The NCBC Supports: The USCCB Life Issues Forum

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a Call to Action through their Life Issues Forum. Dr. Marie Hilliard, Director of Public Policy at the National Catholic Bioethics Center said of the press release: "The examples given by the USCCB  are just a few of the many trials Christians have faced as they attempt to defend their faith and uphold moral teaching...the truly heartrending story of Cathy Cenzon-DeCarlo is one example that has been cited for years since it occurred. It is a perfect illustration of what many Catholics are up against in America today, in healthcare and in all the areas of our lives."

As Catholics we must speak up. We must act.

From the USCCB:

LIFE ISSUES FORUM                                                       August 20, 2013
           

Stand with Sr. Jane Marie                                                 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
By Deirdre A. McQuade

Cathy, Sr. Jane Marie, and Christine are three Catholic women whose freedom to work according to their faith is being severely threatened. In March they traveled to Washington, DC, urging Congress to pass the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (H.R. 940, S. 1204), which would protect their freedom of conscience. Now they need your help: read their stories below, watch and share the brief video on their stories, and stand in solidarity with them by contacting Congress today!

Catherina “Cathy” Cenzon-DeCarlo is an operating room nurse at a major hospital in New York City. In 2009, Cathy was forced to participate in a 22-week abortion against her clearly-stated objections. Cathy has suffered deep trauma from witnessing the abortion and accounting for all of the unborn child’s body parts afterwards. She says it was like “a horror film unfolding.” Cathy sued the hospital; but while her employer’s coercion was illegal, she had no recourse in the court. Since then, many other nurses and medical staff have told her she’s not alone. Contrary to their medical oath to “do no harm,” they, too, have been pressured to destroy life rather than preserve it. Cathy and her colleagues need the legal protection of the Health Care Conscience Rights Act to ensure that such discrimination never happens again.

Sr. Jane Marie Klein is the chair of the board for the non-profit Franciscan Alliance, a 13-hospital Catholic health care system in Indiana, Michigan & Illinois, serving over four million patients each year regardless of their ability to pay. Under the guise of “preventive services for women,” this Administration is forcing nearly all employers to cover sterilization procedures, as well as contraception and abortifacient drugs and devices in their health plans at no cost to the employee – the so-called “HHS mandate.” The Franciscan Alliance has been a Catholic system for over 130 years, but does not qualify for an exemption as a “religious employer” according to the mandate’s extremely narrow definition. Soon they will face crippling fines for being faithful to Catholic teaching. The Franciscan Alliance is suing the federal government to protect their freedom of conscience. The Health Care Conscience Rights Act would properly define who qualifies as a religious employer so that much-needed medical facilities and charitable organizations will be able to continue serving our neediest neighbors.

Christine Ketterhagen is a co-owner and board member of a family-run company, Hercules Industries, in Denver, Colorado. They provide excellent benefits, and draw the line at payment for contraceptives and drugs like Ella marketed as “emergency” contraception that can actually cause early abortions, Because of the Administration’s mandate, Hercules will also face punishing fines if they refuse to comply — $162,500 per week! They, too, are suing the Administration so that they will not be forced to include objectionable coverage against their core values. If passed into law, the Health Care Conscience Rights Act will establish conscience rights protections for private entities that are not faith-based organizations.

Cathy, Sr. Jane Marie, and Christine tell their stories in our YouTube video: Speak Up for Conscience Rights Today.  Watch it and then share the link with friends, colleagues, and family members. 

Finally, stand in solidarity with these brave women. Send your personalized email to Congress at www.usccb.org/conscience. It only takes a few minutes!

Thank you for speaking up for conscience rights today!

The NCBC Releases Crucial New Edition of The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly: “A Critique of the New Natural Law Theory”.

Once a year the National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly is published around a particular theme. This current issue addresses, from various perspectives, a very influential moral theory which has developed over the last several decades. It was developed principally by German Grisez and several of his esteemed collaborators who include John Finnis at Oxford University, Joseph Boyle at the University of Toronto, William May, formerly at Catholic University, and Robert George at Princeton University. The proponents of this theory are courageous and faithful Catholics renowned for defending the Faith and the natural moral law in the public forum.

