After being away for about ten months, I’m back home in South Carolina. It was a blessing to be in Rome and to complete my academic programs. And, it’s a great blessing to be home!

Please remember me and my priestly ministry in your prayers.

This morning I completed the comps for the Licentiate in Sacred Theology (Morals). It’s done! Thanks be to God!

I’ll be heading out of Rome this evening, on my way to England, where I’ll catch the ship Queen Mary 2 and head home to the United States via the high seas. It’s going to be a small vacation and a retreat, a time to reflect and transition. Please remember me in your prayers.

I won’t have regular e-mail access until July 2. Please know of my thoughts and prayers.

2) Purpose

This thesis explores only one effort in the overall attempt to present and teach moral truth in a way that is credible and convincing within society. It theologically evaluates the use of the natural law as a teacher in public discourse. It contends that the natural law can be a noble tutor in a pluralistic society’s search for moral truth and consensus.

The thesis recognizes the views of some commentators that the natural law is a removed and overly complicated metaphysical theory, or an antiquated and unhelpful source for understanding moral truth. It acknowledges the rapid pace of the contemporary world, along with the immediate and simple dispersion of information. It sees the human person in this world. And, within this arena, the thesis begins by seeking a necessary starting point from which the Church can present the natural law. From this starting point, the thesis labors to show the basic tenets of the natural law, their simplicity, and their usefulness in making decisions that direct and shape the life of the person and society.

The thesis is inspired by the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, and its summons to engage the contemporary world in dialogue and true collaboration. In this task, it relies heavily upon the writings and worldview of Pope Benedict XVI, and it uses his teachings and theology as its proper base and impetus. The thesis acknowledges the concerns of the Pope in regards to the moral health of society, and it seeks to explore and develop his understanding of the role which the natural law can play in correcting misunderstandings of moral truth, and in bequeathing and establishing a shared moral vision within society.

The thesis uses classical sources, especially St. Thomas Aquinas, and contemporary Anglophone interpreters of the classical tradition in support of its arguments.[1]

3) Method and Scope

In accomplishing these tasks, the thesis consists of three parts.

Chapter One of the thesis establishes a platform from which the natural law can receive a hearing in the discussion on moral truth. Using Pope Benedict XVI’s Address to the Civil and Political Authorities and the Diplomatic Corp in Prague, Czech Republic, as well as the Pope’s understanding of human nature as its backdrop, the chapter contends that the best starting point for the natural law is the spiritual nature of the human person. Using diverse authors within the Christian tradition, the chapter traces the historical development in understanding the human person. Using St. Thomas Aquinas and other thinkers, the chapter summarizes human nature and provides a basic Christian anthropology. It stresses the rational nature of the person as a foundation upon which the natural law can be heard and understood.

Chapter One emphasizes the importance of the body in human nature, and its proper relationship with the spiritual soul. The spiritual identity of the person is discussed, and, using such authors as Victor Frankl and Michael Novak, the person’s capacity to ask questions and to see and appreciate truth, beauty, and goodness are explained as an aspect of the person’s spiritual nature. The chapter asserts that the human person was made as a bodily and spiritual being. By integrating the fullness of who he is, by seeking truth, beauty, and goodness, along with contemplating the order of existence, asking existential questions, and exploring the meaning of life, the person is able to discern an order not made by himself, but one that is within him and that calls for his docility. It is this slow recognition of this transcendental order and the desire to follow it that begins to awaken the person to an understanding of the natural law. By stirring the echo of the natural law within the human heart, the person and society might be more receptive to hearing the arguments for moral truth based on the tenets of the natural law. In conclusion, Chapter One’s purpose is to argue and demonstrate that the nature of the human person, specifically his spiritual soul, is the best possible starting point to gain a hearing for the natural law in public discourse.

Next, Chapter Two of the thesis elaborates and expands upon the themes of the human person from Chapter One. On the foundation of the person’s spiritual nature, the chapter develops the various tenets of the natural law. Pope Benedict XVI’s Message to the General Assembly of the United Nations, as well as his writings on conscience, are used in the arguments of the chapter. Overall, Chapter Two depends upon the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, and various Thomistic interpreters are referenced, especially Jacques Maritain, Russell Hittinger, Matthew Levering, Romanus Cessario, and Fulvio Di Blasi. The human person’s capacity to discover, know, and seek to live according to an order within himself, but given by the Creator is researched and argued. The role of the Creator, providence and order, nature and law, teleology, and discernment and obedience are explored and presented as basic tenets of the natural law. The reasonableness and simplicity of the natural law is stressed as an attractive feature favoring its use in public discourse on moral truth.

Chapter Three of the thesis is a theological evaluation of an application of the natural law to a contemporary moral issue. The chapter begins by presenting two possible paths for humanity’s future, and explains aspects of each. It raises the question of how moral truth could be presented and used in the public forum. St. Paul is given as an example of presenting truth in a pluralistic society, and lessons are drawn from his ministry. Sources for this chapter include the International Theological Commission’s document, The Search for Universal Ethics: A New Look at Natural Law, Pope Benedict XVI’s messages to the commission, the encyclicals Deus Caritas Est and Caritas in Veritate, as well as other pertinent papal writings that address the theme of the natural law and public discourse. Finally, the chapter presents criteria for dialogue based upon Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Ecclesiam Suam, and other additional selections from the writings of Joseph Ratzinger.

