Janet E. Smith – författare

Rather than end the debate over artificial means of contraception once and for all, the encyclical letter ""Humanae Vitae"" only energized the debate when it appeared in 1968, and that debate continues to this day. Janet E. Smith presents a comprehensive review of this issue from a philosophical and theological perspective. Tracing the emergence of the debate from the mid-1960s and reviewing the documents from the Special Papal Commission established to advise Pope Paul V1, Smith also examines the Catholic Church's position on marriage, which provides the context for its condemnation of contraception. Smith analyzes the various moral principles that are crucial to an understanding of ""Humanae Vitae"". She offers new renderings of several traditional arguments based on natural law, among which is an argument based on personalist values. Throughout the book, Smith's observations and perceptions contribute to a thought-provoking study.

Janet E. Smith has been among the world's preeminent voices in the study of the issues raised by Pope Paul VI's 1968 encyclical letter Humanae vitae. Self-Gift: This book presents Smith's critical collection of essays on the vocation of marriage, human sexuality, contraception, and more. Her groundbreaking scholarship touches on all the areas implicated in Humanae vitae - from natural family planning to parenthood and natural law to personalism.This collection not only includes Smith's English translation of the encyclical from the original Latin text, but also helpful background on the development and release of this authoritative magisterial document. With a particular emphasis on the personalist and Thomistic philosophy of Pope St. John Paul II and how it illuminates the two-millennia tradition of Catholic teaching on human sexuality, Self-Gift delivers crucial insight into the Creator's plan for human sexuality and our full flourishing in Christ.