James J. Walter, Ph.D. 

Austin & Ann O'Malley Chair in Bioethics 

The Bioethics Institute

 

 


PUBLICATIONS


BOOKS 

  • Conversion and Discipleship: A Christian Foundation for Ethics and Doctrine (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1986), 229 pages. (Co-authored with Stephen Happel).  Republished in 2007 in the Fortress Press Ex Libris series.  This book has been identified by the Editor-in-Chief and the editorial board as one of the best titles published by Fortress Press in the last 25 years. 
  • Quality of Life: The New Medical Dilemma (New York: Paulist Press, 1990), 357 pages. (Co-edited with Thomas A. Shannon)

·         Artificial Nutrition & Hydration and the Permanently Unconscious Patient: The Catholic Debate.  (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 2007), 272 pages.  (Co-edited with Ronald P. Hamel)

·         Intersections between Science, Religion & Ethics: A Dialogue between Shin Buddhism and the Roman Catholic Tradition.  Manuscript proposal under consideration in Kyoto, Japan.  This volume would be co-authored by Naoki Nabeshima, Dennis Hirota and myself.  It would be published in both Japanese and English.

 

 

CHAPTERS IN BOOKS 

  • "Response to John C. Finnis: A Theological Critique," in Thomas G. Fuechtmann, ed., Consistent Ethic of Life (Kansas City, MO: Sheed & Ward, 1988), pp. 182-195.
  • "The Foundation and Formulation of Norms," in Charles E. Curran, ed., Moral Theology: Challenges for the Future: Essays in Honor of Richard A. McCormick (New York: Paulist Press, 1990), pp. 125-154.
  • "A Response to Hubert Doucet: 'How Theology Could Contribute to the Redemption of Bioethics: From an Individualist Approach to an Anthropological Sensitivity,'" in Michael Downey, ed., The Catholic Theological Society of America: Proceedings of the Fifty-Third Annual Convention (Atlanta: Mercer University Press, 1998), pp. 67-71.
  • "Theological and Moral Problems Concerning Human Gene Transfer," in Sybille Fritsch-Oppermann, ed., Genes the World Over: Die Bewertung von Gentechnologie an Pflanzen und Tieren in der Sicht verschiedener Kulturen (Loccum, Germany: Evangelische Akademie, 1998), pp. 23-36.
  • "Response to Dr. Darryl Macer's paper 'The International Agenda: Environment, Cultural Diversity and Global Dialogue,'" in Sybille Fritsch-Oppermann, ed., Genes the World Over: Die Bewertung von Gentechnologie an Pflanzen und Tieren in der Sicht verschiedener Kulturen (Loccum, Germany: Evangelische Akademie, 1998), pp. 152-153.
  • "The Relationship Between Faith and Morality: The Debate Over the Uniqueness of Christian Morality," in Mathijs Lamberigts and Leo Kenis, eds., Vatican II and Its Legacy (LeuvenBelgiumLeuven University Press, 2002), pp. 173-186.
  • "Global Trends: Plants, Animals, Humans--The Prospects of Developments in Genetic Engineering," in Sybille  Fritsch-Oppermann, ed., Dialog der Kulturen (LoccumGermany: Evangelische Akademie, 2003), pp. 145-157.
  • “Theological Perspectives on Cancer Genetics and Gene Therapy: The Roman Catholic Tradition.”  In James J. Walter and Thomas A. Shannon, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics: A Catholic Perspective (LanhamMD: Sheed & Ward, 2005).
  • “A Catholic Reflection on Embryonic Stem Cell Research.”  In James J. Walter and Thomas A. Shannon, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics: A Catholic Perspective (LanhamMD: Sheed & Ward, 2005).
  • “Human Germline Therapy: Proper Human Responsibility or Playing God?”  In Ronald Cole-Turner, ed., Design and Destiny: Religious Views on Human Germline Modification (CambridgeMA: MIT Press, 2008), pp. 119-143.


·         “A Christian Interpretation of Contemporary Issues in Bioethics: The Human Genome Project and the Forgoing/Withdrawal of Medical Treatment at the End of Life.”  In An Intermediary Between Buddhism and Bioethics, ed. Naoki Nabeshima, Malcolm David Eckel and Yoshiyuki Inoue (Kyoto, Japan: Center for Humanities, Science, and Religion: Ryukoku University: Hozokan Publishing Company, 2008), pp. 36-55.  (Published in both English and Japanese)

  • “Human Germline Therapy: The Intersections Between Science and the Roman Catholic Religion.” Book chapter accepted for publication in an English-Japanese volume and forthcoming in 2010.

 

  • “Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research: A Catholic Christian Perspective.”  Book chapter in an English-Japanese volume forthcoming in Summer 2010.

