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however, if the chemical merely diminished his own desire for conjugal relations, but left him able to satisfy her requests and give her full gratification.

In practice, I believe, a married man should not use such a drug (if it is ever discovered) without his wife's permission, since she has the right to his sex faculties. Moreover, I would advise a man not to use such a drug until it has been proved that it will cause no permanent harm.

USE OF A LIE DETECTOR

Question: A government employee is informed that he is being considered for promotion, but that one of the conditions is that he must take a lie detector test in which he will be asked questions about his private life. He feels that if he answers truthfully he will reveal certain moral weaknesses which he himself believes would not interfere with the proper fulfillment of the duties entailed in the desired position, but which would be regarded by the government as rendering him unsuited for this higher security office. Can we say that the government has no right to impose on a candidate for office a lie detector test in which questions about his private life will be asked? In such a situation may the candidate use falsehoods in answering the questions?

Answer: The government has a perfect right to demand that candidates for office submit to a lie detector test. For the government is entitled to give out offices on its own reasonable terms; and certainly it is reasonable to take measures to find out if there is some hidden weakness in a candidate that would render him unsuited for the office to which he aspires. Even conduct which is of a private nature, such as drunkenness or homosexuality, can be the object of questioning, since such vices can render a person a poor risk in the keeping of secrets. Nor do I see how the candidate may use falsehoods in answering the questions (even in the event that he could deceive the machine). It is true, in ordinary conversation a person may deny accusations concerning his private conduct. But when he is asked questions of this nature by competent government officials and is expected to answer correctly as a condition for a government appointment, he must speak the truth.

THE CANDIDATE'S RIGHT TO HIS REPUTATION

Question: When a man is running for public office, may his opponents bring into the open his misdeeds of the past in every detail?

Answer: Looking at this question factually, I would say that it seems to be the accepted custom in the United States for those engaged in politics to publicize all the past misconduct of an opponent that they can discover. Indeed, as we know, gross exaggerations and even lies are sometimes used to bring an opponent into disrepute. Of course, no honorable person would go to such extremes. But the real problem is whether one may reveal what is true, though not generally known, about an opponent in the course of a political campaign. Some Catholic theologians believe that this is permissible, on the grounds that one who runs for public office by that very fact implicitly allows all the incidents of his life to be scrutinized and made public. I do not go so far as this. I am of the opinion that if there is some private incident of the past which would somewhat discredit a man, but would have no bearing on his ability to fulfill the duties of the office to which he aspires, one who happens to know it and brings it out would commit a sin of detraction. On the other hand, there are many things which in themselves are of a private nature, and yet could have a harmful influence on a man's public conduct. These could legitimately be brought out by his political opponents. For example, if a man drinks to excess, it may be made known, even though he has hitherto managed to keep it secret, for such a failing can interfere with his efficiency as a public servant. And certainly, if a man is unfaithful to his wife, his misconduct can lawfully be made public, for such a man in certain circumstances might be unfaithful to his country.

FRANCIS J. CONNELL, C.SS.R.

COMMENT

THEOLOGICAL CONVENTION

Fr. Ferrer Smith, O.P., in the presidential address to the eighteenth annual convention of The Catholic Theological Society of America, held in St. Louis in June, discussed the enormity of the task of theology today. "Every aspect of life, individual and social, civil and ecclesial, Christian and non-Christian, is placed before us for theological investigation, appraisal, penetration, evaluation, direction." Father Smith emphasized the need for the theologian to approach his work in the spirit of charity and to be guided by the Holy Ghost who is the illumination of truth. In performing his unique role, the theologian must be more than a dedicated professional scholar seeking to understand and to present the content of Revelation. His work must also form an integral part of his personal sanctity. Lest one confuse sanctity and theological science, Father Smith pointed out that "holiness is not theology; the goodness of the will is not a substitute for thought." He concluded that theologians "must search for truth, out of love for truth and love for one another."

The convention was well attended and the presence of many diocesan priests was heartening. A well-balanced program was presented. Fr. Bernard Häring, C.SS.R., spoke on the moral message as an image of Christ revealed in the Church. Fr. Joseph R. Nearon, S.S.S., discussed the Eucharist as Real Presence, repast, and sacrifice. Fr. Gerald Kelly, S.J., examined the question of contraception and the natural law and Fr. Carroll Stuhlmueller, C.P., considered the problem of a transcendental or incarnational approach for the Christian. Fr. Gerard Sloyan spoke on Faith, in the Bible, in theology, and in the life of the Church. There was also a panel discussion on Mater et Magistra by Fr. Gerard Rooney, C.P., and Fr. Patrick O'Brien, C.M. Elective seminars and informal gatherings were also conducted and this year a new feature, book discussions, was introduced.

