New: "Modern Moral Problems: Trustworthy Answers to Your Tough Questions"

Now available from Ignatius Press:

Modern Moral Problems: Trustworthy Answers to Your Tough Questions

by Msgr. William B. Smith

Modern Moral Problems addresses moral quandaries that can
beguile and confuse faithful Catholics. Written in a question-and-answer
format, the book covers questions regarding sexuality, medical ethics,
business practices, civic responsibilities, and the sacramental life of
the Church. The extraordinary assortment of issues-forming a single,
organized collection-is a valuable reference for anyone seeking clear
and concise answers to tough moral questions.

Written in a conversational tone often spliced with humor, this work by a
highly respected moral theologian will be read with fascination for its
clarity of argument and fundamental good sense. Originally published as
a monthly question-and-answer column in a magazine for priests, these
selections by Msgr. William B. Smith retain a striking current
topicality. Msgr. Smith often tackled matters of controversy in the
Catholic Church, ones which continue to draw conflicting opinions.

Interesting, informative, and eminently practical, this book conveys an
overall impression that sound thinking about morality is rooted in a
tradition within the Catholic Church, even when the answers to
particular moral questions cannot be found in catechisms or Vatican
documents. Msgr. Smith offers a clear-headed approach to the quandaries
of our time precisely because of his training in traditional moral
principles and his fidelity to the Catholic magisterium.

This book should be in the possession of all seminarians and priests,
who are bound to confront moral matters that are not so easily decided
at first glance. But lay people, too, will find here rich responses to
the challenging and sometimes unresolved moral questions they encounter
in their own lives.

Monsignor William B. Smith (1939-2009) was a well-known
and highly regarded moral theologian. Ordained for the Archdiocese of
New York in 1966, he taught at New York's major seminary for 37 years. A
consultant to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and a
primary advisor to Cardinals Cooke, O'Connor, and Egan in New York,
Msgr. Smith also served on ethics committees in a number of New York
Catholic hospitals. He wrote numerous articles for theological journals
as well as a monthly column in Homiletic and Pastoral Review.