The New Natural Law Theory (NNLT) has been used very effectively, within our generally secularized and legalistic culture, to defend Judeo-Christian teachings on the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death, the nature of marriage as a life-long union between one man and one woman, and the immorality of contraception and of such “reproductive technologies” as in vitro fertilization and surrogacy. The concepts of the NNLT have helped its proponents to engage in constructive moral dialogue with those of other faiths and with those who may have no religious beliefs at all.

Despite the solid reputation for orthodoxy of these writers, there has been concern among some Catholic philosophers and theologians who believe that the NNLT entails certain departures from the generally received Thomistic tradition which might lead to applications in the moral realm that could be problematic. Perhaps the most contentious position espoused by Grisez and some of his colleagues is that in certain limited situations, namely when both mother and child would die because the child cannot pass through the birth canal during delivery, it could be morally permissible to perform a craniotomy. In short, they maintain, the baby’s skull could be crushed in order to facilitate its passage through the birth canal, resulting in the death of the child and the saving of the mother. As Grisez has put it: “The proposal can be simply to alter the child’s physical dimensions and remove him or her, because, as a physical object, this body cannot remain where it is without ending in both the baby’s and the mother’s death.” The death of the child would be outside the intention (praeter intentionem) of the physician and hence would not be a direct abortion. 

The debate over whether or not this would constitute the intentional killing of the baby has largely remained in the realm of theory. However, some recent high-profile clinical cases could lead to certain practices being adopted in Catholic health care institutions with appeal to the NNLT. Hence, the debate over the adequacy of the theory has become much more urgent.

This issue of the Quarterly does not address the specifically clinical repercussions of the NNLT. Rather, it aims to address a broad range of fundamental concepts that have been developed by the NNLT theorists such as the relationship between theoretical and the practical (ethical) reason, what constitutes a moral object, and the role of the natural order in the formulation of moral proposals for action. The contributors to this volume are highly respected scholars such as Father Kevin Flannery, S.J., of the Gregorian University in Rome, Dr. Stephen Long of Ave Maria University, and Dr. John Goyette at Thomas Aquinas College in California.

It is hoped that these published critiques of the widely accepted NNLT will generate a vigorous and fruitful discussion of the theory among scholars, who are encouraged to submit their own manuscripts to future issues of the Quarterly. In the long term, it is hoped that a rich debate may contribute to the refinement of practial moral guidance for all those charged with the challenging tasks of health care policy-making and clinical decision-making. Given the profound deference of the authors on all sides to the authority of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, the NCBC is confident that the discussion will be of great benefit to the faithful.

NCBC Ethicist On The Radio!

Our director of Education, Father Tad, also spoke about the 'controversy' that arose in Germany on Ave Maria Radio. Take a moment to listen to Father Tad's explanation, HERE, by opening the link and scrolling to minute 17:00.

Father Tad will also be on The Catholic Answer radio show TONIGHT from around 7 PM to 8 PM. The show will be a completely call-in episode, so listen or even call in to speak to a real live NCBC ethicist!

You can read more about tonight's segment, "Bioethics for the Rest of Us" HERE and you will be able stream the show live HERE tonight, beginning at 6PM.

Some Updates From The National Catholic Bioethics Center - Bishops' Workshop 2013

A Message From The NCBC's President, Dr. John M. Haas

February was a busy month for the National Catholic Bioethics Center, and many key events took place in just the past few weeks. Please take few moments and have a look at some things we've been up to.

If you enjoy reading this blog, and if you like what you see here, consider helping us with the work we do by making a Donation to The National Catholic Bioethics Center. Our site is secure, and all donations are Tax-Deductible.

Please, donate to make a difference.

Click To Make A Donation to The NCBC HERE

Thank you for you support!
May God Bless You.

Now please enjoy these updates from The NCBC!

Sincerely,

John M. Haas, Ph.D
President
The National Catholic Bioethics Center

Twenty-Fourth Bishops' Workshop

The National Catholic Bioethics Center hosted its twenty-fourth Workshop For Bishops this year in Dallas, Texas. The seminar, which always occurs the first week of February, is a biennial event that provides an opportunity for Bishops from the U.S. and all of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean to gather and consider the myriad ethical issues relating to The Church's involvement in health care. After the government, The Catholic Church is the largest provider of healthcare in The United States. The medical field is an changing environment which works with cutting-edge sciences that carry numerous ethical implications. The NCBC's Workshop allows the Bishops to keep abreast of contemporary scientific advances and the moral ways these advances can be used to help better our society.

