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Catholic bioethics expert to speak
archived from: 2004-04-16
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Dr. John Haas, president of the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Boston, is set to speak at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, at the St. Paul Seminary auditorium, 2900 Noblestown Road in Crafton. Haas will speak on “Catholic Bioethics at the Service of the Human Person,” exploring another aspect of the theme of the series, “Faith in the Public Square.”

Since Catholics, through the discipline of bioethics, seek to protect and preserve the dignity of the human person, the insights gained from the long Catholic tradition of moral reflection on health care issues should be welcomed in public policy debates and should help shape public attitudes and laws.

A noted scholar in the fields of bioethics and religion, Haas earned his doctorate in moral theology from Catholic University of America and his sacred theology licentiate in moral theology from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. He also serves as president of the International Institute for Culture, an educational and research center established in response to Pope John Paul II’s call for the re-evangelization of culture.

The lecture series, sponsored by the Secretariat for Education of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, is open to the public and there is no admission fee. Free-will offerings are accepted.

“Dr. Haas has graciously consented to deliver the April lecture of the 2004 segment of our series,” said Father Kris Stubna, diocesan secretary for education. “At a time when there is continuing national attention on the rights of the unborn, the rights of those with terminal illnesses and the rights of many others of the most vulnerable in our society, the church must make its voice heard in the public square,” Father Stubna said, “and Dr. Haas is one of our foremost voices on these issues.”

The concluding lecture in the series is Wednesday, May 26, and will be presented by Kimberly Hahn, on where we can turn for a true vision of what it takes to build happy, healthy, holy families.

Hahn has written many articles and most recently the book “Life-Giving Love: Embracing God’s Beautiful Design for Marriage.” She co-authored with her husband, Scott Hahn, “Catholic Education Homeward Bound: A Useful Guide to Catholic Home Schooling” and “Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism.”

“In a world that is increasingly more materialistic and secular, where faith is often being bleached out of all public discussion, this series examines the rightful place that faith plays in public life,” Father Stubna said.

All are invited. Participants may request catechetical continuing education credit, clergy continuing education credit and Act 48 credit. Contact the diocesan Department for Religious Education at 412-456-3112.

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