This Letter from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith deals with the thorny issues surrounding care for the critically ill and those approaching the end of their life. In all too many nations the proposed solution has been to legislate in favour of euthanasia and assisted suicide. Taking the Good Samaritan as an example of care for the sick and dying this document restates the Church's unequivocal position that "abortion, euthanasia and wilful self-destruction poison human society" and "are a supreme dishonour to the Creator" (no. 27).In addition, the spiritual accompaniment of a person who chooses to be euthanized must be that of "an invitation to conversion", and never any gesture "that could be interpreted as approval".
When a serious illness or a health crisis occurs, few people are prepared to deal with it, and when faced with big medical decisions, patients often are confused and overwhelmed, and they are sometimes too sick to make important decisions. Many times, decisions fall to family and loved ones who don’t always know the patient’s wishes. Intensive Caring: A Practical Handbook for Catholics about Serious Illness and End-of-Life Care is the perfect resource to help everyone involved navigate the complexities of healthcare during serious illness and end-of-life care. In Intensive Caring, Dr. Natalie King, a palliative care physician, shares real-life patient stories and provides practical medical information to bring clarity and understanding to these complex healthcare decisions. In this easy-to-navigate guide, King helps you and your loved ones think through the issues at hand and align your decisions with your values and faith while safeguarding the sacred dignity of human life. By clearly explaining Catholic beliefs and guidelines and debunking common misconceptions about healthcare, King addresses the most common questions she receives as a medical professional, such as these: What is palliative care, and how is it different from hospice? If I am diagnosed with a serious illness, what kinds of questions should I ask my doctor? How do I approach thinking about which healthcare options are best for me, and how do I communicate my preferences to my family? What are advance directives, why do they matter, and what is important to include as a Catholic? What is a “DNR,” and how should I understand and choose my options around resuscitation? What does the Catholic Church say about artificial nutrition and hydration? How do I advocate for my loved one’s dignity nearing the end of their life? King also outlines what she sees as the characteristics of a good death, offers tips on advocating for your needs and values, provides spiritual encouragement, and includes prayers for patients, parish communities, and caregivers. Most especially, King encourages you to have these healthcare conversations now, when you are healthy. Now is the time to communicate your preferences and desires to your loved ones. This will ease the stress, guilt, and worry when faced with end-of-life issues for you and your family. Intensive Caring extends beyond the realm of Catholic laity, encompassing clergy, pastoral workers, and healthcare professionals seeking deeper insight into the application of Catholic belief and practice to intricate medical dilemmas. It equips them to effectively navigate such complexities and offer compassionate guidance to those under their care.
With “Keys to Bioethics”, the Dicastery for Laity Family and Life wants to offer young people all over the world a practical way to reply to their concerns and questions arising from the many challenges led by the contemporary scientific and technological progress. These are clear yet comprehensive replies able to help young people grasp the truth and beauty of every human life!
Theological Ethics in the book title is intended to mark a departure from the manner of Catholic practice named Moral Theology. This departure has two strands, because the practice that the Second Vatican Council critically addressed was a manualist tradition, while much of the practice following the Council has been represented as relativist. This book is not manualist in that the focus is upon method rather than on codified specification of behaviours. The work is not relativist in that the focus on method is firstly scriptural, approaching scripture in a holistic or canonical manner; and, further, is lawful, in an approach of law that focuses less on precept and more on understandings of natural law that brings together phenomenological evidences and scriptural evidences. The scriptural and natural law perspective present in the book also engages cross-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary learnings. These streams of scripture, natural law, and inter/cross-disciplinary learnings have a confluence in discourse in the manner of dialogue, a manner that is dialogical. An essential aspect of dialogue under the banner of Reconstructing Theological Ethics is that it should engage contemporary culture––not in a sense that contemporaneity or modernity should be determinative, but in the sense that the reasoning, argumentation, and dialogue should have resonance with contemporary thinking and rethinking of issues that remain in contention for contemporary audiences. Theological Ethics is a wide remit, and the book provides a methodological focus on Selected Topics in Human Sexuality.
This book addresses important moral questions people commonly face when they or their loved ones experience life-threatening injuries, end-stage illnesses, or advanced old age. Due to modern medical technology, patients and their family members often confront such questions as: What medical procedures are morally required, and what procedures are optional? Is providing food and water to a patient an optional medical treatment, or is it basic care necessary for all human beings? What roles do conscience, quality of life, pain, and financial burden play in end-of-life decision-making? With a clear, concise question-and-answer format, this book provides moral answers to these questions, and many more, in the light of Catholic teaching based on Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Without knowledge of medical science or familiarity with common medical terminology, people can be misled or confused by authoritative-sounding medical assertions, even immoral ones—thus the need for this easy-to-use guide. In these pages, readers can quickly find the most pressing end-of-life questions along with answers consistent with the moral teachings of the Church. The book uses practical reasoning to reach proper moral conclusions based on correct moral principles. Timely and highly practical, this book addresses issues everyone will eventually face, showing that making good moral decisions leads to happiness now and at the hour of our death.
When discussing Christianity with Jehovah's Witnesses we might be presented with 'facts' or asked questions which we are uncertain about answering.This carefully and clearly written booklet provides the answers to those questions. Topics coveredinclude the Divinity of Jesus, scripture, and the many other distinctive beliefs held by Jehovah's Witnesses.
Dr. Stephen Doran draws from his vast experience as a neurosurgeon, a bioethicist, and a permanent deacon to present the Catholic perspective on the art of dying well. The spiritual and moral issues related to death and the process of dying can be challenging and complicated. To Die Well provides a detailed yet readily understandable guide to these topics. Each chapter begins with a story from Dr. Doran's personal or professional life that not only provides context for the topic at hand but also gently draws the reader toward the personal realities of dying. The first part focuses on the moral issues that surround death and dying, including end-of-life medical decisions. The second part is devoted to the Catholic spiritual understanding of dying and the rites that accompany the death of a Catholic. To Die Well will help readers contemplate, pray about, and prepare for the end of their earthly lives.
This timely and up to date new edition of Biomedicine and Beatitude features an entirely new chapter on the ethics of bodily modification. It is also updated throughout to reflect the pontificate of Pope Francis, recent concerns including ethical issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic, and feedback from the many instructors who used the first edition in the classroom.
