Homiletic and Pastoral Review
December 1996

2 Worth noting

3 Letters from our readers

9 Ordinatio Sacerdotalis: Infallible?
By Jack Healy
It is the Pope's purpose and intention which determine the dogmatic value of a teaching.

16 Contemporary interpretations of Christian philosophy
By Joseph M. de Torre
Christian philosophy has furnished the cultural matrix for Western civilization.

22 The popes and slavery
By Joel S. Panzer
When did the Church condemn slavery?

30 Catholic laughter
By Rawley Myers
Humor must return for the sake of civilization and sanity.

33 Homilies on the liturgy of the Sundays and feasts
By David Q. Liptak

47 First confession before First Communion
By Joseph A. Wemhoff
There are numerous reasons for the proper order of reception.

53 The priest in history-and in mystery, Part II
By Aidan Nichols
The celebration of the liturgy is a litmus test.

60 Contraception and NFP: Explaining the difference
By Patrick Norris
The Church's teaching on marriage and family planning is foreign to the modern world view.

67 My favorite priest-A tribute to Fr. James D. Timm
By Joseph C. Frisch

70 Questions answered by Wm. B. Smith

73 Book reviews

80 Time and eternity-Editorial