Schoenstatt Sisters to Host Six Bioethic Conferences
All Invited to Learn About Life Issues From Conception to Natural Death
CRETE (SNR) - The Schoenstatt Shrine in Crete is hosting a series of talks
on bioethical issues at various locations from Monday,
July 19 through Friday, July 23. Sister Dr. Elena Lugo,
I.S.S.M., will be the special guest speaker.
As professor and director of the Bioethical Commission and an active
member of the Pontifical Academy of Life, Dr. Lugo has
been traveling throughout the country, instructing
doctors, nurses, other medical professionals,
catechists, clergy and religious, and the general laity
on an authentically Catholic approach to current medical
controversies.
After learning through the Schoenstatt community that Dr. Lugo was going
to be in Wisconsin, Sister M. Veronica, superior of the
Crete community, welcomed the opportunity to bring her
to Nebraska also.
“People do not understand why life is so important,” Sister Veronica said.
“Any family should come to the conference – any young
person who really wants to know what is going on in the
world and why life is so important and why God should be
at the center of it.”
Pope Benedict XVI has urged a greater understanding of the bioethical
issues that our society faces today due to the rapid
advancements in medical technology.
“Without universal principles that permit a common denominator for the
whole of humanity, the danger of a relativistic drift at
the legislative level is not at all something that
should be underestimated,” the Holy Father said while
addressing the Pontifical Academy for Life.
At each of Dr. Lugo’s talks, she will address the challenges of upholding
the dignity and integrity of each person in light of
Church teaching, from the beginning of life until death.
Her presentation is very accessible to people of all
walks of life.
“Sister is very knowledgeable, but she is very down to earth,” Sister
Veronica said. Father Christopher Kubat, who worked as a
physician before entering the priesthood and becoming
director of Catholic Social Services, is hosting the
first talk. Dr. Lugo will speak to a group of physicians
at the Blessed John XXIII Center at 6:30 a.m. on Monday,
July 19.
Father noted that there has been a great deal of “misinformation and
purposeful intellectual dishonesty” about certain
medical ethics issues right here in Nebraska.
“It’s important that correct medical ethics are taught and discussed,” he
said. “Since there have been so many advances in
medicine, there are treatment modalities that are
contrary to the Catholic faith and those that aren’t.
It’s confusing and complicated to people who don’t have
formal training in these areas.”
On Monday at 6:30 p.m., Dr. Lugo, who was born in Puerto Rico, will
present her talk to a Spanish-speaking audience at St.
Cecilia Parish in Hastings. The next day, she will
address nurses at St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln beginning
at 7 p.m.
St. Michael Parish in Cheney will welcome all interested listeners as they
host Dr. Lugo at 7 p.m. Wednesday. On Thursday, she will
travel to Omaha to speak at St. Peter Parish at 7 p.m.
Dr. Lugo’s last talk in the area will again be to the Spanish-speaking
community. She will deliver her presentation at Sacred
Heart Church in Crete at 7 p.m.
The talks will be very informative.
“There are a lot of controversies out there,” Father Kubat said. “People
are confused about the difference between embryonic stem
cell research and adult stem cell research. People are
confused about direct abortion and indirect abortion…
end of life issues… what’s extraordinary care and what’s
ordinary….”
He said, “It’s important that medical ethics at Catholics institutions are
always faithful to the Church.”
There is no cost to attend any of the conferences, but donations will be
accepted to pay Dr. Lugo’s expenses. For more
information, visit
www.cormariae.com, click
on “Press Room” under the About menu and follow the
Bioethics link.
By S.L. Hansen
Bioethic Conferences:
Monday, July 19 for physicians
Blessed John XXIII Center, Lincoln, 6:30 a.m.
Monday, July 19 in Spanish
St. Cecilia Parish in Hastings, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 20 for nurses
St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 21 open to all
St. Michael Parish in Cheney, 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Thursday, July 22
St. Peter Parish in Omaha, 7 p.m.
Friday, July 23 in Spanish
Sacred Heart Church in Crete, 7 p.m.