 

ARTICLES IN JOURNALS AND ON JURIED WEBSITES

  • "The Church: A Power Structure," The American Ecclesiastical Review 169 (February, 1975): 102-117.
  • "Christian Ethics: Distinctive and Specific?," The American Ecclesiastical Review 169 (September, 1975): 470-489. Reprinted in Charles E. Curran and Richard A. McCormick, S.J., eds., Readings in Moral Theology No. 2: The Distinctiveness of Christian Ethics (New York: Paulist Press, 1980), pp. 90-110.
  • "Joseph Fletcher and the Ends-Means Problematic," The Heythrop Journal 17 (January, 1976): 50-63.
  • "The Dependence of Christian Morality on Faith: A Critical Assessment," Église et Théologie 12 (October, 1981): 237-277.
  • "The Relation Between Faith and Morality: Sources For Christian Ethics," Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society 9 (Fall, 1982): 251-270.
  • "Proportionate Reason and Its Three Levels of Inquiry: Structuring the Ongoing Debate," Louvain Studies 10 (Spring, 1984): 30-40. Reprinted in Christopher Kaczor, ed. Proportionalism: For and Against (MilwaukeeMarquette University Press, 2000).
  • "The Foundations of Christian Moral Experience," Église et Théologie 16 (May, 1985): 169-183.
  • "The Foundations of the Professions and of Professional Ethics: A Critical and Constructive Study," Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society 12 (Spring, 1985): 91-115.
  • "A Public Policy Option on the Treatment of Severely Handicapped Newborns," Laval Théologique et Philosophique 41 (June, 1985): 239-250.
  • "Food & Water: An Ethical Burden--Withdrawing Artificial Nutrition," Commonweal 113 (November 21, 1986): 616-619.
  • "Charles Curran and the Disputed Issues," UpTurn (October-November, 1986): 4 & 6.
  • "The Meaning and Validity of Quality of Life Judgments in Contemporary Roman Catholic Medical Ethics," Louvain Studies 13 (Fall, 1988): 195-208. This issue of Louvain Studies was a Festschrift celebrating the 80th birthday of Professor Louis Janssens of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. Reprinted in James J. Walter and Thomas A. Shannon, eds., Quality of Life: The New Medical Dilemma (New York: Paulist Press, 1990), pp. 78-88.
  • "The PVS Patient and the Forgoing/Withdrawing of Medical Nutrition and Hydration," Theological Studies 49 (December, 1988): 623-647. (With Thomas A. Shannon) Reprinted in James J. Walter and Thomas A. Shannon, eds., Quality of Life: The New Medical Dilemma (New York: Paulist Press, 1990), pp. 203-223; and reprinted in Thomas A. Shannon, ed., Bioethics: Basic Writings on the Key Ethical Questions That Surround the Major, Modern Biological Possibilities and Problems, 4th Edition (New York: Paulist Press, 1993), pp. 173-198.
  • "Termination of Medical Treatment: The Setting of Moral Limits From Infancy to Old Age," Religious Studies Review 16 (October, 1990): 302-307.
  • "Presuppositions to Moral Judgments on Human Genetic Manipulation," Chicago Studies 33 (November 1994): 228-239. Reprinted in Paul T. Jersild, Dale A. Johnson, Patricia Beattie Jung, and Shannon Jung, eds., Moral Issues & Christian Response, Sixth Edition (New York: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1998), pp. 345-353 and in the Seventh Edition, 2002.
  • "'Playing God' or Properly Exercising Human Responsibility?: Some Theological Reflections on Human Germ-line Therapy," New Theology Review 10 (November 1997): 39-59.  Reprinted in Timothy Shanahan & Robin Wang, ed.  Reason & Insight: Western and Eastern Perspectives on the Pursuit of Moral Wisdom (New York: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2002), pp. 379-388.
  • "Notes on Moral Theology: Issues in Genetics," Theological Studies 60 (March 1999): 111-147. With Thomas A. Shannon & M. Cathleen Kaveny.
  • “One Map Down … One to Go,”  Vistas  4(October 2000): 18-21.
  • "Human Gene Transfer: Some Theological Contributions to the Ethical Debate," The Linacre Quarterly: A Journal of the Philosophy and Ethics of Medical Practice 68(November 2001): 314-334.
  • “Signs of the Times: Implications of the New Genetics,”  New Theology Review 15(February 2002): 64-69.
  • "The Bioengineering of Planet Earth: Some Scientific, Moral and Theological Considerations,"  New Theology Review 15(August 2002): 41-54.
  • “Terminal Sedation: A Catholic Perspective."  Update: Loma Linda University Center for Christian Bioethics 18(September 2002): 6-8, 12.
  • “Catholic Reflections on the Human Genome,” The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 3(Summer 2003): 275-283.
  • Contributor to the Catholic Health Association document, “A Theological Vision for Genomics,” Origins 33(May 15, 2003):4-9.
  • “A Christian Interpretation of Contemporary Issues in Bioethics: The Human Genome Project and the Forgoing/Withdrawal of Medical Treatment at the End of Life,” Bulletin of The International Cultural Research Institute of Chikushi Jogakuen University 15(August 2004): 112-126. (in Japanese & English).
  • “Health Beat: Artificial Nutrition, Hydration: Assessing Papal Statement,” National Catholic Reporter 40(April 16, 2004): 9-10.  [with Thomas A. Shannon]
  • “Implications of the Papal Allocution on Feeding Tubes,” Hastings Center Report 34(July/August 2004): 18-20. (With Thomas A. Shannon)
  • “Assisted Nutrition & Hydration and the Catholic Tradition: The Case of Terri Schiavo,” Theological Studies 66(September 2005): 1-12. [with Thomas A. Shannon]
  • “Medical Futility: What Is It and How Might We Help Clinicians?” Practical Bioethics 1(August 2005): 1, 6-8.
  • “Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research: A Catholic Christian Perspective,” Buddhism, Science, and Contemporary Thought: The Ryukoku University Project in Pure Land Buddhism and the Natural Sciences (November 2005): 1-8.  (In English and Japanese)
  • Quaestio Disputata: Reply to Professors Paris, Keenan, and Himes,” Theological Studies 67(March 2006): 169-174. [with Thomas A. Shannon]

