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Reflections on Ethics, Faith, & Health Care: Now featuring discussion posts for THE LIFE OF BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, by Father William Bonniwell, OP

“GAUDETE!” ADVENT REJOICING in the MIDST of SORROW

December 16, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

The season of Advent, and Gaudete Sunday in particular, invites us to rejoice. In Year C, our readings on Gaudete…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Advent, Catholic liturgy, Hope, Scripture

R. I. P.

November 11, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. This is a prayer…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Death and dying, Scripture

LETTING OUR LOVED ONES GO HOME to GOD

October 28, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

The Catholic Church opposes euthanasia, understood as the deliberate killing of a person in order to end his or her…

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Posted in: Ethics Filed under: Death and dying, Human agency, Human dignity

LOOKING to WHAT IS UNSEEN: GOD’S GLORY in the SICK and SUFFERING

October 14, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

The fourth chapter of Saint Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians is awash with paradox. He says in verse 18…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Death and dying, Scripture

THE STORY of JOSEPH and the PURPOSES of GOD for the SICK

October 7, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

You probably know the story of Joseph and his brothers that is told in chapters 37-50 of the Book of…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Scripture, Trust in God

THE PRO-LIFE VISION of SAINT PAUL

September 30, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Saint Paul is Pro Life. He clearly affirms the goodness of all God’s creation and the goodness of enjoying the…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Scripture

WHO AM I?

September 23, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

“You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Scripture, Spirituality

THE HEALING POWER of the CROSS

September 16, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. 1 Comment

“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Catholic liturgy, Scripture, Spirituality

DOES GOD ALWAYS ANSWER our PRAYERS?

September 9, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Yes! God always answers our prayers. Jesus assures us of this over and over again. “Ask and it will be…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Prayer, Scripture, Spirituality

THE MYSTERY of HUMAN SUFFERING in the PASSION of JESUS CHRIST

September 2, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. 2 Comments

There are many good, true, and important answers that one could give in response to questions about the mystery of…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Scripture, Suffering

WHY DO GOOD PEOPLE SUFFER?: GOD’S ANSWER to JOB

August 26, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

The Old Testament Book of Job is about a good man whom God allows to suffer. The first verse introduces…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Scripture, Suffering, Trust in God

THE “WHY” QUESTION

August 19, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Why is this happening to me? Why did this happen to my child? What have I done to deserve this?…

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Posted in: Healthcare Filed under: Ministry, Prayer, Suffering

HEALTH CARE and HOPE

August 12, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

According to J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, there are two kinds of hope.…

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Posted in: Healthcare Filed under: Hope

HEALTH CARE MINISTRY in the SPIRIT of SAINT DOMINIC

August 5, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Saint Dominic is the Holy Founder of the Order of Preachers (the “Dominican” Order) that serves the parish community of…

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Posted in: Faith, Healthcare Filed under: Human dignity, Ministry

THE IMPORTANCE of STORYTELLING in HEALTH CARE

July 29, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

In one of their “Sunday Review” sections, The New York Times published an article titled “Why Doctors Need Stories.” It was written…

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Posted in: Healthcare Filed under: Human dignity, Ministry

THE ETHICS of BEGINNING-OF-LIFE HEALTH CARE, PART IV: KILLING for the PURPOSES of MEDICINE

July 22, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

We are once again considering the wrongfulness of direct abortion and, more generally, the deliberate killing of human beings in…

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Posted in: Ethics, Healthcare Filed under: Beginning of life health care, Human agency, Human dignity

THE ETHICS of BEGINNING-OF-LIFE HEALTH CARE, PART III: ABORTION in TRAUMATIC CIRCUMSTANCES

July 15, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

A direct abortion is an abortion that is deliberately chosen and is always morally wrong. It is morally wrong because…

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Posted in: Ethics, Healthcare Filed under: Beginning of life health care, Human agency, Human dignity

THE ETHICS of BEGINNING-OF-LIFE HEALTH CARE, PART II: THE WRONGFULNESS of DIRECT ABORTION

July 8, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Human life is a precious gift from Godwho made man and woman in His own image and likeness. The human…

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Posted in: Ethics, Healthcare Filed under: Beginning of life health care, Church teaching, Human agency, Human dignity

THE ETHICS of BEGINNING-OF-LIFE HEALTH CARE, PART I: THE BEGINNING of HUMAN LIFE

July 1, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Human life is a precious gift from God. In its very first chapter, the Bible tells us, “God created mankind…

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Posted in: Ethics, Healthcare Filed under: Beginning of life health care, Church teaching, Human dignity

SPE SALVI: SAVING HOPE and HEALTH CARE MINISTRY

June 24, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Spe Salvi (“saved in hope”) is the title of a marvelous encyclical letter written by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. The…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Hope, Ministry, Trust in God

