In both the US and UK in recent weeks, disabled people have been denied care for COVID. This is pure ableism (discrimination based on disabilities). The disabled deserve equal care to others. In the UK, they are putting DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) orders on people; while in the USA, a disabled man with COVID was starved to death. Let’s look at the two cases then remind ourselves of the moral issues. Illegal DNR Orders Forbes reported: A report due to be launched… Read more
July 3, 2020
COVID Isn’t an Excuse to Let the Disabled Die
July 3, 2020 By Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC
July 1, 2020
Faking Disability to Avoid Masks Breaks at Least 3 Commandments
July 1, 2020 By Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC
In recent weeks, many places have required people to wear masks when entering. Close contact with others could transmit COVID without a mask. However, not everyone wants to. And some people with certain disabilities are unable to wear one. They might use a face shield instead, so it isn’t that they avoid all protection. However, some people created online sites saying one could fake a disability and avoid wearing a mask. Faking a disability for this purpose breaks at least… Read more
June 30, 2020
Enable Bluetooth Coronavirus Tracing
June 30, 2020 By Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC
I’ve seen a number of posts of people freaking out on social media telling everyone to disable COVID-19 notifications. I want to encourage you instead to make sure they are turned on. I also want to encourage you to download the tracing app once available. I even want to encourage states to make one. The main concern people have is privacy and I also have a similar concern. However, cryptographers at Google and Apple figured out a way that protects that…. Read more
June 9, 2020
Deepfakes Create Many Moral Messes
June 9, 2020 By Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC
Deepfakes are a new technology where a person’s face is taken from stills or video and put onto some other video making it appear like they did whatever is in the subsequent video. Such videos are quickly becoming indistinguishable from real videos. I want to take a summary of deepfakes – the technology and the uses – then analyze the moral issues The Reality of Deepfakes Forbes recently ran a story. It began: Last month during ESPN’s hit documentary series The… Read more
May 29, 2020
Prudence over Politics in Reopening Churches
May 29, 2020 By Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC
On Wednesday, May 20, it came out that the bishops of Minnesota will open their Churches for liturgy despite a state order to the contrary. A few days later, the state of Minnesota relented and let churches open. Two days after the bishops defied the state order, Trump said governors should allow churches to reopen “right now for this weekend.” Later, he added, “In America, we need more prayer, not less.” On the same day, Gov. Wolf indicated that Philadelphia… Read more
May 14, 2020
St. Isidore of Seville is NOT the Official Patron of the Internet.
May 14, 2020 By Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC
When I wrote on soon to be Blessed Carlo Acutis, I got the same reply from many. I titled my article, “Patron Saint of the Internet? Carlo Acutis to Be Beatified.” Many objected that Isidore of Seville was actually the patron saint of the Internet. That lead me down a rabbit hole to see if Isidore had ever been so named officially. It seems like he has not been. The results of my research were posted a few days ago… Read more
May 13, 2020
Welcoming Autistics at Mass (Podcast with Cincinnati Archdiocese)
May 13, 2020 By Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC
A while back, I spoke about welcoming autistic individuals to Mass and religious education on a Podcast. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati Respect Life has a regular podcast about a wider perspective of pro-life issues. They invited me on the podcast to talk about how ordinary Catholics can welcome autistic individuals. We spoke about issues like a sensory-friendly Mass, religious education, accepting autistic quirks, etc. Jesus wants everyone to live virtue, to live the mission, to live like Jesus. This includes… Read more
May 7, 2020
Organic Spirituality in an Artificial Spirituality World
May 7, 2020 By Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC
Silence, listening to the voice of God, a personal encounter with the living God, deep prayer… Most of us say we want these, but does our spiritual environment produce them? Reflecting on how society twists our material desires makes me think about how it twists our spiritual desires. Recognizing the need to fulfill our natural desire properly, should lead us to also see the need to fulfill our spiritual desires. I think there is an analogy between the distorted or… Read more
May 1, 2020
Ministering to the Disabled on the Counsel of Trent Podcast
May 1, 2020 By Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC
Earlier this week, Trent Horn had John Kraemer and me on his podcast to discuss ministering to the disabled. Trent Horn asked us about our experiences and how we thought the Catholic Church could better minister to the disabled. Here is the podcast (Google Play, iTunes, Stitcher, iHeart embedded): Here’s a little background on the host and other guest. (I assume if you are a reader here, you know who I am, if not, read my bio for general info… Read more
April 28, 2020
A Marriage Preparation or Enrichment Program Worth Considering
April 28, 2020 By Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC
John and Claire Grabowski, One Body: A Program of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment for the New Evangelization (Steubenville, OH: Emmaus Road, 2018) John and Claire Grabowski recently wrote One Body aback in 2018. I had submitted a review someone said they’d publish soon, but since almost two years later it isn’t published, I’m posting it to my blog. The book is a study guide for marriage preparation or marriage enrichment in small groups. The two are qualified: John is an associate… Read more
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