Human Nature: Moral Norm

by Francis Etheredge

PART IV

Part IV: A Spirituality of Being Open to Life (Comprising Chapters 5-6

Opening Chapter Five: The Founding Act of the Human Person: Being is a Unity-in-Diversity (I); Conception and the Actus Essendi of the Human Person (II); Confirmation of this View of Conception (III)

Closing Chapter Five: The Attitude-in-Action of Procreation: The Inclination to Procreation (I); the Person-as-Gift is Interior to Spousal Love and Procreation (II); The Bodily-Personal Action of Procreation (III)

Chapter Six: Be Open to Life: The Spiritual Significance of Being Open to Life: The Covenant of the Flesh (I); The Activity of the Holy Spirit (II); A Spirituality of Being Open to Life (III); The Christo-Trinitarian Significance of this ‘Openness’ (IV); and, Finally, the Social and Inseparably Eschatological Dimension of Being Open to Life (V)

Dr. Moira McQueen: A Biography and Complementary Contribution to Part IV: “The McQueen Family: 2XX 5XY”

PART V

Part V: The Word of Truth-in-Love and Conscience (Comprising Chapter 7)

Dr. Mary Shivanandan: A Complimentary Contribution to Part V: A Biography and Personal Journey: “My Experience with Natural Family Planning”

A Postscript and References by Francis Etheredge

A Further, Triptych of Experience: Part I of III: Being Open to Life: Being Open to Being-in-Relationship: Wrongdoing and psychology; Sin, Salvation, Suffering and the Marriage Covenant; The Mystery of the Marriage Covenant; and Natural Family Planning

A Touch of Experience: Part II of III: Where Are You? Contraception and Abortion as the Denial of “Relationship”; Rediscovering the Value of Evidence; Evidence and Sex-Trafficking; Evidence and the Environment; In the Case of an Abortion; Does “not being pregnant” Define a Man?; Hope and Forgiveness: Forgiveness and Hope

Dr. Christine M. W. Ward: Biography and “The Lived Experience of Contraception”: Part III of III: The Lived Experience of Contraception; A Different Act; Love’s watermark: the total self-gift

Chapter Seven: Conscience-as-Relationship Entailing Recovery from Error: The first part of the chapter follows with a specific consideration of principles and experience (I). It will then go on and develop an account of the conscience as integral to the person and as a witness to the truth of our relationships (II). Drawing on saints and scholars it is possible that conscience and the word of God entails a dynamic relationship that could prompt, possibly, the “un-doing” development of an erroneous conscience (III)

“A Pain-Breaking Word” of Encouragement (Prose and Poem)

CONCLUSION

Dr. Richard Spinello: Biography and an “End Word”

“Humanae Vitae, the Magisterium, and Justice to the Creator

REVIEWS

“A Dialogue between Dr Pravin Thevathasan and Francis Etheredge,” Catholic Medical Quarterly Volume 74(2) May 2024. Click here. For a PDF download, click here.

“Being Open to Life: Being Open to Being-in-Relationship,” Catholic Medical Quarterly Volume 72(1) February 2022. Click here.

TESTIMONIALS

“What a wonderful book! What a tour de force!!! I have fallen in love with Etheredge’s Human Nature: Moral Norm: it is a fresh and often poetic new look at deep fundamentals. This is an analysis that transcends such categories as phenomenological/traditional metaphysics with a new and compelling synthesis. I want to pass it on to some professor who is still teaching ethics regularly. Glory!” – Dr. Ronda Chervin, Emerita Professor of Philosophy, Holy Apostles College and Seminary, and author of numerous books about Catholic ethics and spirituality

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mr. Francis Etheredge is married with eight children, plus three in heaven.

Francis is currently a freelance writer and speaker and his “Posts” on LinkedIn can be viewed here. Poetry; short articles; autobiographical blog; excerpts from books; and “Philosophize: A Ten Minute Write.”

For a list of all of Francis’ books published by En Route Books and Media, click here.

See Francis’ other books, too, entitled Scripture: A Unique Word, From Truth and truth: Volume I-Faithful Reason, From Truth and truth: Volume II: Faith and Reason in Dialogue, From Truth and truth: Volume III: Faith is Married Reason.

He has earned a BA Div (Hons), MA in Catholic Theology, PGC in Biblical Studies, PGC in Higher Education, and an MA in Marriage and Family (Distinction).

