Biblical scholarship is usually granted instant credibility today because it is considered “scientific.” Thus, the findings of the Jesus Seminar, however ill-founded, nevertheless quickly become front-page news. The assumption is that “science” has once again exploded claims about the Jesus found in the New Testament and preached by the Church. On the other hand, the … Read more
In November 1995 the Pontifical Council on the Family set forth sex-education guidelines in “The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality.” Months later, a letter on the subject was sent out to all the bishops in the United States over the signature of the president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. This letter states … Read more
The Holy See has done it again. The new teaching document issued by the Pontifical Council on the Family, The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality: Guidelines for Education within the Family, is yet another one of the growing list of outstanding teaching documents produced by the modern papacy that provide precise and serene “correct … Read more
On the Feast of the Assumption in 1990, Pope John Paul II issued another in a long series of great documents—documents that in more than a few cases are likely to order and enhance the life of the Church for decades if not centuries to come. This particular document was Ex corde ecclesiae, “From the … Read more
No doubt the Republican Party wants to keep the pro-life vote in 1996, but does it understand what it has to do to keep it? Although most of the declared or probable Republican presidential candidates describe themselves as pro-life (except California governor Pete Wilson and maverick Pennsylvania Republican Senator Arlen Specter, running on what he … Read more