Moral Choice: A Christian View of Ethics

Acknowledgments

xi Acknowledgments Books are like babies. They require nourishment, outside expertise, many hours of work, and lots of sleep. This book began as a speck of a zygote, with nothing but the potential to press on, to divide, and to become something tangible. While this book promises to be only an ordinary child—no Pulitzer progeny here—it has been nourished devotedly by many. Initially Michael West, then of Fortress Press, encouraged the pregnancy. The writers’ group at John Carroll University suffered through the morning sickness of the early chapters. Two members of that group, Thomas Schubeck, SJ, and George Matejka, read a few more parts and offered valuable suggestions. Their expertise, in Catholic teaching and social justice, moral philosophy and biblical studies, respectively, helped to keep me honest. Jan Jans, midwife for my dissertation, provided helpful suggestions and photographs. Mark Levand, a former JCU graduate student, and John Scarano, John Carroll campus minister , helped shape a text that would be understandable to students; as did Molly Nicholson, OP. John Carroll and CTSA provided both time and place at the university: the environment and encouragement to finish—a healthy study womb. Other colleagues, Sheila McGinn and Joan Nuth, offered suggestions and resources. My long-suffering editor at Fortress Press, Ross Miller, counseled “push” and “breathe” when those actions were needed. Senior project manager Marissa Wold came in as doula and did meticulous work. My six children offered encouragement, although one greeted what I thought was a pretty good chapter with a large yawn. Finally, at my side there is always my long-suffering and exquisitely critical husband of half a century. Dick read, reread, fixed the printer and the bad syntax, and endured mood swings and meager suppers. He has every right to claim paternity for this difficult “child.” For them all, I am most grateful. ...