The Nathaniel Report


The Nathaniel Report is published by The Nathaniel Centre three times each year. It contains articles and updates on a variety of issues in bioethics and healthcare. The Nathaniel Report is an informative, stimulating and very readable publication for those with an interest in bioethical issues, and especially those issues which are topical in New Zealand.

Subscription within New Zealand to The Nathaniel Report is $NZ50 per annum. Australian and Pacific subscribers (includes air post) $NZ57.50. Rest of the world (includes air post) $NZ59. Subscriptions can be arranged by contacting The Nathaniel Centre.

  • Issue Thirty

    30 April 2010

    Editorial : Nathaniel ( Hebrew : “Gift of God”) Reflecting back on his 11 years as the Director of the Nathaniel Centre, Dr Michael McCabe writes about the inspiration behind the more»

  • Issue Twenty Nine

    26 November 2009

    From the Heart – A Relative's Perspective Changing Minds Conference 2009 In this very moving personal reflection Fr Michael McCabe, Director of the Nathaniel Centre offers insights into more»

  • Issue Twenty Eight

    19 August 2009

      Editorial – Aging with Grace: Mercy and Bioethics Fr Michael McCabe reflects with gratitude on the inspiration provided by the Sisters of Mercy whose home has been more»

  • Issue Twenty Seven

    30 April 2009

    Editorial – Bioethics and Politics: The Axing of the Bioethics Council, Toi te Taiao Toi te Taiao was set up in 2002 as a recommendation of the Royal Commission of Enquiry into Genetic more»

  • Issue Twenty Six

    19 November 2008

    Hope and Bioethics: The Power of Narrative We are all called to communicate hope through our personal lives and the professions, cultures and institutions that we are part of. Hope enables us to look more»

  • Issue Twenty Five

    19 August 2008

    Reflections on AgingIn a society where life is dominated by haste, agitation and frequently by neurosis, the affective, moral and religious values embodied by older people are an indispensible more»

  • Issue Twenty Four

    19 April 2008

    Guest Editorial – The Stories We Live By Written by Dr Ron Hamel, Senior Director, Ethics, of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, this piece reminds us that the decisions we more»

  • Issue Twenty Three

    19 November 2007

    Editorial – The old, old story … Vincent van Gogh once wrote of the way in which “city life sometimes removes the ‘early dew of morning.’” The use of technology more»
    Issue Twenty Three

  • Issue Twenty Two

    19 August 2007

    Editorial: Principles and Process : Lessons from Winter Culture is “the first voice of the sacred” and the ethical and cultural principles of participation, protection and more»

  • Issue Twenty One

    30 April 2007

    Editorial – Bioethics and Theology in Conversation In the fields of bioethics and moral theology the role of the theologian is to draw elements from the surrounding culture that illuminate the more»

  • Issue Twenty

    30 November 2006

     Editorial – Taking a Deeper View Moral and ethical principles enable us to consider differing elements of complex issues. People have different understandings of what moral principles more»

  • Issue Nineteen

    1 August 2006

    Guest Editorial — Concerning Information, Knowledge and WisdomAdequately presenting the Church's teaching involves more than just getting information. Laity and pastors each learn from each more»

  • Issue Eighteen

    16 April 2006

    In recent times the subject of AIDS has been to the forefront in New Zealand. In October 2005 Auckland hosted the Pan Pacific conference on HIV and AIDS. The closing plenary concluded that a number more»

  • Issue Seventeen

    30 November 2005

    Editorial: Decisions, decisions We make many small decisions daily, often without a lot of thought. Collectively they reveal a pattern. Wisdom calls us to take stock of the collective effects of our more»

  • Issue Sixteen

    16 August 2005

    Editorial: Morality and Reality The emergence of new areas of knowledge is challenging many of our current life patterns. Traditional definitions may be inadequate. We need to find new ways of more»

  • Issue Fifteen

    1 April 2005

    Editorial: Beyond Slogans In a world of ever increasing complexity there is a tendency to try and grasp bioethical principles and ethical solutions in simple one-liners. Yet the very truth being more»

  • Issue Fourteen

    1 November 2004

    Editorial: Abortion Technology and Truth One in four pregnancies in New Zealand now end in abortion, compared with one in ten two decades ago. The reasons are complex and need to be examined within more»

  • Issue Thirteen

    1 August 2004

    Editorial: Engaging with Society Christians are to engage with the people and the culture as insiders and participants, not as critical and dissociated outsiders. This requires them to stand beside more»

  • Issue Twelve

    1 April 2004

    Editorial: Organ Donation - The Enduring Gift New Zealand has one of the lowest organ donation rates in the world. To nurture the life of another through organ donation is nothing short of heroic, more»

  • Issue Eleven

    1 November 2003

    Editorial: AnniversariesA reflection on three significant events - fifty years since the discovery of the three-dimensional structure of DNA, thirty years since the famous Roe v Wade" decision more»

  • Issue Ten

    1 August 2003

    Editorial: Faith and Reason - Reflections on a debateThe New Zealand Parliament recently voted against "The Death with Dignity Bill" that sought to make physician-assisted suicide legal in more»

  • Issue Nine

    1 April 2003

    Editorial: Listening to the CultureArguments in bioethics based on the right to self-determination inevitably ignore the societal implications of people's "private" choices. In New Zealand more»

  • Issue Eight

    1 November 2002

    Editorial: Opportunities at the End of LifeThere has been considerable discussion in New Zealand recently about euthanasia, or more correctly, assisted suicide. Proponents speak about it as the right more»

  • Issue Seven

    1 August 2002

    Editorial: Ethics and TrustWhat happens when the trust placed in professionals by persons seeking their knowledge and skill is betrayed? Once broken down, what does it take to restore this trust? The more»

  • Issue Six

    1 April 2002

    Editorial: Remembering Rosa Examines the issues of trust, betrayal, vulnerability and the weakening of the culture of care in the context of the life and death of Rosa, a baby whose heart was kept more»

  • Issue Five

    1 November 2001

    Editorial: Making Connections, The Consistent Ethic of LifeConsiders how to respond to the many threats to life in a consistent and comprehensive manner. By developing a broad moral framework, within more»

  • Issue Four

    1 August 2001

    Editorial: Compassion Beyond ConstraintA reflection on the non-negotiable need for compassion and virtuous care of the dying and the elderly. Ordinary Means Extraordinary Means: A Valid Distinction?A more»

  • Issue Three

    1 April 2001

    Editorial: Bioethics and Decision MakingThe rapid advances in biotechnology have tended to outstrip moral and ethical decision making. The articulation of the key moral and ethical issues is a key more»

  • Issue Two

    1 November 2000

    Editorial: Bioethics and PovertyPoverty is not only reflected in the inequities in health care delivery but also in an unwillingness or inability to participate in discussion about complex issues more»

  • Issue One

    1 August 2000

    Editorial: Bioethics - Challenges for the ChurchBioethical issues raise fundamental questions about what it means to be human, and to live and relate in society. What are the challenges for the more»