In Guadium et Spes we find the following, almost paradoxical, insight, “… if man is the only creature on earth that God has wanted for its own sake, man can fully discover his true self only in a sincere giving of himself” (§ 24). Not only is this a theological-metaphysical-anthropological claim, it is also very clearly a moral and social one. One cannot be who or what he is supposed to be, metaphysically speaking, unless he first stands in relation... Read more
As a Catholic, I stand for the affirmation of life, and that means all life; I affirm the dignity of each human person, given to them at the point of their conception; it is a dignity which never ends, not even at the point of death. Indeed, many people seem to forget this – human dignity extends into eternity; just as it is easy for many to disregard human dignity at the point of conception, it seems even easier to... Read more
Abortion is the murder of a human being. But the solution to murder, to evil, lies not within police, courts, and prisons, but within Christian sacrificial love. Yet most pro-life Catholics in America would disagree with me. Most support legislation (and coercive enforcement) that would outlaw abortion. The assumption is that this would save countless humans from being murdered, and that this would be a terrific victory over evil. I agree that it would end the majority of abortions, but... Read more
What does abortion in the United States look like? The Guttmacher Institute explores this issue in some detail. For a start, it notes that 57% of women opting for abortion are economically disadvantaged. In fact, the abortion rate among women living below the federal poverty level ($9,570 for a single woman with no children) is more than four times that of women above 300% of the poverty level (44 vs. 10 abortions per 1,000 women). And when asked to give... Read more
Jose Maria Escriva’s book, The Way, has one quote that frequently pops into my mind over the years. It goes something like “Don’t say ‘that person drives me crazy’ say ‘that person sanctifies me.'” We all have one person in our life who is trying to make us a better person, even though they don’t know that. We get a very off centered vision of ourselves and then comes a person in our life who shows us who we REALLY... Read more
EconomyCentral Asia – Economic changes in Central Asia focusing on the old Silk Road Romania – Welfare checks to be replaced with goats Human RightsChina – The villagers, in Guangxi province, reportedly attacked government offices after officials imposed heavy fines on families who had too many children. China – Changes in women’s rights Russia and European Union – Tensions in conference over concerns about human rights. (See also) Russia – Mikhail Gorbachev defends Putin’s policies MigrationBritain – Migrants cause debate... Read more
Lately, there has been considerable misunderstanding and debate about Catholic social doctrine. Perhaps the greatest cause of confusion is the fact that many people misunderstand its application and particular use as representing some sort of universal, acceptable norm. For example, many Catholics rightfully point out that in certain times and places, the Church found it possible to accept the use of the death penalty; however, because of this, many Catholics think this is a universal approval of the death penalty.... Read more
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As soon as you enter a debate on the topic of global warming, your interlocutor will sooner or later accuse you of proposing policy actions that could have devastating consequences, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable. It’s time, I think, to address this criticism head on with a modicum of vigor. In this, there’s no better starting point than the UK-treasury mandated Stern Review, tasked with considering the costs and benefits of policy actions geared toward reducing greenhouse gas... Read more
“In regards to human vicissitudes, it is not always the mass majority that decides, but the superiority of the moral force that inclines the political balance towards itself.” –Simón Bolívar Simón Bolívar (1783-1830), Venezuelan, also called El Libertador (“The Liberator”) was the foremost leader of the fight for independence in Venezuela, Colombia, Perú, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Panamá. His political and moral ideas have shaped the political thought of most of Latin America until the present day. Read more
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