Fr. Albert S. Moraczewski

FR. ALBERT S. MORACZEWSKI, O.P., Ph.D., S.T.M., a Dominican friar, scholar, theologian, and scientist, who dedicated his life's work to the intersection of science and religion, died peacefully on May 1, 2008, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, at age 87. He was born on September 1, 1920 in Chicago and was baptized in October of the same year. He served as a clinical chemist in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in the European Theater of Operation from December 1942 to January 1946. After leaving the military, he entered graduate school at the University of Chicago, and soon after found his calling to the priesthood. He then entered the Dominican Order in 1947 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 27, 1954, after which he returned to the University of Chicago to complete his graduate studies, receiving his doctorate in pharmacology in 1958. For the next twelve years, Fr. Albert held various research positions and teaching appointments in psychopharmacology, theology, and ethics at the Houston State Psychiatric Institute, Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Chicago. His post at the newly formed Houston State Psychiatric Institute initially brought him to Houston where he spent the majority of the next fifty years. In 1974, Fr. Albert founded The Pope John XXIII Medical-Moral Research Center, now known as The National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC), which is located in Philadelphia, PA. The institute was created to provide guidance to medical professionals and others grappling with the complex moral and ethical questions arising from the ever-advancing fields of medical science, genetics and molecular biology. The center has addressed issues in biomedical ethics such as embryonic transplants, in vitro fertilization, euthanasia, and prenatal diagnosis of genetic conditions, among others. The center continues to research and opine on ethical issues concerning the human body and the limits of medical intervention, including most recently, stem cell and genetic research. At his death, Fr. Albert held the title of President Emeritus and Staff Ethicist of the NCBC. In 2005 the library at the NCBC was named in his honor. In addition to his work at the NCBC, Fr. Albert served on numerous boards and committees, including national advisory panels on topics concerning ethics in neuroscience and medicine for the United States Congress, the Institutional Ethics Committee at Hermann Hospital, and Institutional Review Boards for the Texas Research Institute of Mental Sciences and Baylor College of Medicine. He served from 1988 to 1992 as Chairman of the Bioethics Committee for St. Joseph Hospital. Among Fr. Albert's many honorary degrees, of most significance was the Master of Sacred Theology bestowed upon him by Pope John Paul II in 1989. Fr. Albert was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Moraczewski, in 1996. He is survived by several nieces and nephews: Michelle Moraczewski-Poag, Gabrielle Ashley, Anna Ward, Jeanne Moraczewski, Mari Moraczewski, Christine Moraczewski, Josette Mushinski, Rapheal Moraczewski, and Joshua Moraczewski; by several grand nieces and nephews: David Poag and Nicole Poag-Wilson, Michael Moraczewski, Alexandria, Christopher, Julia and John Ward, Dominique and Tatyana Moraczewski, Jacqueline and Sean O'Gary, Olivia Mustachia, Mathew and Jessica Mushinski, Monique and Makaylla Moraczewski, and Sophia Moraczewski; and by a great nephew, Mason James Wilson. Visitation will be at six o'clock in the evening on Monday, May 5, 2008 followed by a Wake Service at seven o'clock at Holy Rosary Church, 3601 Milam Street. The funeral Mass will be at Holy Rosary Church on Tuesday, May 6th, at two o'clock in the afternoon followed by burial at Earthman's Resthaven, Interstate 45 North. The Dominicans and the family request that in lieu of flowers, charitable offerings be made in Fr. Albert's name to the charity of your choice or to the Southern Dominican Province to be used for the education of Dominican friars. Provincial address is Southern Dominican Province, U.S.A., 1421 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 200, Metairie, LA 70001-4144. Online tributes may be posted at www.bradshawcarter.com.