 

·         “A Catholic Reflection on Embryonic Stem Cell Research,” Linacre Quarterly 73(August 2006): 255-263.


·         “Artificial Nutrition & Hydration: Five Shifts in the Catholic Tradition.” See http://www.jesuitbioethics.net/files/JWalter_1208.pdf.  (This article is located on the website of the Consortium of  Jesuit Bioethics Programs: www.jesuitbioethics.net) The article is the lead article that I published for the Consortium on the issue of artificial nutrition and hydration for patients in a permanent unconscious state.  The website includes the commentaries on my article by  4 of the other Directors of the Consortium of Jesuit Bioethics Programs in the U.S.  January 10, 2009.

 

·         Aita, Mark; Bennett-Woods, Debra; Clark, Peter; Dubois, James; Haddad, Amy; Kuczewski, Mark; Taylor, Carol; and Walter, James J., “Undue Burden? The Vatican & Artificial Nutrition & Hydration,” Commonweal: A Review of Religion, Politics and Culture 136(February 13, 2009):.   I co-authored this article with the other Directors of Jesuit Bioethics Programs in the US.

·         Mark G. Kuczewski, Debra Bennett-Woods, Peter Clark, James DuBois, Amy M. Haddad, Carol Taylor, and James J. Walter, “Jesuit Bioethics Group Endorses Health Care Reform,” Bioethics Forum: Diverse Commentary on Issues in Bioethics.  Located at: http://www.thehastingscenter.org/Bioethicsforum/Post.aspx?id=3834.

 

·         “Healthcare Reform in the United States: The Status Quaestionis of the Ethical Debate,” Louvain Studies 35(2011): 117-138.

 

·         “A Catholic Perspective on Cosmetic Psychopharmacologic Enhancement Technologies.”  Invited manuscript by The Centre for Values, Ethics and Law in Medicine at the University of Sydney, Australia.  Forthcoming in The Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal.

 

·         “Healthcare Reform: Six Ethical Elephants in the Room,” Health Care Ethics USA 20(Winter 2012): 2-8.

 

 

 

ARTICLES IN ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND DICTIONARIES 

  • "Conversion" (pp. 233-235), "Repentance" (pp. 875-877), and "Virtue" (pp. 1081-1085), in Joseph A. Komonchak, Mary Collins and Dermot A.Lane, eds., The New Dictionary of Theology (Wilmington, DL: Michael Glazier, 1987).
  • "Discipleship," in Judith A. Dwyer, ed., The New Dictionary of Catholic Social Thought (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1994), pp. 294-296.
  • "Quality of Life in Clinical Decisions," in Warren T. Reich, ed., Encyclopedia of Bioethics, Revised Edition, Vol. 3 (New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1995), pp. 1352-1358.
  • "Ignorance" (p. 653), "Intention" (p. 671), "Invincible Ignorance" (pp. 674-675), "Louis Janssens" (p. 688), "Morality of Ends" (pp. 465-466), "Proportionalism" (p. 1058), "Quality of Life" (p. 1075), and "Vincible Ignorance" (p. 1313), in Richard P. McBrien, ed., The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism (San Francisco: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995).
  • "Conscience" (pp. 164-165) and "Liberty" (pp. 555-556), in Carroll Stuhlmueller, ed., The Collegeville Pastoral Dictionary of Biblical Theology (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1996).
  • “Quality of Life in Clinical Decision Making,” in Stephen G. Post, ed., Encyclopedia of Bioethics, Third Edition, Vol. 3 (New York: Gale Publishing Group, 2004), pp. 1388-1394.

