In this week’s edition:

• Texas Supreme Court holds the line on abortions

• Swiss technology announces bioprocessor made from human tissue

• Pontifical Academy for Life under criticism

• Tennessee law protects kids from transgender agenda

• Handling of Rupnik’s legacy continues to confuse

• and more!

Texas Supreme Court turns aside challenge to abortion law, upholding ban on almost all abortions

Summary: The Texas Supreme Court unanimously decided to turn aside a challenge to the abortion law that sought to make exceptions in the case of severe pregnancy complications. The decision can be read here.

Details:

• 15 appellees brought the challenge in State of Texas v. Zurawski, seeking exceptions to the abortion ban.

• The suit was filed by The Center for Reproductive Rights.

• One woman cited her pre-term membrane rupture; another, the acrania of one of her twins; a third mentioned her daughter’s anencephaly.

• The court’s decision referenced the state’s commitment to protecting the lives of both women and the unborn in these life-threatening situations.

• Texas does allow exceptions in cases where there is serious risk to the mother’s life or major bodily function.

Why we care: As heartbreaking as these women’s stories are, morality is not governed by emotion. It’s encouraging to see the Texas Supreme Court stand in defense of the unborn, and we applaud the justices and all those who have fought for the pro-life cause in the State. If we have any criticism, we wish that the State would reword the exceptions such that it narrows the scope and prioritizes the principle of double effect. The goal should not be the termination of a pregnancy, but the saving of a life with an undesirable secondary result.

Swiss startup FinalSpark has created a processor made from “mini-brains”

Summary: The Swiss company uses organoids derived from human neural stem cells to perform computational tasks, and are marketing their product as an economic and resource-friendly alternative to traditional computing

Details:

• Cerebral organoids are grown in vitro using stem cells, resemble the brain, and can experience basic sensations.

• The company has stated that the expected life span for these organoids is 100 days.

• They claim their processor “consume a million times less power than traditional digital processors”.

• FinalSpark is already giving institutions to use these processors for computation.

Why we care: We’re not sure whether the Church has a position on this kind of technology (our resident bioethicist should correct us if we’re wrong), but things like this just feel unethical. Growing brains, putting them in jars, using them for a task with the knowledge that they’ll die in 100 days? Yuck (shudders). This definitely feels like one of those slippery slope situations. We’re not exactly sure what the unintended long-term consequences of technology like this would be (we’re imagining something like the Matrix where humans are being farmed for their organoids), but we’re fairly certain it wouldn’t be ethical or pleasant. Here’s hoping humanity nips this one in the bud.

Australian medical association criticizes Pontifical Academy for Life for “misleading and confusing” information

Summary: The Australian Catholic Medical Association, along with moral theologians and bioethicists, have issued a criticism of “Etica Teologica Della Vita” (Theological Ethics of Life), pointing out discrepancies between it and Church teaching on reproductive technologies/contraception.

Details:

• Dr. Eamonn Mathieson, one of the critique’s authors, says “ETV contains confusing and misleading theological and medical arguments.”

• The authors felt the need to charitably point out the errors and call for clarification.

• The critique has 3 main concerns:

  • “obscurity and confusion” in the book’s language

  • A lack of understanding of current medical methods that align with Church teaching

  • Inconsistencies with established teachings regarding contraception and reproductive technology

Why we care: This is not the first time we’ve seen controversial documents come out of the Vatican, and certainly not the first misstep for the PAL or even this particular book. Inconsistencies and confusion like this are a quick path to scandal, especially among the poorly catechized or non-Catholics, who may see this as indicating the Church has changed her stance. The Church must be steadfast and unwavering in her defense of the Truth such that she demonstrates to the world that even moral truths - while occasionally muddy - are objective and constant.

Tennessee law places restrictions on minor’s leaving state for gender affirming care

Summary: A new Tennessee law makes it illegal for a minor to be taken out of state for gender-affirming care without the consent of one of the child’s parents. The law takes effect July 1 barring any court injunctions.

Details:

• The bill, possibly the first of its kind in the nation, easily passed through the Tennessee legislature.

• Proponents of the bill cite parental rights, while those against the bill see it as an attack on transgender people.

• The bill complements another Tennessee bill which bans transitioning within the state, a bill which has been appealed to the Supreme Court and is pending its decision on whether to hear the case.

Why we care: We’re not sure why protecting minors is so controversial, but apparently that’s where we are these days. Our sincere thanks goes to the legislators of Tennessee and other states which have banned or restricted gender transitioning for minors. As Catholics we ought to draw a line in the sand when it comes to transgenderism, avoiding scandal and confusion, and helping those who struggle with dysphoria and their sexuality to live chaste and holy lives rather than affirming them out of a misguided sense of charity.

JPII Shrine declines to comment on planned handling of Rupnik mosaics ahead of planned procession

Summary: The St. John Paul II shrine, which will be a stop on the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage this month, is home to mosaics by alleged sexual abuser Fr. Marko Rupnik. A shrine spokesperson refused to comment on the planned handling of the artwork.

Details:

• Fr. Rupnik was expelled from the Society of Jesus last year after claims that he sexually abused around 30 religious sisters.

• Rupnik’s mosaics are in the shrine’s Redemptor Hominis Church and the Luminous Mysteries Chapel

• The pilgrimage will stop at the shrine on June 8th and there will be benediction.

Why we care: Frankly we think it’s ridiculous that there’s this much walking on eggshells surrounding Rupnik’s artwork and that it continues to be used, even on the Vatican website. Given the breadth and severity of the allegations, we can’t see why any and all organizations who have or use his artwork aren’t rushing to distance themselves from him. This sort of delicate, diplomatic tip-toeing around the issue only serves to reinforce the accusations that the Church does not take abuse seriously. We hope to see more groups follow the lead of the Knights of Columbus, who have removed his artwork from their publications.

Other stories

• Report: pro-life groups provide over $300 million in goods and services in 2022

• For the first time in 4 generations, more women are leaving the Church than men

• Archbishop Broglio rips into Biden’s EEOC for paid abortion leave regulations

• Embezzlement: PA Priest and FL church employee caught up in separate financial scandals

• Cardinal Kelvin Felix of St. Lucia passes away. Please pray for the repose of his soul.

• NM priest under investigation for child abuse ends his life. Please pray for his soul and for those affected by his and all abuse.

Saint of the Week

St. Charles Lwanga and Companions

What’s going on:

• For the month of June, Pope Francis’ intention is for those fleeing their homelands.

• Notable Feast Days