medical ethics
Rome [hearts] Bill Richardson
By Francis X. Rocca — April 14, 2009
Who says the American Catholic hierarchy won’t honor Catholic politicians who support abortion rights? New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will join Santa Fe Archbishop Michael Sheehan in Rome tomorrow, for a lighting of the Coliseum to celebrate New Mexico’s abolition of the death penalty. “The New Mexico delegation will also be present for the Wednesday […]
Does faith prolong suffering for cancer patients?
By Tracy Gordon — March 25, 2009
BOSTON — Two years ago, Kevin Brumett was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was 29, and had never smoked in his life. After an initial round of successful treatment, the cancer has since spread to his brain. Still, Brumett is determined to fight the disease, and says God is on his side every step of […]
Some states pushing back against stem-cell decision
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 12, 2009
Legislation granting fertilized embryos “personhood” has gained momentum in at least three state legislatures. The strategy – which has been used to try to undermine the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion – is now aimed at embryonic stem-cell research. The scientific field uses stem cells from human embryos, which can develop into different kinds […]
Boston cardinal supports disputed hospital plan
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 6, 2009
Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, responding for the first time to criticism of a proposed joint venture between Catholic hospitals and an insurance provider that would cover abortion procedures, said yesterday that the venture would be a good thing so long as the archdiocesan hospitals do not provide the abortions or benefit from them.
Auction to feature Bakker “PTL” videos
By Adelle M. Banks — March 3, 2009
Videotapes of the shows from the “PTL Club” that featured Jim Bakker and his then-wife, the late Tammy Faye Bakker, will be featured at an auction next month, The Charlotte Observer reports. The original tapes _ all 15,000 hours of them — are now controlled by Ben Dyer, president of Gospel Properties and an Atlanta […]
New rules for Catholic judges?
By Daniel Burke — February 24, 2009
Many people concentrated on Pope Benedict’s reprimand of Pelosi and her fellow lawmakers after a meeting at the Vatican last week. But Douglas Kmiec, the prominent Catholic legal scholar who turned a lot of heads when he articulated a Catholic case for voting for Obama last year, examines the entire statement from the Vatican. Until […]
A Jaded end
By Daniel Burke — February 21, 2009
British TV reality star Jade Goody, who has become something of a Paris Hilton figure in that she’s famous for being famous, will probably die on reality TV, the New York Times reports. Goody, 27, whose every move is recorded by the lupine British media, has cervical cancer that has spread throughout her abdomen. Doctors […]
Organ recipients thank family of church shooting victim
By Tracy Gordon — February 10, 2009
CLIFTON, N.J. (RNS) Just a few moments after she met James O’Hea, Aley John leaned against him and pressed her ear to his chest. She wanted to hear her son Dennis’s heart. “I want you all to have lives like Dennis,” she told O’Hea and four other recipients of her slain son’s organs. The tearful […]
Obama on Roe v. Wade
By Daniel Burke — January 23, 2009
The White House has just released a statement from Obama on Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion 36 years ago today. Here it is: Statement of President Obama on the 36th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are reminded that this decision not […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — December 16, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service N.M. diocese votes to stay in Episcopal Church (RNS) Episcopalians in New Mexico have voted to leave a conservative umbrella group and “reaffirm” their commitment to the Episcopal Church rather than join a new rival Anglican province on U.S. soil. The Albuquerque-based Diocese of the Rio Grande on Thursday (Dec. […]
Vatican condemns popular infertility treatments
By Frances X. Rocca — December 13, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service VATICAN CITY _ The Vatican’s highest doctrinal body on Friday (Dec. 12) condemned advanced infertility treatments and contraception technologies and reaffirmed its strong prohibition of embryonic stem cell research. The long-awaited document, “Dignitas personae” (“The dignity of a person”), was released by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the […]
Church shooting victim gives patient a new lease on life
By RNS Blog Editor — December 5, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service NEWARK, N.J. _ A 21-year-old man with cystic fibrosis walked out of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center on Wednesday (Dec. 3) with a pair of new lungs, courtesy of the family of a man shot and killed when he intervened in a domestic dispute at a church last month. The […]
Church shooting victim gives patient a new lease on life
By RNS Blog Editor — December 5, 2008
NEWARK, N.J.-A 21-year-old man with cystic fibrosis walked out of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center on Wednesday (Dec. 3) with a pair of new lungs, courtesy of the family of a man shot and killed when he intervened in a domestic dispute at a church last month. The recipient, John Muscarella, said he felt sad […]
History’s most notorious rude host lost to history
By Bridget MacDonald — December 4, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) ‘Tis the season for Christmas pageants everywhere to dramatize one of Scripture’s most familiar scenes and cast a cold-hearted innkeeper, who shoos away the holy family to a lowly stable. But pageants and sermons castigating the infamous innkeeper are giving him an underserved bad rap, scholars say, and are […]
History’s most notorious rude host lost to history
By Bridget MacDonald — December 3, 2008
(UNDATED) ‘Tis the season for Christmas pageants everywhere to dramatize one of Scripture’s most familiar scenes and cast a cold-hearted innkeeper, who shoos away the holy family to a lowly stable. But pageants and sermons castigating the infamous innkeeper are giving him an underserved bad rap, scholars say, and are feeding dangerous misconceptions about how […]