With the foregoing presentation of an articulated framework of the Church’s engagement with pluralistic societies, the chapter takes up the pastoral letter of the Bishops of New Jersey in the United States as a case study. The letter, The Call to Marriage Is Woven Deeply in the Human Spirit, is a statement on the sanctity of marriage, which was promulgated by the Bishops when New Jersey was debating the issue of legalized same-sex marriages. In the pastoral letter, the Bishops used the natural law in their argument. Consequently, Chapter Three explores this use of the natural law.

In preparing to assess the pastoral letter, the chapter reviews some of the cultural trends and the legal history surrounding the proposed law sanctioning same-sex marriages. The chapter uses pastoral statements from the Church’s universal magisterium, as well as the writings of different authors, including John Harvey, in preparing to evaluate the letter.

Finally, with this cultural understanding and legal history, and using Chapter One and Chapter Two as guides, the third chapter of the thesis theological assesses the use of the natural law in the pastoral letter, and reviews its effectiveness in the public debate.

Dear Readers,

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Rome, Vienna, Krakow, and Auschwitz with eight young men.  The fourteen to seventeen year olds had been invited to participate in the Kolbe Vocations Pilgrimage, which was a privately funded, by invitation, independent pilgrimage for young men.  The primary purpose was to allow God, through prayer, collegiality, tangible experiences, and God’s Graces to work to open their hearts, minds, and souls to God’s call for their immediate and future service to the Church and others.

I am compelled to share with you that the future of the Catholic Church is in the hands of many caring, committed, and blessed men!  Over the eleven days, the pilgrims prayed, dined, questioned, listened, followed, and shared experiences with at least twenty holy and enthusiastic priests and deacons, as well some faithful lay followers of Christ.  Through the Eucharist, scripture, prayers, meals, and tours shared with these individuals, the pilgrims are now better prepared to be faithful disciples and to serve the Lord.

It was humbling to witness the pilgrims as they grew closer to Jesus Christ and opened their minds and hearts to His plan for them.  Please join me in praying for these and other young men and women as they strive to follow Jesus Christ and listen to his plan for them.

St. Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome: “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world” (1:8). This sentiment of the Apostle is the same sentiment on my heart. I am thankful for the faith and witness of the Kolbe pilgrims. Each of them gave a strong testimony to Jesus Christ throughout the pilgrimage by their prayerfulness, kindness, and attentiveness to others. Many people in Rome, Vienna, Krakow, and Warsaw commented on the young people, and repeatedly expressed their hope in seeing such zealous young apostles of the Lord. Their faith was truly proclaimed throughout all the world! Thanks be to God!

The young people have told their story. The blog entries, often written late in the evening, were small summaries of their experiences each day, and of the lessons they learned throughout the many days of the pilgrimage.

Nothing can be added to their final blog entry. It says it all: we are called to be disciples, to know, love and serve the Lord in all we do. This is the foundation and source of everything we do as Christians.

As the pilgrimage came to a close, there was some sorrow, but overwhelming excitement as we see a bright future in Jesus Christ. I am also filled with tremendous hope and great wonder as I consider what the Lord is doing (and will do) in and through the lives of these young believers and apostles of the Lord Jesus.

Come, Holy Spirit! Thanks be to God!

With non-ending thanks, God Bless!

Nick Adams, Matthew Ross, Patrick Judd, Will Victor, Aaron Kirby, Mark Tisler, Ian Demass, and Will Frei

Today, just like the day before, was very emotional.  At 9:30 a.m., after breakfast, the group met with holocaust survivor.  He told of the histoy of Auschwitz–how it was begun and who the first prisoners were.  He then told of his story, of how we joined the Polish Resistance and was caught and brought to the concentration camp.   The survivor recounted the horrors, murders, starvation, tests, and humiliation that went on during the camp’s years of operation.  The story was truly moving, letting all realize how truly fortunate we are to be living in a country of freedom. 

After this talk, the group had mass at the hotel’s chapel on the 3rd floor.  It was our final mass as a group.  We then packed our bags and headed to Warsaw.  Once we arrived, we put our bags in the hotel and headed out for dinner.  It was a great last day as pilgrims!

the ruins of the auschwitz gas chamber where hundreds of thousands were killed

for dinner we had probably the worst of the meals. but it was halarious all the same. imagine chicken pot pie in cold jello!!! hahaha!!

chicken pot pie jello

We headed and had mass at Saint Andrew’s Catholic Church. This was the place where father Kolbe celebrated his first mass. it was very special for us. Father Kirby even got to celebratet the mas with us

After mass, we went to the Church of the Twelve Apostles, the Gregorian University, and Saint  ignatius.  We were able to pray at each of these locations.  Then, we went to the grocery store in the train station to stack up on goodies for the train ride to Vienna.  We made one last sprint to make the train and settled in for the night.