The workshops are structured to address a specific topic or cluster of topics connected by a central titular theme. This year's Workshop was titled: Bioethics Through the Eyes of Faith:Serving Christ in the Sick and Vulnerable in light of Benedict XVI's declaration that this be the Year of Faith. Simultaneous interpretation was provided for Spanish-speaking Bishops and three sessions, entirely in Spanish, were provided for them.

The proceedings are published in book form and are available from The National Catholic Bioethics Center and through our online store, here. The 2013 edition will be available soon!

Beyond functioning as a forum for our Catholic Leaders to consider bioethical issues, the Workshop is a wonderful gathering of so many of America's Episcopate:

Fellow Bishops meet. From the left: Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano,
Papal Nuncio to the United States; Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore,
Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans, Chairman of The NCBC Board;
Cardinal William Levada, former Prefect of the Congregation of for the Doctrine of the Faith;
and Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, D.C.

The NCBC's President, Dr. Haas with Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska.

The NCBC's Visiting Scholar from the University of Santa Croce,
Father Pau Agulles, with the Papal Nuncio.

The NCBC's Executive Vice President, Deacon John Hunter,
with the Papal Nuncio

Approximately 140 Bishops were in attendance this year and they were addressed by the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Vigano, who read a personal letter to the Bishops from His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. The Papal Nuncio also preached at the opening Mass. The bishops in attendance indicated that the Workshop was very instructive and useful for their pastoral ministry.

Please feel free to read Archbishop Vigano's introduction to Benedict's letter here, and the Letter from Benedict himself here.

Departure of a Colleague and Friend

A sad event occurred after the end of the Bishops' Workshop: The departure of our visiting scholar, Father Pau Agulles. We said our farewells as he prepared to return to his teaching position in Rome. He has been named the Chief Assistant Professor for Bioethics at the University of Santa Croce and, as a result, he has undertaken teaching four bioethics classes in a row this semester! Apart from his enormous help in preparing for, and presenting at, the Bishops Workshop, Father Pau was a delight to have at the office. He brought his dry sense of humor and his sharp wit to every conversation. He is a good man and a good priest; he will be missed dearly.

The week before he left, we had some time to serve a goodbye potluck luncheon for Father Pau:

Father Pau anticipates his feast with Julie Kelley and Tara Capizzi!

Father Pau Cuts his cake while Dr. Marie Hilliard looks on.

Farewell Father! 

Those of you who live in the area will be proud to know that Father Pau's final meal before leaving the country was, of course, a Philly Cheesesteak!

Good luck to you Father, may God bless you in all your endeavors.

Letters to The Center

As we prepare to break for Christmas, spend time with loved ones, and celebrate the coming of our Savior, many of us count our blessings from this year and try to make a concerted effort to give to those in need. At the National Catholic Bioethics Center, we make it our daily mission to give of our time and talent as we provide important and highly sought services: Individual and institutional consultation services, scholarly publication, educational programs, and more. The NCBC staff even makes themselves available 24 hours a day to address moral and ethical emergencies our brothers and sisters encounter while dealing with a medical quandary.

In relation to these services, The NCBC received an encouraging Christmas gift this year in the form of a thank-you letter from a national organization: 

Good Morning,

I would like to introduce myself. I am the Medical Specialist for Heartbeat International, http://www.heartbeatinternational.org/ and http://www.heartbeatservices.org/services-homepage.  

Heartbeat International has approximately 1,400 affiliates national and international, including pregnancy resource centers many of whom are medical clinics, maternity homes, adoption agencies and abortion recovery programs.  I am extremely grateful for the medical information you have available on your site and for the wonderful work you are doing in the defense of life. I write a bimonthly e-publication, Medical Matters, for our affiliate medical clinics on issues and topics of importance to those medical professionals who are working in the pregnancy center medical clinics, and find your site helpful. We appreciate the National Catholic Bioethics Center and the great work you are doing. May God richly bless you and all you do in defense of life. Thank you!

Blessings,

Susan Dammann RN

Medical Specialist/LAS

Heartbeat International

Thank you, Susan, for your kind words and genuine praise. We are heartened to hear that many people and large groups are availing themselves of the resources we provide. We hope all of those in need of guidance will contact us and we invite everyone this New Year to make use of the many tools and references available on our website. Have a Merry Christmas!

Peace, 

The National Catholic Bioethics Center