A more human society Archive

Are there still unalienable rights?

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty […]

A threat to civil rights

I want to talk about the “Equality Act” (H.R. 5) approved by the House of Representatives this spring. But first a disclaimer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reaffirms that […]

Whitewashing Planned Parenthood

The pro-life film “Unplanned” has exceeded expectations, recouping its $6 million filming budget on its first weekend in theaters. At this writing, it has taken in over $17 million — […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]