Category Archives: Ethics and Morality

Are We Truth Friendly and Happy?

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Deacon Bob

I just finished reading John Paul II’s encyclical Vertitatis Splendor. As you know, it is an encyclical on Catholic moral theology, something on which the Second Vatican Council was going to issue a document but never got around to it, … Continue reading →

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Freedom of Conscience and Law

Posted on March 21, 2009 by Deacon Bob

Let me take a stab at this topic.  It would seem so many have a really hard time understanding the Church’s teaching on conscience and law. We must obey our consciences.  We must.  We must also properly form our consciences … Continue reading →

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Another Blow to Pro-Life “Grazie a” President Obama

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Deacon Bob

As most of you know already, the president signed an executive order today allowing taxpayer monies to be used to destroy live human embryos for stem cell research.  President George Bush had signed an order in 2001 essentially prohibiting such … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics and Morality, Politics | 3 Comments

Social Justice ala St. John Chrysostom

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Deacon Bob

When we talk about fasting during Lent, how often do we think of social justice as a form of fasting? Take a look at what St. John Chrysostom has to say: “Not to enable the poor to share in our … Continue reading →

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Quote for the Day

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Deacon Bob

“No one deserves to go hungry, and there is no ecological reason for people to be hungry today.  People are hungry today solely because of the social and economic structures of sin:  greed, pride and lust for power.” — Br. … Continue reading →

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Pelosi and the Pope

Posted on February 19, 2009 by Deacon Bob

I posted yesterday a segment of the Vatican’s statement regarding the meeting of the Pope with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.  Today, the Catholic News Service (CNS) is reporting that a statement was distributed by Pelosi’s staff regarding her visit with … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics and Morality, Politics, Popes | 1 Comment

Nancy Pelosi Meets the Holy Father

Posted on February 18, 2009 by Deacon Bob

Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and a Catholic, met with the Holy Father today at the Vatican.  Their conversation is not reported verbatim.  But the Sala Stampa, the Vatican’s news office reports today the following regarding … Continue reading →

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Current Events

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Deacon Bob

If you have been keeping up on recent news you are aware of the admission by the Legionaires of Christ that their founder, Fr. Marcial Maciel, lived a double life, keeping a mistress and fathering a daughter, now twenty years … Continue reading →

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President Obama OKs Federal Aid for Abortion Providers

Posted on January 23, 2009 by Deacon Bob

As expected, President Obama signed an executive order late today, almost secretly with as little fanfare as possible, that reversed the Mexico City policy.  In doing so, he cleared the way for the federal government to provide aid to programs … Continue reading →

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National Day of Penance and Prayer

Posted on January 22, 2009 by Deacon Bob

Today is a day set aside by the American bishops for all Catholics to do penance and prayer in reparation for the crimes committed against the unborn in our country. Let us really pray today for the conversion of all … Continue reading →

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President George Bush – Sanctity of Human Life

Posted on January 18, 2009 by Deacon Bob

I would draw your attention to what may be President Bush’s final Presidential Proclamation.  He has declare today National Sanctity of Human Life Day.  This proclamation can be read on: www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2009/01/20090115-1.html Despite my complete opposition to torture, my near complete … Continue reading →

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Artificial Nutrition and Hydration

Posted on January 14, 2009 by Deacon Bob

The most recent issue of Ethics and Medics,  published by the National Catholic Bioethics Center on Health Care and the Life Sciences, wades into the whole area of the ethics of withdrawing tubing feeding and hydration of a patient who is “permanently unconscious”.   … Continue reading →

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Immigration and Catholic Social Teaching – An archbishop’s thoughts

Posted on January 9, 2009 by Deacon Bob

I ran across another very interesting address about Catholic social teaching and immigration in this country. This one was given by Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, S.T.D., of San Antonio at the Annual Assembly of the Missouri Catholic Conference on October … Continue reading →

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Abortion and a Catholic Political Family

Posted on January 2, 2009 by Deacon Bob

A fellow blogger has posted an interesting piece on the Kennedys and their support of abortion rights despite their Catholicism. He cites a Wall Street Journal article, and references a 1964 meeting in Hyannisport, Mass. where several well-know Jesuit theologians … Continue reading →

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The Vatican and Italy

Posted on December 30, 2008 by Deacon Bob

The daily newspaper of Rome, La Repubblica citing the Osservatore Romano (the Vatican daily)  is reporting today that the Vatican, as of January 1, 2009, will no longer automatically assume into its own civil law the laws of the State … Continue reading →

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