Customer Reviews

Where Do You Stand?: Eight Moral Issues Confronting Today's Christians

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This was a very interesting book. It broadened my intellectual horizions. This man truly understands the truths of human nature. Higgins, picks up common moral issues in the Church and attacks them passionately. I could not put the book down, I felt it was my duty to continue to read it. I loved it!

Then you will like this book. If you follow the Church's teaching, live by it, love it and follow it, prepare to be terribly insulted. You will be called a "robotic Catholic" and one who is not "tolerant" of dissenting teaching. It is a Protestant book shrouded by Catholic terminology, but not Catholic understanding. The author misses a perfect opportunity to viably discuss Catholic theology. Instead, we are posed with immoral choices compared to even more immoral choices without true understanding of why or how they are immoral. The author has no concept of a true moral dilemma. Church teaching is presented as only one of many "opinions" equal, and even inferior to any number of other "individuals" opinions. Those looking for a moral compass should look for a more definitive teaching. I would suggest the Catechism of the Catholic Church for beginners.

In my personal experience, I have met a number of Catholics who are unenlightened and unthoughtful, and many who are. Higgins certainly fits in with the latter. He is a man of intellect and integrity whose works do not warrant such harsh criticism. He is without a doubt a brilliant theologian, and his ideas cannot be dismissed by such ad hominem attacks. He is deeply pious but also reasonable, and if there is anyone who truly represents the ideal of Catholicism, it is Higgins.

Higgins' text fairly presents both sides of moral issues: the Church's and counterarguments towards the church's position.