Examining bioethics, morality, and culture from a distinctively orthodox Lutheran perspective. Site dedicated to the Holy Family.
Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 31st, 2009
Intern Anne Marie over at Jill Stanek’s blog presents yet another reason why not to take The Pill. Here’s an appetizer:
Perhaps the best-kept secret of modern medicine is the link between oral contraceptives and increased breast cancer risk. While combined oral contraceptives, better known as The Pill, rank as Group I carcinogens according to a [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 30th, 2009
From Rasmussen Reports:
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey show that 43% of voters nationwide favor the plan working its way through Congress while 53% are opposed. Those figures are virtually identical to results from two weeks ago.
As has been true since the debate began, those opposed to the congressional overhaul feel more strongly about [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 30th, 2009
In his The Disputation Concerning Man (1536), Luther posits a profitable anthropology, one that does not begin with Cartesian assumptions cobbled together with Scripture passages to prove a middle-of-the-road point. No, rather the Blessed Martin begins his teaching in the company of classical, Christian theologians who found that the first thing about man we discuss [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 30th, 2009
The Washington Post is reporting that President Obama delivered a letter from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy to Pope Benedict XVI last month. The letter and the pontiff’s response were read aloud by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick at Kennedy’s burial on Saturday. From the Kennedy letter:
I have been blessed to be part of a wonderful family. And [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 29th, 2009
Pardon me for being a provocateur, but there’s something missing in the current charges being leveled, albeit charitably, from some “conservative” Lutherans against the recent ELCA decisions to allow for same-sex marriage and the rostering of ELCA clergy in life-long, monogamous, same-sex (oh, good grief–any more modifiers?) relationships. It’s a case of going far, but [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 29th, 2009
Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 29th, 2009
Health care rationing, ultimately an effect of any attempt at socialized medicine, inevitably includes care limitations for those determined least likely to benefit from treatment. That usually includes the elderly and those with lifelong illnesses or injuries, including some of our true American heroes, our veterans. From The Christian Post:
The nation’s largest faith-based organization of [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 27th, 2009
At Lutherans and Procreation, Pastor Keith asks,
Dr. Baker, could you please elaborate on the “strong divine command theory ethic”? I was recently accused of perpetrating the heresy of “taking the Bible literally”, an error which was portrayed as being a phenomenon which sprang up in the early 1900s in response to scientific advances. I think [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 27th, 2009
From Stem Cell Research News:
Animals being tested using Geron Corporation’s treatment for spinal cord injury developed cysts at the injury sites, a finding that led the U.S. FDA to place a clinical hold on a planned human trial of the treatment, the Menlo Park, Calif.-based stem cell firm said on August 27. However, Geron said, [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 25th, 2009
According to The Wall Street Journal, supporters of what now is frequently called “Obamacare” began polling focus groups years ago to determine which health care related words would successfully woo voters.
The effort began four years ago, when a center-left coalition of advocacy groups, union leaders and health-care experts teamed up to try to change the [...]
The Reverend Robert C. Baker, B.B.A, M.Div., is an ordained pastor in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, and serves the Church as an editor at the denomination's publishing house. He is currently pursuing an M.S. degree in Health Care Ethics at Creighton University. He is the author of What Happened To Merry Christmas? and How Do You Start a Fire with Water? and has authored or edited numerous Bible studies and books.