Modern Moral Problems addresses moral quandaries that can beguile and confuse faithful Catholics. Written in a question-and-answer format, the book covers questions regarding sexuality, medical ethics, business practices, civic responsibilities, and the sacramental life of the Church. The extraordinary assortment of issuesforming a single, organized collectionis a valuable reference for anyone seeking clear and concise answers to tough moral questions. Written in a conversational tone often spliced with humor, this work by a highly respected moral theologian will be read with fascination for its clarity of argument and fundamental good sense. Originally published as a monthly question-and-answer column in a magazine for priests, these selections by Msgr. William B. Smith retain a striking current topicality. Msgr. Smith often tackled matters of controversy in the Catholic Church, ones which continue to draw conflicting opinions. Interesting, informative, and eminently practical, this book conveys an overall impression that sound thinking about morality is rooted in a tradition within the Catholic Church, even when the answers to particular moral questions cannot be found in catechisms or Vatican documents. Msgr. Smith offers a clear-headed approach to the quandaries of our time precisely because of his training in traditional moral principles and his fidelity to the Catholic magisterium. This book should be in the possession of all seminarians and priests, who are bound to confront moral matters that are not so easily decided at first glance. But lay people, too, will find here rich responses to the challenging and sometimes unresolved moral questions they encounter in their own lives.

Publisher description: In a book rich with examples, Rushworth Kidder reveals that moral courage is the bridge between talking ethics and doing ethics. Defining it as a readiness to endure danger for the sake of principle, he explains that the courage to act is found at the intersection of three elements: action based on core values, awareness of the risks, and a willingness to endure necessary hardship. By exploring how moral courage spurs us to strive for core values, he demonstrates the benefits of ethical action to the individual and to society -- and the severe consequences that can result from remaining morally dormant.

Despite often simplistic, black-and-white portrayals of good and evil, children and adolescents face complicated moral issues that can raise more questions than answers. Becoming aware of what constitutes morality is only the first step in determining a course of action, identifying and avoiding problems, and building communities that nurture morality. Young people learn to define and respond to moral dilemmas by interacting with and observing numerous sources. They acquire knowledge from family members, teachers, church leaders, peers, and members of neighborhood organizations. Raising themes of cultural pluralism, responsibility, complexity, affectivity, and practicality, Nurturing Morality addresses such issues as: - Definitions of morality that link past and current debates, enabling a more thorough understanding of moral functioning. - Personal responsibilities and impediments to moral functioning. - How societal structures can facilitate or inhibit moral agency and development. - The importance of acknowledging the common good as well as individual accomplishments. - Nurturing morality through wisdom. Drawing from a wide range of independent research programs, Nurturing Morality makes clear that most forms of human interaction are laden with moral content. It highlights thorny and complex moral questions that cannot be resolved by simple adherence to moral rules. And on the basis of empirically grounded findings, contributors to this volume provide recommendations for how adults can offer valuable guidance to young people learning to negotiate life in a global society. For clinicians, researchers, and students, Nurturing Morality provides much-needed insight and advice on young people’s moral development.

Sam Harris dismantles the most common justification for religious faith--that a moral system cannot be based on science.

This edition is once again a new, thoroughly revised version of Christian Ethics II. In some portions the subject matter has been reorganized more organically, and recent theological developments and documents of the magisterium have been integrated. New themes have been added, others further developed, such as deepening the concept and content of mission, as well as ecumenical participation. Also, questions in bioethics have been supplemented, such as the duty to preserve life, topics of prenatal medicine, reproductive and therapeutic cloning, genetic alteration, and euthanasia. Other issues raised concern the discrimination against women, civil marriage of homosexuals, compassion in prison care, the right of asylum, humanitarian interventions, the fostering of peace after conflicts, empowerment of the poor in development projects, and the treatment of animals. The author hopes that this new edition will be a contribution to the ongoing aggiornamento of moral theology and that it will continue to meet the expectations of its readers.