Saunders, William
7 Articles at Lifeissues.net

Father William Saunders is dean of the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College and pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Sterling, Virginia. If you enjoy reading Fr. Saunders' articles, his new book entitled Straight Answers (400 pages) is available at the Pauline Book and Media Center of Arlington, Virginia (703/549-3806).

Articles

Suicide: Gravity and Responsibility

Only God can read the depths of our soul. Only He knows how much we love Him and how responsible we are for our actions. We leave the judgment then to Him alone. The <Catechism> offers words of great hope: "We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to Him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives" (#2283).

Date posted: 2002-08-28

The Role of Godparents

Please explain the role of godparents in Catholic baptism. How strictly should the potential godparents adhere to traditional Catholic teaching? If a couple does not know sufficiently "qualified" godparents, is it acceptable for them to act as the godparents themselves?

Date posted: 2002-08-27

Euthanasia and Extraordinary Care

The case of Hugh Finn and the withdrawal of his feeding tube has been given much publicity. Would you please give a fuller explanation of what the Church says about all forms of ordinary and extraordinary care which are required to be given in the case of patients in persistent vegetative states. Also, how do the circumstances of the family come into play, that is financial resources, medical, age etc.

Date posted: 2002-08-26

Is the Death Penalty Wrong?

Catholic Bishops state: '...in the condition of contemporary American society, the legitimate purposes of punishment do not justify the imposition of the death penalty... 'The bishops pleaded that by abolishing capital punishment, society would break the cycle of violence and make a positive statement about the sanctity of human life and forgiveness.

Date posted: 2002-08-25

The Immorality of Sterilization

Pope John Paul II warned in his encyclical The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae) of "scientifically and systematically programmed threats" against life. He continued, "we are in fact faced by an objective 'conspiracy against life,' involving even international institutions, engaged in encouraging and carrying out actual campaigns to make contraception, sterilization, and abortion widely available. Nor can it be denied that the mass media are often implicated in this conspiracy, by lending credit to that culture which presents recourse to contraception, sterilization, abortion, and even euthanasia as a mark of progress and a victory of freedom, while depicting as enemies of freedom and progress those positions which are unreservedly pro-life" (no. 17).

Date posted: 2002-08-24

Ethical Treatment after Rape

While I fully agree with the Catholic Church's teaching against abortion, what is the moral teaching regarding the rape of a woman and the treatment of rape?

Date posted: 2002-08-23

Against Abortion, But Pro-Choice?

Sometimes I have met Catholics -- especially where I work -- who say, "I am personally against abortion, but I am pro-choice." To me, that makes no sense, but how can I argue with them?

Date posted: 2002-08-20