Resources
In this section you will find our resources library. Either use the subject categories to navigate or the search and filter system.
Skip to resources searchThe resources provided by this website broadly fall in to three categories.
First there are papers on bioethical topics written or commissioned by members of the network. In some cases these will be papers that have previously been published in other contexts and are republished here with permission and/or are already in the public domain.
Secondly there are links to documents by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church (that is, by a Pope or an Ecumenical Council or by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith) that are relevant to bioethics. These links will be accompanied by a short description but the description is not to be understood as a commentary or interpretation. It is provided only as an aid to help find material on particular topics.
Finally there are resources that have been produced by other organisations, such as reports or guides. These resources will generally have been published before and may be available on other websites, but are reproduced here for convenience. Where the organisation is operational and/or owns the copyright, these resources will reproduced only with permission.
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Bioethics in Brief: Abortion
Other Resources
April 16, 2022
What is abortion? Abortion may be defined as the deliberate killing, however performed, of the early human being (the foetus or the embryo). Such a definition is given in the encyclical Evangelium vitae (§58), and also sometimes by defenders of abortion, including doctors who perform abortions. Some will indeed quite bluntly say that the aim of abortion is to
Bioethics in Brief: The Status of the Human Embryo
Other Resources
April 16, 2022
What is an embryo? What is an embryo? The word seems to be the name of a kind of thing, like the word ‘mammal’. There are different species of mammal, such as mice, kangaroos and human beings, but we can say of each one – this is a mammal. I am a mammal and so are
Bioethics in Brief: IVF and Artificial Insemination
Other Resources
April 16, 2022
Why does the Catholic Church consider IVF to be immoral? Infertility can be a terrible burden for couples to bear. The desire to have a child is one of the most profound human desires, and furthermore the Church teaches that parenthood is an ‘exalted vocation’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, §2369) and that children are
Bioethics in Brief: Contraception and Natural Family Planning
Other Resources
April 16, 2022
What is the difference between contraception and natural family planning? Contraception is the act of deliberately and intentionally rendering sex infertile, for the purpose of preventing procreation. Depending on the method of contraception used, this might take place ‘before, at the moment of, or after sexual intercourse’ (Humanae vitae, §14). Common forms of contraception include barrier methods which prevent
Bioethics in Brief: Withdrawing and Refusing Treatment
Other Resources
April 16, 2022
Is it ever morally acceptable to withdraw or refuse life-sustaining treatment? Withdrawing or refusing life-saving or life-sustaining treatment is not a decision to be taken lightly. Human beings are created in the image and likeness of God and our lives have intrinsic value. As such, we have a general duty to preserve and defend life.
Bioethics in Brief: Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
Other Resources
April 16, 2022
What is the difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide? Euthanasia and assisted suicide both refer to the intentional ending of a patient’s life, typically at their request, where death is thought to be of benefit to the patient. The difference lies in who carries out the life-ending act. In the case of euthanasia, the lethal
Bioethics in Brief: Cooperation with Evil
Other Resources
April 16, 2022
What is ‘cooperation in evil’? ‘Cooperation in evil’ often means assisting or facilitating the wrongdoing of others, either intentionally or as a side-effect of our action. The same idea is implied by the term ‘complicity’. These terms can also be used to include endorsing past or current wrongful choices of other people. Some also use
Bioethics in Brief: Principle of Double Effect
Other Resources
April 16, 2022
What is the ‘Principle of Double Effect’? When making a moral decision, we often treat side-effects of our actions differently from effects we intend. For example, when giving criticism, we think it more problematic morally to hurt the person intentionally than merely to foresee that our words will cause them pain. Sometimes we tolerate even
First, Do No Harm: How Canadian Law Allows for Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide for Patients with Psychiatric Disorders
Other Resources
June 7, 2021
Summary Canada recently passed a Bill, C-7, which responded to a Quebec Superior Court ruling that the previous Federal law introducing ‘Medical Aid in Dying’ (MAiD) – euthanasia and assisted suicide (EAS) – into Canadian medical practice, violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms by not including mental illness as an eligible condition for
Samaritanus Bonus: on the care of persons in the critical and terminal phases of life
Magisterial Documents
July 14, 2020
Description The Good Samaritan who aids an injured man (Luke 10:30-37) signifies Jesus Christ who encounters human beings in need of salvation and cares for our wounds and suffering. This letter takes inspiration from the Good Samaritan to enlighten pastors and the faithful regarding their questions and uncertainties about medical care, and their spiritual and
Position Paper of the Abrahamic Monotheistic Religions on Matters Concerning the End of Life
Other Resources
October 28, 2019
Representatives from the Catholic and Orthodox Churches and the Jewish and Muslim faiths signed a joint declaration at the Vatican reaffirming each religion’s clear opposition to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Pope Francis met with the signatories on 28 October 2019 when they presented him with a copy they had signed earlier that day. They include
On the Ethics of Organ Transplantation: A Catholic Perspective. The report of a working party
Other Resources
October 1, 2014
This report is the work of an international group of clinicians, philosophers, and theologians convened by the Anscombe Bioethics Centre, Oxford. Most of the drafting was done by Prof David Albert Jones and Prof Nicholas Tonti-Filippini with further comments, suggestions, and corrections from other working group members. The aim of the report is to set