Recently a pro-stem cell research group, Wisconsin Stem Cell Now, published a “primer” on the subject of stem cell research in Wisconsin. Among other things, the document seeks to dismiss moral arguments against embryonic stem cell research.
In the process, the authors misrepresent the relationship between ethics and morals, equate morality with religion, and define moral argument in a way that would have disqualified some of our nation’s most significant voices for reform from public debates.
The power of the term, “Respect Life,” needs to be underlined in our minds. When we, in sharing our faith, share our respect for others, we are acknowledging their intrinsic worth and our belief that they are fellow humans to be loved and cherished. This message of loving respect is foundational for all our beliefs.
The other word, life, is too easily glossed over. “Life” for the new human begins when the sperm joins the egg and ends at natural death. All the stages and phases, ups and downs, challenges and soaring triumphs do not change the innate humanity of that unique person.
Glorious Archangel St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners. …
After fire destroyed St. Anthony Church in Highland on April 17, 2002, the parish put a sign out front that said, “Church is people, not a building.”
The Diocesan Hispanic Choir is beginning its eighth year with rehearsals held Monday evenings at the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison.
Jamie (not her real name) was young and smart. She had aspirations of being a veterinarian. But she found out she was pregnant. She thought that having a baby would destroy her dreams. To make matters worse, she believed that if her parents found out she was pregnant, they would kick her out of their home.
OMAHA, Neb. — Jesuit Father Jim Egan, who formerly served in Madison, died October 2 in Omaha, Neb.
To the editor:
Who was the first person in the New Testament outside of the Holy Family to recognize Jesus as Lord? “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy” (Luke 1, 43-44).
To the editor:
Douglas Kmiec, former constitutional legal counsel to Presidents Reagan and Bush, architect of Reagan’s pro-life policies, and arguably the nation’s brightest conservative Catholic legal mind, recently argued that Catholics concerned about the sanctity of life and social justice are best served by an Obama presidency.
To the editor:
Kat Wagner did a great job on the “It’s God’s picture” article in the Catholic Herald (issue of September 25, 2008). …
