Biomedicine and Beatitude: An Introduction to Catholic Bioethics

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments “In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thes 5:18). I have been writing this book for some time now, and many persons have contributed to this project over the years. First, I would like to thank David McGonagle of the Catholic University of America Press, and Romanus Cessario, O.P., the general editor of this series in moral theology, for their invitation to contribute to this project. My students at Providence College, especially my undergraduate research students in the Dead Yeast Society, were always supportive during the writing of this book. Many of them asked penetrating questions that challenged me to articulate better the issues raised in its pages. Special thanks go to Yi Cao, James Cebulski, Shawn Davidson, Erik Gravel, Kevin Murphy, James Ritch, and Jared Sheehan, for our late-night conversations . Erik also read an early draft of the manuscript and gave me a student’s perspective on the text. Robert Pfunder was a terrific research assistant—my first ever—who helped me track down more than a single citation. I am grateful to him for his exacting work. Professor William E. May read sections of the manuscript for me. I benefited much from his insights and his generous criticism. Finally, I also thank Joseph J. Piccione and Alfred Cioffi for their expert comments, and Denise Carlson and Carol Kennedy, for their expert assistance in the final production of this book. Next, I would like to thank my Dominican brothers for their support . Jonathan Kalisch, O.P., and Edward Gorman, O.P., encouraged me to write weekly contributions on bioethical topics of interest for our parishioners at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in New York City. These columns became the basis for many of the sections of this text. Romanus Cessario, O.P., Paul Conner, O.P., Christopher Saliga, O.P., and Ezra Sullivan , O.P., each read chapter drafts and sent me numerous helpful comments . Finally, I am extraordinarily indebted to Basil Cole, O.P., not only for reading every single word of the manuscript several times over, but also for giving me his unfailing encouragement and love. xiii xiv Acknowledgments Last but not least, on a personal note, I especially thank my Dominican brothers Basil Cole, O.P., and Ezra Sullivan, O.P., for their friendship ; my Dominican sisters, Sr. Mary of the Sacred Heart, O.P., and Sr. Mary Catherine of the Divine Mercy, O.P., nuns of the Order of Preachers , for their relentless prayers, my Hawthorne Dominican sisters, especially Mother Mary Francis Lepore, O.P., for their tireless and inspiring witness to the inherent dignity of the human person; my parents for their unwavering love that has sustained my siblings and me through the many joys and sorrows of life; and most especially, I thank the triune God, Father , Son, and Holy Spirit, for everything. Non nisi te, Domine. Providence, Rhode Island February 2, 2011 Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Biomedicine and Beatitude ...