·         “Genetic Research,” in Daniel Smith-Christopher, ed., Battleground: Religion, Vol. 1 (Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2009), pp. 206-211.

 

·         “Quality of:  I. Quality of Life in Clinical Decisions.”  Invited entry by the Editor-in-Chief.   Forthcoming in The Encyclopedia of Bioethics, 4th edition, Spring 2013.

 

 

 

INVITED LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 

  • Response to Patrick G. Derr's Letter to the Editor: "Patients & Patience," Commonweal 114 (February 27, 1987): 123-125.
  • Response to Carol Tauer's article: "Lives at Stake: How to Respond to a Woman's Refusal of Cesarean Surgery When She Risks Losing Her Child or Her Life," Health Progress 73 (December, 1992): 6-7.
  • “Letter to the Editor: A Response to Repenshek and Slosar,” Hastings Center Report 35(May/June 2005): 4-5.  (With Thomas A. Shannon)

·         Aita, Mark; Bennett-Woods, Debra; Clark, Peter; Dubois, James; Haddad, Amy; Kuczewski, Mark; Taylor, Carol; and Walter, James J., “Continuing the Conversation: The Vatican & Artificial Nutrition and Hydration,” Commonweal: A Review of Religion, Politics and Culture 136(April 24, 2009): 4-5.

 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS 

  • Contributor to the Catholic Health Association’s Harnessing the Promise of Genomics: Resources for Catholic Health Ministry (St. LouisMO: CHA, 2004).

 

BOOK REVIEWS 

  • Germain Grisez and Russell Shaw. Beyond The New Morality: The Responsibilities of Freedom, in The Thomist 38 (July, 1974): 681-682.
  • William P. Frost. The Future Significance of Civilization, Nature, and Religion, in The American Ecclesiastical Review 168 (September, 1974): 501.
  • Susan Teft Nicholson. Abortion and the Roman Catholic Church, in Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society 7 (Spring, 1980): 132-134.
  • Charles E. Curran. Moral Theology: A Continuing Journey, in Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society 10 (Spring, 1983): 183-184.
  • Brian Hebblethwaite. The Adequacy of Christian Ethics, in The Heythrop Journal 25 (January, 1984): 65-66.
  • Edward Batchelor, Jr., ed. Abortion: The Moral Issues, in Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society 10 (Fall, 1983): 402-403.
  • Philip J. Rossi, S.J. Together Toward Hope: A Journey to Moral Theology, in Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society 11 (Fall, 1984): 466-467.
  • Robert J. Daly, S.J. Christian Biblical Ethics: From Biblical Revelation to Contemporary Christian Praxis: Method and Content, in Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society 12 (Fall, 1985): 418-419.
  • John T. Pawlikowski, O.S.M. and Donald Senior, C.P., eds. Biblical and Theological Reflections on The Challenge of Peace, in Worship 59 (November, 1985): 551.
  • John Gallagher, C.S.B. The Basis for Christian Ethics, in Religious Studies Review 12 (July-October, 1986): 276.
  • James C. Livingston. Modern Christian Thought: From the Enlightenment to Vatican II, in Bibelot 2 (Spring, 1987): 8.
  • James P. Hanigan. As I Have Loved You: The Challenge of Christian Ethics, in Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society 14 (Fall, 1987): 403.
  • Wilfred Desan. The Planetary Man: Vols. I & II and Let the Future Come: Perspectives For Planetary Peace, in The Journal of Religion 69 (January, 1989): 135-136.
  • Richard Grecco. A Theology of Compromise: A Study of Method in the Ethics of Charles E. Curran, in Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society 20 (Spring, 1993): 188-189.
  • Thomas A. Shannon. The Ethical Theory of John Duns Scotus: A Dialogue with Medieval and Modern Thought, in Theological Studies 58 (March, 1997): 198.
  • Charles E. Curran. History and Contemporary Issues: Studies in Moral Theology, in The Jurist 57(1997): 599-600.
  • Scott B. Rae and Paul M. Cox. Bioethics: A Christian Approach in a Pluralistic Age, in New Theology Review 13(May 2000): 88-89.

·         Joseph H. Howell and William Frederick Sale, editors.  Life Choices: A Hastings Center Introduction to Bioethics in Health Progress 82(January-February 2001): 54-55.

·         Charles E. Curran.  Catholic Moral Theology in the United States: A History.”  Forthcoming in Horizons: Journal of the College Theology Society in 2010.

·          

·         Allen Verhey.  Nature and Altering It. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2010 in Theological Studies 85(December 2011).  Forthcoming

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This page last updated on November 3, 2009