rules themselves can be quickly undermined. Establishing an “exception” in one case makes people think […]
Perspective
The welcome outreach of perinatal hospice
During the course of pregnancy, receiving an adverse prenatal diagnosis can be a tremendously jolting experience for parents. In severe cases, physicians may tell them that their unborn child has […]
Perspective
Gene-edited babies and the runaway train of IVF
In November 2018, a Chinese scientist named He Jankui (known to his associates as “JK”) claimed that he had successfully produced the world’s first gene-edited human babies using “gene surgery.” […]