Matters of Life and Death: A Catholic Guide to the Moral Questions of Our Time

by Gerard M Verschuuren

Overview

Matters of Life and Death provides the reader with a moral compass by examining such pressing issues as abortion, genetic manipulation, infertility treatments, gender change, and aid in dying. Its approach speaks to the Catholic ideal of "formation of conscience," which is sorely needed to orient ourselves in our fractured political landscape.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781621383307
Publisher:	Angelico Press
Publication date:	03/05/2018
Pages:	210
Sales rank:	794,731
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.48(d)

About the Author

Gerard M. Verschuuren is a human geneticist who also earned a doctorate in the philosophy of science. He has studied and worked at universities in Europe and the United States. Currently semi-retired, he spends most of his time as a writer, speaker, and consultant on the interface of science and religion, faith and reason.

Table of Contents

c o n t e n t s

Preface 1

1: About Right and Wrong 3

How Do We Know What Is Right and Wrong? [4]—The Natural Law [10]—Rights and Duties [23]—What Is a Human Conscience? [28]

2: Human Sexuality 35

A Short History [35]—Body and Soul [38]—Sexuality without Procreation [45]

3: Contraception 53

The Events Surrounding Conception [53]—When Does Human Life Begin? [55]—An Assessment of Contraception [64]—Marriage and Procreation [70]

4: Infertility 75

In Vitro Fertilization [75]—What Is Wrong with IVF? [77]

5: Abortion 83

A Conflict of Interests [83]—A Conflict of Rights [90]—Crisis Situations [97]

6: Eugenics 103

Negative Eugenics [103]—Positive Eugenics [110]—Genetic Manipulation [114]—The Overpopulation Myth [117]

7: Sex and Gender Change 127

The Biology behind It [127]—The Morality behind It [131]—Homosexuality [138]

8: Euthanasia 147

What Is a Meaningful Life? [147]—Prolonging Life [153]—Shortening Life [158]—How Dead Is Brain-Dead? [162]

9: Attempts to Undermine Morality 175

Relativism [175]—Reductionism [179]

10: A Battlefield of Good and Evil 189

11: Conclusion 193

For Further Reading 195

Index 197