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worth noting . . .
IS CASUISTRY GOOD OR BAD? . . . It all depends on how it is used and what principles govern it. In this issue Msgr. George P. Graham, a canon lawyer and moralist, describes how moral theology and canon law developed somewhat independently of doctrine or dogmatic theology during the past 300 years of so. Vatican II tried to bring them back together. In recent years there has been a further split, namely, separating bioethics from moral theology. When this happens, bioethics becomes pragmatic, relativistic and cut off from all absolute moral principles. So now we have “morality by committee” which has horrendous consequences.
THE MYSTERY OF EVIL . . . We all experience evil—both physical and moral. For we are all sinners and we all come into this world with suffering and go out the same way. How we deal with evil has much to do with our eternal salvation. In this issue Dr. Alice von Hildebrand presents a few of her insights on the problem of evil and how to deal with it. She says it is a mystery which cannot be solved by human reason. The response to evil, according to her, must be supernatural. It must be based on the Cross of Jesus Christ who came into this world to suffer and die for us. As it turned out, his greatest defeat was his greatest victory, doing the will of his Father.
CONTRACEPTION LEADS TO ABORTION AND BEYOND . . . the decision of the Anglicans in 1930 to declare contraception moral and good in some cases has had dire consequences. Shortly thereafter most Protestants adopted the same position; most Catholics followed a few decades later. The separation of procreation from marital relations has been logically followed by abortion (as a back up to failed contraception), homosexuality, in vitro fertilization, and now stem cell research. In this issue Dr. Dermott J. Mullan, a Catholic astrophysicist and father of ten children, points out for us why contraception is evil. He also shows how prophetic Pope Pius XI and Paul VI were in condemning it.
THE REIGN OF CHRIST IN A HOSTILE WORLD . . . In the High Middle Ages the reign of Christ the King was generally recognized by the Christian peoples of Europe. The assemblage of the Christian peoples of the time was called “Christendom.” In the 14th century Christian unity began to break up and became permanent with the Protestant revolt in the 16th century. In this issue Mr. Thomas Storck reminds us that the devil is “the prince of this world” who promotes hatred and division among men. He also reminds us that it is our duty as Catholics to do what we can to get society to recognize the universal Kingship of Christ.
Back to Homiletic & Pastoral Review Table of Contents June 2002