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FOREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION

It is a pleasure for me to introduce Dr. William May’s An Introduction to Moral Theology. In succinct and perceptive fashion, Dr. May introduces the reader to fundamental notions of Catholic moral teaching. I commend this volume to the clergy, to seminarians, to catechists, and to all who wish to discover more profoundly what it means to follow the Lord Jesus.

We live in an age that seems to have lost its moral moorings. Too many people are genuinely confused about what is right and what is wrong; some doubt that an authentic standard for judging human behavior exists. Church teachings, particularly those related to the transmission and preservation of human life, often meet with rejection. All too often, Catholic morality is regarded as a series of arbitrary obligations having nothing to do with our dignity as human persons called to eternal life in Christ Jesus.

This introduction counters such confusion with clarity and depth. It helps us understand how the Church’s moral teaching is rooted in the nature of the human person created in the image and likeness of God. Indeed, as the grace of Christ takes hold of our lives we see ever more clearly the wisdom of the Church’s moral teaching.

Dr. May has devoted his life to studying the Church’s moral teaching and to communicating that teaching to others. He is a man of deep faith and scholarship, and we are privileged that he has shared his wisdom with us. This latest book of his deserves a very warm welcome.

JAMES CARDINAL HICKEY Archbishop of Washington