Let me start with a basic idea: If we believe that all human life is God-given, we should also believe that it is precious, sacred, inviolable. Any reduction in or setting aside of this truth, and therefore any thought of…
Tag: Catholic
Setting the stage for formal dissent from Humanae Vitae
Fifty-four years on from Pope Paul VI’s promulgation of the prophetic encyclical Humanae Vitae - On the Regulation of Births, disagreement and outright dissent against this constant teaching of the Church is still raging. Of note is the recent publication…
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Prenatal testing and the right to life
When the eminent Professor Jérôme Lejeune discovered the cause of Down syndrome (Trisomy 21) in 1959, he knew the information could be used for good or for evil. He had pursued the discovery with good intent, but the values of…
NZ Surrogacy Law under review
The laws governing the practice of surrogacy are currently under review by Parliament as well as the Law Commission, as dissatisfaction from those wanting to access the method to “build a family” escalates. Currently before Parliament is a Member’s Bill…
The Wine of Marriage
Marriage is an institution of nature and, for the baptized, a sacrament. Not only do the natural physiological and psychological desires experienced by both men and women show it to be an institution of nature but also, the fact that…
The problem of sexuality education in Catholic schools
It is a new school year, and parents are once again entrusting their children and young people into the care of teachers for large portions of each day. Along with reading, writing and arithmetic, schools are required to teach “sexuality”…
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Prayer: Day of Reparation for euthanasia
On Sunday 7 November 2021, euthanasia and assisted suicide will become legal in New Zealand. The End of Life Choice Act, 2019 permits terminally ill people who experience "unbearable suffering" to request to die at the hands of a health…
Submission: Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill
The Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill is an omnibus bill that seeks to ban "conversion therapy" and is currently before the Justice select committee. In the bill's explanatory note, the term is explained as including "a broad range of practices that…
Pastoral dilemmas posed by legal euthanasia
In November, the contentious legislation that allows euthanasia and assisted suicide to be sought and provided will come into effect throughout New Zealand. Passed in November 2020, the law permits terminally ill adults, in the name of autonomy, to request…
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla: A Saint For Our Times
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla was a wife, mother and physician. Her virtuous life is a reminder of the truth about the dignity of the human person and of marriage and family life.