 Bioethics Matters: A Guide for Concerned Catholics
Author: Moira McQueen
Publisher: Novalis: 2008
Bioethics Matters: A Guide for Concerned Catholics is an important contribution to help readers understand the Catholic teaching on central bioethical issues such as stem-cell research, reproductive technologies, euthanasia and abortion. According to Dr. Moira McQueen, the author and the Director of the Canadian Catholic Institute and professor of moral theology at the Toronto School of Theology, sound information about Roman Catholic teachings is needed in order to make good moral decisions.
The book’s introduction clearly states the author’s purpose: “Lay people deserve to be as educated as possible in Catholic teaching. It is to the Church’s advantage that they be educated in this area, in the light of the laity’s religious and civic responsibilities. Many of the burning issues of our times are bioethical: stem cell experimentation, euthanasia and prenatal genetic diagnosis are only a few of the topics we read about in the newspaper or hear about on TV. It can be difficult to keep up to date with the developments in these areas, as well as to stay informed about church teaching. This book can help Catholics navigate these pressing issues.” (Pages, 7-8)
The text is divided into four main parts:
1. Bioethics from a Roman Catholic perspective;
2. Reproductive technologies;
3. End-of-life issues and
4. Catholic teaching on living life until the end.
What is most useful to most readers is that in discussing beginning-of life and end-of-life questions, the author refers to many documents published by the Roman Catholic magisterium, the official teachings of the popes and bishops.
The book begins by giving a definition of some of the key terms in the discussion. Ethics is explained as “a systematic way of thinking that provides a coherent set of values and principles to guide people’s moral lives.” (Page 11) Christians are called to love God and to love their neighbours. Over the centuries, the Catholic Church has developed its own body of ethical teaching on how best to do this through Scripture and natural Law. Dr. McQueen briefly explains other approaches such as duty-based ethics, goal-directed ethics, utilitarianism, pragmatism, relativism and natural law. She ends that section of the book by saying that all other ethical theories are inadequate and only natural law is in a class by itself and used by the Catholic Church. This law is best recognized when “We experience and recognize that human beings have innate instincts and drives that direct them towards good and towards behavior that realizes that good. Human reason helps us work out which behavior does or does not promote human good.” (Page, 16) This approach makes use of reason guided by faith. It’s also receptive to the Word of God.
Natural law “ is the basis on which the Catholic Church rests its whole teaching on respect for human life from conception to natural death.” (Page, 21)
Explanations such as this make bioethical concerns accessible to lay readers and so can help in dealing with the major moral issues faced in everyday life. It’s also a rich resource for study groups in schools, parishes and homes. I’m sure, in the context of her book, that Dr. McQueen would be first in speaking against awarding Canada’s highest award to Henry Morgantaler.
Some scientists say that destroying “spare” embryos isn’t the taking of life. The flaw in this argument is in the word spare. There’s no such thing in the real world as a spare life,
except for the observation that makes that claim. Dr. McQueen’s suggests to her readers to become “word warriors”. Once we cross the moral road in accepting the killing of life
with words, then it won’t be too long after this that we do it with our actions. Therefore, she strongly asserts that we maintain the position that all human life, even when not visible to the human eye, as in the case of the embryo, is sacred and must be protected.
When we discard embryos no longer needed for research, we are in fact killing life. Even when we do this under the umbrella of saving future lives, it must never be acceptable.
A useful feature of the book is that it provides real-life examples that explain Catholic teachings in order to wrestle with tough ethical questions. Here’s the example given for the unborn child: “A human embryo must be protected because it is alive, just as a sick person must be protected from unethical interventions or neglect. This basic equality of persons is absolute, though many deny it. It is the basis on which the Catholic Church rests its whole teaching or respect for human life from conception to natural death.” (Page, 21)
Just the works referred to in the End Notes are worth the purchase price. As well, there are numerous references to the official teachings of the Church and other important works that readers will find useful.
Report written by Lou Iacobelli.
You can contact Lou at louiac@hotmail.com
Past Book reviews:
Virtuous Leadership: An Agenda for Personal Excellence
PUBLISHER: Scepter Publishers, Inc.
PUBLICATION DATE: 2007
Book review for November - December 2008
Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
PUBLISHER: Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops Publications Service
PUBLICATION DATE: 2005
Book review for November - December 2008 ________________________________________________________________
LEFT TO TELL
Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust
By: Immaculee Ilibagiza, with Steve Erwin
Hay House, Inc. 2006
Book review for September - October 2008
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Bioethics Matters:
A Guide for Concerned Catholics
Author: Moira McQueen
Publisher: Novalis: 2008
Book review for July - August 2008
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A Civilization of Love:
What Every Catholic Can Do to Transform the World
Author: Carl Anderson
Published by: Harper Collins, 2008
Book review for June 2008.
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