Theology, Disability and the New Genetics: Why Science Needs the Church [Paperback]

If you are looking for a condemnation of the eugenics which promote the abortion of pre-born children with Down Syndrome, you can find it here. Oh, wait a second! If you are looking for a defense of the bizarre, dopey notion of "good eugenics," you can also find it here! This collection finds room for truth and error!

The Magisterium of the Catholic Church has been at the absolute forefront, in regard to the treatment of people with disabilities and bioethical concerns. Yet in spite of the title - "Theology, Disability, and the New Genetics: Why Science Needs the Church" - there does not appear to be a single Catholic among the 16 contributors to this text. However, contributor Amy Laura Hall of Duke University should be commended for giving credit where it is due.

In regard to early 20th century eugenics promotion in the United Sates, Professor Hall maintains that "many mainline Protestant clergy, serving parishes and academe, in cities and in the country, did nohing less than capitulate....the Roman Catholic Church - with marked consistency from the grassroots to the Vatican resisted laws against sterilization as well as the mindset behind the movement....John Ryan is the figure who most clearly complicates Christine Rosen's suggestion that progressivism and eugenics were inextricably linked." As explained in Catholics and Contraception: An American History, Msgr. John A. Ryan, Ph.D, was the veritable face of Catholic Social issues in the early 20th century. He readily took on the anti-human philosophy of eugenics pioneer (and Planned Parenthood founder) Margaret Sanger.

One searches "Theology, Disability, and the New Genetics: Why Science Needs the Church" in vane for references to Pope John Paul II. Concerns about people with disabilities and bioethics permeated his writings and talks. Citing the family as society's principal unit, the late Holy Father called for special concern for the families of people with disabilities in Familiaris Consortio. Recognizing that people with disabilites are especially vulnerable to unemployment and underemployment, he called upon society to ensure their dignity in the world of work (Laborem Exercens). In my own opinion, it was in Evangelium Vitae that he most magnificently wove all the undeniable connections!

While the 2007 "Theology, Disability, and the New Genetics: Why Science Needs the Church" cannot be faulted for failure to include the Vatican's awesome 2008 Dignitas Personae (which addresses theology, disability-related issues, and bioethical concerns in an exquisite and exceedingly superior manner), overlooking the Vatican's Catechism, Charter for Health Care Workers, Declaration on Procured Abortion, Declaration on Euthanasia, & Donum Vitae (to cite just four examples) is evidence of a serious scholarly shortcoming to this collection - to say the least!