Category Archives: Catholic Herald columns

How do we get out of this fix?

Posted on September 6, 2018 by Quentin

This week I am reproducing (with permission) a leading article from the Catholic Herald of 31 August. As I had something to do with the initial drafting, it certainly expresses my view. But it may not express yours. So this … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic Herald columns, Quentin queries, Uncategorized | Tagged | 46 Comments

The patterns of the brain

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Quentin

No, I do not intend to write about Brexit, but I am interested in the process of decision we had to undertake before the referendum. I wanted to make an intelligent choice but all I was getting was acres of … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic Herald columns, evolution, Moral judgment, Neuroscience | 1 Comment

Nudges

Posted on August 16, 2018 by Quentin

The Benedictine asked his abbot for permission to smoke while he was praying. Not only was this refused but he was punished for even asking. His friend, the Jesuit, sought the same permission from his rector by asking if he … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic Herald columns, Quentin queries | 3 Comments

I’ll solve your problem

Posted on July 5, 2018 by Quentin

Looking at a long life I sometimes try to recall incidents or discoveries which I took to heart, and have continued to benefit from since then. The first one which occurs to me is when I learnt how to listen. … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic Herald columns | Tagged | 9 Comments

Attachment and loss

Posted on June 28, 2018 by Quentin

I dropped in on my old friend Denise for a cup of coffee. What I saw was a marvellous example of human nature. She was looking after her grandniece, a child under two. I simply watched. In between our conversation … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic Herald columns, evolution, Neuroscience | 16 Comments

The control of life

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Quentin

From time to time I describe in this column some new discoveries related to human life. They are often techniques that raise significant moral questions, and which have potential good and bad outcomes. I think it is important for Catholics … Continue reading →

Posted in Bio-ethics, Catholic Herald columns, Moral judgment, Quentin queries | 20 Comments

Words, words, words

Posted on May 10, 2018 by Quentin

It was the custom, and perhaps remains so today, to name the senior class at a Jesuit school as Rhetoric. This proclaimed the classical view that rhetorical skills were needed by anyone who intended to be of substance in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic Herald columns, Quentin queries, Uncategorized | 22 Comments

Forbidden fruit

Posted on April 27, 2018 by Quentin

“Our results show that the paintings we dated are, by far, the oldest known cave art in the world, and were created at least 20,000 years before modern humans arrived in Europe from Africa — therefore they must have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic Herald columns, evolution, Moral judgment, Quentin queries | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

The attraction of attraction

Posted on February 22, 2018 by Quentin

How attractive are you? The question was sufficiently important for The Times to publish two articles in January and to devote a leader to the issue. It appears that good looking people are more likely to be right wing than … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic Herald columns | 11 Comments

The vulgar mob

Posted on February 16, 2018 by Quentin

In January this year President Trump presented his “Fake News” awards, The New York Times led the list. But fake news is all the rage: a modern phenomenon which seems to have been born at the last presidential election. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic Herald columns, Catholic Herald other, evolution, Moral judgment | 38 Comments