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News Briefs
  • [ December 27, 2025 ] Should Catholics use AI to re-create deceased loved ones? Experts weigh in News Briefs
  • [ December 27, 2025 ] Chile’s president-elect on the decision that changed his life forever News Briefs
  • [ December 27, 2025 ] St. John the Evangelist — apostle, Son of Thunder, beloved disciple, caretaker of Mary News Briefs
  • [ December 26, 2025 ] Trump vows more strikes on Nigerian militants due to Christian persecution News Briefs
  • [ December 26, 2025 ] First Holy Door closed: ‘Special time for the Church is closed, but not God’s grace’ News Briefs

Articles by Sister Renée Mirkes

About Sister Renée Mirkes
Sister Renée Mirkes, OSF, PhD a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, directs the Center for NaProEthics, the ethics division of the Saint Paul VI Institute, Omaha, NE. She received her masters degree in moral theology from the University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX (1988) and her doctorate in theological ethics from Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI (1995).
Analysis

Wanted: A COVID-19 vaccine that’s safe, effective, and moral

May 4, 2020 Sister Renée Mirkes 16

The biopharma sprint toward production of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine has everyone’s attention. Some experts predict one of two vaccine producers will be first to reach the finish line: Sanofi-GSK with its Sars-CoV […]

Essay

Prenatal genetic testing and the light of mercy

August 26, 2019 Sister Renée Mirkes 6

The Gospel of John saturates our minds and hearts with the law of self-gift. The life-defining reality that the Son of God—out of his infinite mercy—gave up his body and poured out his blood is […]

Features

INVOcell: A Catholic-friendly treatment for infertility?

January 18, 2019 Sister Renée Mirkes 8

Some fertility specialists are touting a new fertility treatment as a “Catholic-friendly” alternative to traditional in vitro fertilization. Catholic couples struggling with infertility—willing to try the procedure if, indeed, it is ethical—need help to cut […]

Analysis

The CRISPR revolution: Getting ahead of the ethical curve

September 25, 2017 Sister Renée Mirkes 5

Here is why only genetic engineers who understand and act from a classical virtue ethics are capable of adding moral ballast to the fast-moving ship […]

Essay

Why efforts to sabotage conscientious objection in healthcare must not stand

May 23, 2017 Sister Renée Mirkes 1

Recently, Ronit Y. Stahl, PhD and Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD penned a contentious editorial published in the April 6 edition of New England Journal of Medicine entitled Physicians, Not Conscripts – Conscientious Objection in Health […]

Analysis

The “dark heart” of human-robot companionship

February 17, 2017 Sister Renée Mirkes 0

Professor Sherry Turkle, founder and director of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self, has studied the psychology of human interactions with computational artifacts since the 1970s. In the nascent years of the 21st century, […]

Analysis

The Gender Identity Mandate: The latest threat to health care rights of conscience

September 13, 2016 Sister Renée Mirkes 1

Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in health coverage and care. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released the Final […]

Analysis

Health Care Rights of Conscience: An Endangered Species

July 9, 2015 Sister Renée Mirkes 0

There are emerging conflicts in what I call the second round of health care conscientious objection. The first round, following Roe v. Wade, continues to engage religious health care providers in conscientious objection to abortion, […]

Three-Parent Embryos: Gearing Up for the US Debate

March 12, 2015 Sister Renée Mirkes 0
No Picture
Essay

Why Fighting Against ISIL is Not Murder

January 16, 2015 Sister Renée Mirkes 0

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The Dispatch: More from CWR

  • Mothers in NY file suit over teacher’s use of explicit materials in art class

    Charles J. Russo December 27, 2025 1
  • ‘From despair to serenity’: The Italian nun saving women from human trafficking

    Catholic News Agency December 27, 2025 2
  • The Holy Family and the unity of God’s family

    Carl E. Olson December 27, 2025 5
  • Martyrdom and celebration: The beautiful tension of the Christmas Octave

    Dr. R. Jared Staudt December 26, 2025 7

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  • Mothers in NY file suit over teacher’s use of explicit materials in art class
  • A Church that goes out to the hungry and brokenhearted
  • ‘From despair to serenity’: The Italian nun saving women from human trafficking
  • Should Catholics use AI to re-create deceased loved ones? Experts weigh in
  • Chile’s president-elect on the decision that changed his life forever
  • The Holy Family and the unity of God’s family
  • St. John the Evangelist — apostle, Son of Thunder, beloved disciple, caretaker of Mary
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  • Didn't Think So: What an awesome list! Read any good books lately? Thank you CWR and Mr Olson. Not sure if they've been…
  • Didn't Think So: This is creepy. Absolutely not a good idea. In addition to AI, actual online pictures of people cannot generate real-life…
  • Fr j: Yup, typical fluff.... "I'll listen to you, but then I'll tell you the truth"

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General

Benedict on All Saints’ Day: “In the saints we see the victory of love over selfishness and death”

Catherine Harmon November 1, 2012 0

The Holy Father’s Angelus reflections for today’s Feast of All Saints are particularly beautiful. Below is an excerpt, but the full address is brief, so do read the whole thing: In each of [the saints], […]

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