The following officers of the Theological Society were elected for 1963-1964: President: Right Reverend Richard T. Doherty;

Vice-President: Reverend Gerald Van Ackern, S.J.; Secretary: Reverend Vincent J. Nugent, C.M.; Treasurer: Brother Celestine Luke Salm, F.S.C.

VARIA

RELIGION AND RACE. The World Council of Churches' Central Committee warned its members in a recent statement that Christians who support any form of segregation, actively or passively, "betray Christ and the fellowship which bears His name." The World Council of Churches is a federation of the major Protestant and Eastern Orthodox communions in eighty countries. The statement went on to admit with shame that many Christians are not engaged in the struggle for racial equality or are, in fact, working against it. It reiterated its 1954 stand that "any form of segregation based on race, color or ethnic origins is contrary to the Gospel."

NUCLEAR WAR INSTITUTE. On November 8th to 10th, West Baden College of Loyola University (Chicago) will be host to a Nuclear War Institute. Members will be an international, inter-denominational group of experts in theology, science, and political theory. Fr. James C. Fleck, S.J., Institute co-ordinator, feels that this meeting will be "a step toward more informed understanding and realistic evaluation of the moral issues involved in nuclear war today." Participants in the Institute will include Dr. Alain Enthoven, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Analysis; Mr. Victor Karpov, First Secretary of the Washington Embassy of the Soviet Union; Fr. Joseph McKenna, S.J., Professor of International Relations, Fordham University; Dr. Paul Ramsey, author of War and the Christian Conscience; Fr. John R. Connery, S.J., noted moral theologian and Provincial of the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus; and Herbert Kahn, Director of the Hudson Institute and author of On Thermonuclear War.

HELP FOR MISSIONARIES. For thirty-one years the students of Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis have conducted a valuable service for the Church by arranging for the remailing of good Catholic literature to religious and lay missionaries throughout the world. Over five thousand missionaries are continually supplied. The

threat of Communism and materialism has shown graphically how important the printed word is in the struggle for men's minds. Missionary bishops, priests, and teachers are constantly pleading for sound Catholic and secular literature to help instruct their people. Kenrick seminarians do not handle the literature itself. They send out the names and addresses of needy missionaries and all the necessary instructions. Those interested in this commendable apostolic work may write: Kenrick Remailing Service, Kenrick Seminary, 7800 Kenrick Road, St. Louis 19, Missouri.

THE PEOPLE'S MASS. Can a congregation learn to sing High Mass in ten minutes? This is the claim of Fr. Frederic Nelson of Powers Lake, North Dakota. Finding that his people were unable to cope with the complexities of Gregorian Chant, he taught them to sing a Mass that is based on familiar hymn tunes. Thus, the Kyrie is sung to the tune of O Sanctissima, the Agnus Dei and the Sanctus to Holy God, and the Benedictus to Lord I am not Worthy. The Gloria and Credo have simplified notation. A demonstration record and accompanying material are available from McLaughlin and Reilly, Boston, Mass.

JOSEPHOLOGY. Fr. Blaine Burkey, O.F.M.Cap., is the editor of an
enchiridion of material on St. Joseph. During the past five years.
he has worked collecting documents for the Holy See (Popes,
Congregations, Offices, and Tribunals), which in any way treat of
St. Joseph. To date he has assembled some 3500 individual docu-
ments. More than half of these are from the Sacred Congregation
of Rites and concern themselves with various feasts in Joseph's
honor. About four hundred of the documents are from the Popes
themselves, the earliest dating back to Pope Innocent III, in the
late twelfth century. The first section of the collection, entitled
Pontificia Josephina, appeared in the July-December 1962 issue of
Cahiers de Joséphologie published at St. Joseph's Oratory, Mon-
treal. It will appear serially, bi-annually, for the next ten years.
or so. The more important documents are published in toto and an
English translation is given of the documents of major doctrinal
significance.
DOM PATRICK GRANFIELD

The Catholic University of America
Washington, D. C.

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