Enjoy these additional articles by Francis Etheredge:

• Witness “begets” Witnesses
• Love is a Liturgical Act
• The Holy Family, Celibacy, and Marriage: A Reflection on the “Passage” from the Jewish Rite of Marriage to the Sacrament of Marriage
• “Do-it-Yourself” or Vocation: Coincidence or Providence

OTHER ACADEMIC BOOKS

The Divine Mosaic: Piecing Together Catholic and Orthodox Unity

by James Likoudis, Edited by Andrew Likoudis

This book collects essays, speeches, and presentations given over the course of James Likoudis’ seven decades as a Catholic. As a convert from Eastern Orthodoxy, he has devoted the greater portion of his life to the work of ecumenism, “that they all may be one” (Jn. 17:21). Within these pages, he refutes common objections to Catholicism as well as provides a sound basis for a truly Catholic ecclesiology. It is hoped that this book will be a welcome contribution to ecumenism and will bring the Church of Christ, which subsists fully within the Catholic Church, that much closer to healing its wounds and offering a vision of a united Christianity to the world–a prerequisite of fulfilling the mission entrusted to it by Christ.

Paperback: $29.95 | Kindle: $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

“What are the principal obstacles to the prospects of Catholic–Orthodox unity? Dr. James Likoudis, himself a convert from Greek Orthodoxy, offers a unique and challenging answer in this marvelous new collection of essays, articles, and speeches: the chief impediments are not primarily the dogmatic divides between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, but rather the internal divisions—both administrative and magisterial—within and between the Byzantine Orthodox churches themselves. Without descending into triumphalism, Likoudis makes a fraternal, detailed and compelling case that the underlying historical issues inherent in Orthodoxy’s presumptive imperial ecclesiology without an emperor and synodality without the Divine Primacy leads to a divisive power vacuum which can only and ultimately be filled by the diaconal service of the Apostolic See of Rome.” – Fr. Daniel Dozier, MA, Adjunct Professor of Sacred Scripture, Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius; Author of 20 Answers on Eastern Catholicism 

“In these essays Dr. Likoudis addresses the stumbling blocks that stand in the way of reconciliation.  He tackles the historical roots of these controversies while dispelling strawman arguments against Catholic ecclesiology.  In doing so, he demonstrates that Eastern Orthodoxy and Catholicism are not as far apart as some Orthodox apologists would have us believe.” – Rev. Deacon Anthony Dragani, PhD, Professor of Religious Studies, Mount Aloysius College; Author of Adrian Fortescue and the Eastern Christian Churches

“I’m thrilled to learn of the publication of The Divine Mosaic: Piecing together Catholic and Orthodox Unity.  For many years its author, James Likoudis, has been a tireless laborer for fraternal dialogue between Catholic and Orthodox Christians.  Few know these two ecclesial worlds so thoroughly and few can so successfully untie the knots of misunderstanding that have gotten in the way of reconciliation.  My hope is that this important collection of essays will receive a careful reading from those in East and West that care about the unity and catholicity of Christ’s Church.” – Marcellino D’Ambrosio, PhD, Senior Fellow, St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology; Author of When the Church Was Young: Voices of the Early Fathers

“In our modern era of mass communication, the Ecumenical work of reunion will not be carried out in full without lay involvement. And there is, perhaps, no member of the laity of either of the “two lungs” of apostolic faith that has done more to further the dialogue than James Likoudis. In his masterpiece: The Divine Mosaic: Piecing Together Catholic and Orthodox Unity, we have laid out for us the intellectual framework that all of us can benefit from. Whether you are a seasoned apologist, theologian, or philosopher, and whether you are clergy or laity, you are going to benefit and learn from this great work. It is my prayer that every Catholic who is serious about his or her faith will place this book at the top of the list of necessary reads. If you are reading this, you may well have already bought the book. My advice is to buy some more copies for friends.” – Tim Staples, Senior Apologist, Catholic Answers; Author of Behold Your Mother: A Biblical and Historical Defense of the Marian Doctrines (From the foreword)

“Dr. Likoudis balances between the extreme of pretending that there are no significant differences between Catholics and Orthodox, and the other extreme of consigning one another to the darkest pits of Hades. Dr. Likoudis is a living example of how to dialogue with the Orthodox about important differences without falling into a rigid fundamentalism that refuses to see grace present in the Orthodox church.” – Michael Lofton, Founder, Reason and Theology; Author of Answering Orthodoxy: A Catholic Response to Attacks from the East (From the afterword)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE EDITOR

OTHER CATHOLIC FAITH AND MORALS BOOKS