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Comments on Sister Renée's Publications
Sister Mirkes's article on the abortifacient character of the OC is absolutely the
best I've read. An excellent piece of research.
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My hope is that Sister Renée Mirkes's article on sex education gets to every
parent first and then to every person who designs sex ed programs in the U.S. She sure
scored a homerun in this article!
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A masterful presentation of the core arguments on personhood of the embryo!
We're making copies for every member of Congress.
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You need to write a book, Sister Renée. Your style is clear as a bell; your
arguments tight as a drum. Please write more.
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Comments on Sister Renée's Consultations
Sister Renée, my husband and I want to tell you your wise counsel regarding the
difficult obstetric decisions we needed to make with our latest pregnancy has made all the
difference to us in the world. To think we were so close to doing something we now realize
we would have lived to regret for the rest of our lives. We thank God everyday that you and
the Pope Paul VI Institute were there to help us.
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Sister, your sensitive and enlightening discussion of our desire to reverse our
sterilization was just so level-headed yet totally understanding of the reality of sin and the
devastating effects it could have (and did have) on us and our marriage. We were really
blessed to have been referred to your center.
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My hubby and I keep saying: "Sister Renée has a real gift. She jump-
started our marriage." And you did—by putting us on the right track with our
family planning and sexual practices. You're an inspiration, Sister. You'll be hearing from
some of our friends . . .
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I've been in dialogue with the administration of the Catholic health care organization
where I have privileges, questioning why a Catholic institution would allow permanent
sterilizations to be performed in their hospital. Acting as a medical/ethical consultant, Sr.
Renée Mirkes came to my aid in discussing the important ethical, moral and
theological aspects of this issue in a very organized and eloquent, rational yet passionate
way.
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You really made me and my husband think more in depth about our tentative
decision to adopt abandoned frozen embryos. Your counsel just provided a side of the issue
we had not considered. Thanks for being there and God bless you and your work at the Pope
Paul VI Institute.
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I just have to chuckle now that I think of it. You're the first person (and believe me my
wife and I have made the rounds of counselors, priests, etc) that was able to so clearly explain
what's at stake in fertilizing human life in a laboratory that it actually had the power to change
my wife's mind about trying IVF. We're looking into NaProTechnology instead and however
things turn out we've come to great peace of mind. We now know we're on the right road in
trying to have our own baby. We just can't thank you enough!
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Comments on Sister Renée's Teaching
Sister Renée, God has truly blessed you with great knowledge of the Truth and
given you the gift of the Holy Spirit to boldly proclaim that truth. Thank you.
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Regarding Humanae Vitae lecture: Boy, is she good!! She's lively and brings a difficult
paper to average folks!
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Awesome! Great! Speaks about these reproductive issues as a way of life. What
dedication!
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Sister Renée is an excellent faculty member! I've learned so much and appreciate
her enthusiasm. Can't wait 'til EP2.
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Sister Renée's presentation on Humanae Vitae helped put this whole educational
experience together for me. Her talk was a life-changing one for me.
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Comments on Sister Renée's Speaking Engagements
I have been very impressed with the presentation by Sr. Renée Mirkes. She has
been to Wichita twice and both times her presentations have been informative and
enlightening. Priests and lay people alike have enjoyed her.
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We recently had the honor of having Sr. Renée Mirkes in the Fargo diocese...
All of her presentations were well received. I cannot begin to tell you the good that has come
out of her talks. For example, one of the family practice physicians called to tell me that finally
the Church's teaching makes sense to him and he is considering the medical consultant
program at the Institute. I have had numerous compliments from the priests and hopefully
you will see a few at the Leadership training this fall.
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On behalf of the Twin Cities NFP Center I wish to thank you for providing us with
an excellent presentation on Humanae Vitae at our recent Spring Update. Your message was
insightful, challenging and very well received both by members of the NFP Practitioner staff
and those couples who attended to learn more about Natural Family Planning. It was
exciting to have 12 new couples begin instruction Friday evening, and 3 couples requested an
introductory session within the next few weeks.
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The Catholic Church's reasoning and position makes sense when listening to your talk.
The priests who attended your talk spoke very highly of your presentation.
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From the first time I met Sr. Mirkes when she gave the keynote address for the AAFCP
conference, I knew that she would connect well with our students. It was most refreshing for
them to meet and hear a scholarly woman of much faith who is very pastoral, inspiring and
thorough in her approach to addressing tough issues. Among the many benefits and graces
we received from her visit would be students who are now more informed and appreciative
of the richness of our faith tradition and the beauty of its teachings. They really felt ministered
to by Sr. Mirkes and we are proud to have brought her to campus.
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Sister Renée beautifully wove the threads of science, medicine and theology to
lead us to a deeper understanding of Church teaching about procreation, marriage and
responsible parenthood. Her knowledge is current and impressive. Her teaching style blends
humor with liberating truths. She is able to relate to the real issues faced by both priests and
laity in dealing with sexually related issues. Sister Renée's personal charm and charisma
make her a credible and loving witness for our faith. Our parish was enriched because of the
giving of her knowledge, her time and her very person for the day.
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The seminar was well received and we are hopeful that it will be a catalyst for renewing
NFP in the diocese. The contributions of Sister Renée received particularly high marks
and comments... Her presentations cast a great light on the depth, the wisdom and the
wonder of human sexuality as it is understood by the Church... Thank you for the work of
the Pope Paul VI Institute and the contributions of Sister Renée in promoting a
Catholic vision of the human person and an authentic understanding of human sexuality
and fertility.
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Sister Renée brings a clear, uncompromising focus to the area of reproductive
technology and the true nature of the human embryo.
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I am writing to you regarding Sr. Renée Mirkes, OSF. Sister was asked to make
a presentation to the archdiocesan priests during our Clergy Conference which was held in
Columbus last week. She was well prepared and her presentation was informative. Our
priests commented to me about her excellent presentation.
—Most Reverend Elden Francis Curtiss, Archdishop of Omaha.
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Your presentation on treatments for infertility was very thorough, both for the medical
aspect of the subject and for its ethical aspect. It was also clear and well organized. Your
PowerPoint presentation was professional and impressive. I especially appreciated the clarity
and the cheerfulness of your presentation...All of the comments from the physicians, nurses,
and health care workers in attendance were enthusiastically positive about your presentation
and contributions during the discussion. I am grateful for the strong and clear witness you
bear for the reasonableness and beauty of Catholic teaching, as well as for the scientific or
medical sanity--that's the word I would use--of NaProTechnology's approach to fertility and
infertility vs. the technicist approach so prevalent in the medical profession today.
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After hearing Sister Renee's presentation about NaProTechnology and the issue of
infertility, I was convinced even more of its benefits. Her presentation made the teaching on
how important, wholesome, and effective NaProTechnology is very clear. It made sense not
to just me but to all the other participants.
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