THE ETHICS of ORGAN and TISSUE TRANSPLANTATION, PART V: CONCLUSIONS

June 17, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

In concluding these reflections on organ and tissue transplantation, I hope to be able to provide some guidance to the…

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Posted in: Ethics, Healthcare

THE ETHICS of ORGAN and TISSUE TRANSPLANTATION, PART IV: OTHER FORMS of TRANSPLANTATION

June 10, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

When we think of organ and tissue transplantation, we first might think of the donation of fully developed human body…

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Posted in: Ethics, Healthcare

THE ETHICS of ORGAN and TISSUE TRANSPLANTATION, PART III: DIAGNOSING DEATH

June 3, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

In order to ethically transplant vital organs from a consenting donor, it is necessary that the donor’s death be confirmed.…

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Posted in: Ethics, Healthcare

THE ETHICS of ORGAN and TISSUE TRANSPLANTATION, PART II: DONATION AFTER DEATH

May 27, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Organ and tissue transplantation is a growing area of contemporary medical practice that raises a variety of ethical concerns. This…

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Posted in: Ethics, Healthcare

THE ETHICS of ORGAN and TISSUE TRANSPLANTATION, PART I: LIVING HUMAN DONORS

May 20, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Organ and tissue transplantation is a growing area of contemporary medical practice that raises a variety of ethical concerns. This…

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Posted in: Ethics, Healthcare

THE RIGHTS of CONSCIENCE

May 13, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

The right of an individual to follow his or her conscience has long been a matter of dispute in our…

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Posted in: Ethics Filed under: Church teaching

CHRIST the HEALER, PART V: JESUS’ HEALING in DOMINICAN FRIARS HEALTH CARE MINISTRY of New York

May 6, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Dominican Friars Health Care Ministry of New York is an extension of the health care ministry of the Catholic Church.…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Ministry

CHRIST the HEALER, PART IV: JESUS’ HEALING MINISTRY CONTINUES in HIS CHURCH

April 29, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Jesus Christ, in his earthly lifetime, showed himself to be the divine physician, healing bodies and spirits by his power…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Ministry, Scripture

CHRIST the HEALER, PART III: JESUS SENDS HIS DISCIPLES to HEAL in HIS NAME

April 22, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Jesus performed innumerable healing miracles during his brief public ministry. Jesus’ healings demonstrated the power and tender love of God…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Ministry, Scripture

CHRIST the HEALER, PART II: JESUS as the PHYSICIAN of SOULS

April 15, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

The health care ministry of the Church’s ordained and commissioned ministers, as well as that of the Christian faithful who…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Ministry, Scripture

CHRIST the HEALER, PART I: JESUS’ SAVING MINISTRY in the GOSPELS

April 8, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

The health care ministry of the Catholic Church is – or at least ought to be – an extension of…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Ministry, Scripture

REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING: JESUS’ PASSION and OUR PASSOIN

April 1, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Every year we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. We hear the account of the Lord’s Passion from one…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Catholic liturgy, Scripture, Spirituality, Suffering

HEALTH CARE MINISTRY as CHRISTIAN WITNESS

March 25, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

In the gospels, there are dozens of stories in which people personally encounter Jesus and are transformed by the experience.…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Ministry, Scripture

THE CONSOLING LOVE of CHRIST: a REFLECTION on JOHN 11

March 18, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

According to the Gospel of John, Lazarus of Bethany, the brother of Martha and Mary, was ill, and his sisters…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Scripture, Trust in God

THE ETHICS of END-OF-LIFE HEALTH CARE, PART V: THREE QUESTIONS

March 11, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

When illness or injury threaten to end our lives or the lives of our loved ones, we may well find…

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Posted in: Ethics, Healthcare Filed under: Church teaching, End of life health care

THE ETHICS of END-OF-LIFE HEALTH CARE, PART IV: MEDICAL and NON-MEDICAL CARE

March 4, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

In our consideration of end-of-life health care, we seek to understand how we can determine which potentially life-sustaining measures are…

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Posted in: Ethics, Healthcare Filed under: Church teaching, End of life health care

THE ETHICS of END-OF-LIFE HEALTH CARE, PART III: IDENTIFYING EXTRAORDINARY MEANS

February 25, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

When someone is experiencing life-threatening illness or injury, ethical questions about the preservation of life often arise. What kinds of…

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Posted in: Ethics, Healthcare Filed under: Church teaching, End of life health care

THE ETHICS of END-OF-LIFE HEALTH CARE, PART II: CHOOSING LIFE and ACCEPTING DEATH

February 18, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

I have set before you life and death . . . Choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19). With these words, Moses exhorts God’s…

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Posted in: Ethics, Healthcare Filed under: End of life health care, Human agency, Human dignity

THE ETHICS of END-OF-LIFE HEALTH CARE, PART I: ORDINARY MEANS of PRESERVING LIFE

February 11, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Human life is a precious gift from god. In its very first chapter, the Bible tells us, “God created mankind…

