A more human society
Losing our humanity to robots?
As a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life, I have attended its annual assemblies in Rome since 2012. Pope Francis has asked the academy to explore a range of […]
Perspective
Congress and infanticide
Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft once found himself arguing with an abortion supporter, and said to her: “Give me one argument that defends abortion that doesn’t also defend infanticide.” He was […]
A more human society
Building a wall against life
In what Gov. Andrew Cuomo calls a “historic victory for New Yorkers,” New York has passed what may be the nation’s most extreme and irresponsible abortion law. Andrea Miller, president […]
A more human society
Deleting the ethics gene
Leading scientists worldwide have strongly objected to an unauthorized and premature effort to produce “designer babies” in China. I agree with their objections. But I also find some of their […]
A more human society
Inspiration from the comics
“America is in mourning. Deep, deep mourning for a man who inspired millions to, I don’t know, watch a movie, I guess.” Thus wrote political humorist Bill Maher on the […]
A more human society
On not being a vegetable
Of all the dilemmas classified under end-of-life issues, the most divisive even for Catholics has been the treatment of people diagnosed as being in a “vegetative state.” The phrase has […]
A more human society
Valuing truth over faction
Confirmation of a new justice for the U.S. Supreme Court has been halted, at least temporarily, by an accusation that the nominee when 17 years old tried to force himself […]
A more human society
Good and bad ideas on Church reform
The ongoing discussion of clergy sex abuse has moved to proposals for Church reform. The immediate need is for transparency and accountability. Charges against former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, and […]
A more human society
Of wedding cakes and our tenuous freedoms
On June 4, in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a limited victory for religious freedom. Jack Phillips, a devoutly Christian baker, declined to […]
A more human society
An advocate for the Gospel of Life
For me, a highlight of the past month was seeing Harvard law professor Mary Ann Glendon receive the University of Notre Dame’s Evangelium Vitae Medal. I have always been interested […]
A more human society
The paradoxes of inclusion
In a recent homily, Bishop Robert E. Barron rightly identified two paramount values in our secular culture: being “inclusive” and being “nonjudgmental.” The two seem closely related. If you want […]
A more human society
Planned Parenthood’s abortion fixation
Cecile Richards, who plans to retire this year as president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, has authored a self-congratulatory memoir called “Make Trouble.” During her decade-long leadership, trouble […]