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worth noting . . .
BISHOPS AS SIGNS OF HOPE FOR THE WORLD . . . Last October bishop representatives from the 112 episcopal conferences in the world met in Rome to discuss the theme in the presence of the Pope: The Bishop: Servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Hope of the World.” In this issue the editor, Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J., offers you an overview or summary of what took place during four weeks of talks and discussions. Very briefly, the synod can be summarized under two headings: 1) the spirituality of the bishop, and 2) ecclesiology. Most of what was said and decided there relates to those two points.
LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN . . . Since young minds are very malleable, it is important that children be exposed to good literature with a high moral tone. During the past eighteen months we have printed two articles on the Harry Potter books by Joanne K. Rowling. Mrs. Elizabeth Wittman found them objectionable from the point of view of Catholic moral teaching (October 2000), while Dr. Susan R. Moore was more favorable in her evaluation of them (June 2001). In this issue you will find another critical essay on the Potter wizardry by Mr. Edward O’Brien, a professor of philosophy and literature.
JESUS SPEAKS TO US FROM THE CROSS . . . During Holy Week it is spiritually rewarding to reflect on what Jesus suffered for the sins of each one of us, especially his excruciating suffering on the Cross with nails through his hands and feet. His anguished cry, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” pierces the soul of the praying Christian. This month Dr. Paul Niskanen, a biblical scholar, offers us a short reflection on the suffering and abandonment of Jesus. In order to save us the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity became man and died for us in pain and torment. Thus he made visible God’s love for us and seeks a return of love from us.
ANIMAL RIGHTS AND HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY . . . Any living being that is not a person does not have “rights” in the strict sense of the word. A right is a moral claim on others which involves personhood and freedom. Since animals are not persons and are not free, it follows that they do not have rights such as a human person does. In this issue Jo-Anne Pontone, D.V.M., who is a doctor of veterinary medicine. explains how the animal rights movement wants equality of treatment between human beings and animals. She cites one woman who thinks chickens should be treated on a level with human beings.
Back to Homiletic & Pastoral Review Table of Contents March 2002