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Posted in: Ethics, Healthcare Filed under: Church teaching, End of life health care, Human dignity

SPIRITUAL CARE of the SICK: COMMUNION and CONFESSION

February 4, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Dominican Friars Health Care Ministry of New York is blessed with a great number of faithful and dedicated people who…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Church teaching, Ministry, Sacraments

THE EUCHARIST as a SACRAMENT of HEALING

January 28, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

The Eucharist, the most holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, is “the source and summit of the…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Church teaching, Ministry, Sacraments

LIFE is WORTH LIVING: REJECTING ASSISTED SUICIDE

January 21, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

“For me, it has always been clear: life is worth it only if you want it.” Thus states Carlos Framb…

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Posted in: Ethics Filed under: End of life health care, Human dignity

THE HUMANIZATION of HEALTH CARE

January 14, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Most, if not all, of the ethical problems in the world of health care come from a failure to grasp…

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Posted in: Ethics Filed under: Human dignity, Scripture

FEEDING the SICK: NUTRITION and HYDRATION in HEALTH CARE

January 7, 2018 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Preservation of bodily life is among the most basic goals of health care. The means that are used to accomplish…

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Posted in: Ethics Filed under: Church teaching, End of life health care, Human dignity

JESUS FEEDS the MULTITUDE: a REFLECTION for Ministers of Communion

December 31, 2017 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Bringing Holy Communion to the sick is an important part of Catholic health care ministry. In this reflection, we will…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Ministry, Sacraments, Scripture

HOME for CHRISTMAS in the FAMILY of GOD

December 24, 2017 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Everybody wants to be home for Christmas. Everybody wants to spend Christmas with family. But some people can’t be home…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Catholic liturgy, Christmas, Human dignity, Scripture, Trust in God

THE DIGNITY of the HUMAN PERSON in HEALTH CARE: THE PATIENT as CHRIST

December 17, 2017 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

Like all human beings, patients receiving medical care can be identified with Jesus Christ by virtue of the Incarnation, the…

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Posted in: Healthcare Filed under: Human dignity, Scripture, Spirituality, Suffering

CRIPPLED by ILLNESS; RUNNING to MEET the LORD

December 3, 2017 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

The patients I encounter in my health care ministry are not, for the most part, runners. Many of them can…

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Posted in: Faith Filed under: Advent, Catholic liturgy, Human dignity, Prayer, Scripture, Suffering

THE DIGNITY of the HUMAN PERSON in HEALTH CARE: the PATIENT as AGENT

November 19, 2017 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. Leave a comment

We often use the word “patient” when speaking of men and women who are receiving medical care without giving much…

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Posted in: Healthcare Filed under: Human agency, Human dignity, Spirituality

THE SAINTS of HEALTH CARE

November 12, 2017 Fr. Jonah Pollock, O.P. 2 Comments

Every year on the first of November, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints, the great commemoration of all…

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Posted in: Faith, Healthcare Filed under: Catholic liturgy

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Recent Posts

  • Discussion Post for THE LIFE OF BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, Chapters 18 and 19 December 23, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LIFE OF BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, Chapters 16 and 17 December 16, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LIFE OF BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, Chapters 14 and 15 December 8, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LIFE OF BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, Chapter 13 November 27, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LIFE OF BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, Chapters 11 and 12 November 17, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LIFE OF BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, Chapters 9 and 10 November 9, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LIFE OF BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, Chapters 7 and 8 November 2, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LIFE OF BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, Chapters 5 and 6 October 26, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LIFE OF BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, Chapters 3 and 4 October 19, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LIFE OF BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, Chapters 1 and 2 October 10, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LIFE OF BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, Introduction October 4, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LOST ART OF DYING, Chapter 9 Art, Pages 236-237 May 24, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LOST ART OF DYING, Chapter 9, Pages 197-216 May 17, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LOST ART OF DYING, Chapter 9, Pages 179-197 May 12, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LOST ART OF DYING, Chapter 8 Art, Pages 234-235 May 10, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LOST ART OF DYING, Chapter 8, Pages 165-177 April 26, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LOST ART OF DYING, Chapter 8, Pages 153-165 April 19, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LOST ART OF DYING, Chapter 7 Art, Pages 232-233 April 6, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LOST ART OF DYING, Chapter 7, Pages 145-151 March 22, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LOST ART OF DYING, Chapter 7, Pages 135-145 March 16, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LOST ART OF DYING, Chapter 6 Art, Pages 230-231 March 1, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LOST ART OF DYING, Chapter 6, Pages 123-133 February 22, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LOST ART OF DYING, Chapter 6, Pages 113-122 February 15, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LOST ART OF DYING, Chapter 5 Art, Pages 228-229 February 8, 2021
  • Discussion Post for THE LOST ART OF DYING, Chapter 5, Pages 100-111 February 2, 2021
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