Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church United States Catholic Conference of Bishops The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church , a unique, unprecedented document in the history of the Church, serves as a tool to inspire and guide the faithful who are faced with moral and pastoral challenges daily. It is divided into five sections, an introduction, three parts, and a …

William E. May Never has the gift of human life been more threatened. Euthanasia, in vitro fertilization, genetic counseling, assisted suicide, "living wills," persistent vegetative state, organ transplants... modern science has brought complex bioethical decisions about life into every Catholic household. Now, Professor William E. May fearlessly tackles these hot-topic issues, examining them …

Life Issues, Medical Choices: Questions and Answers for Catholics   by Janet E. Smith and Christopher Kaczor   Medical and technological advances over the last decades have left millions of Catholics grappling with tough issues. When is it permissible to remove a feeding tube from a patient? Is the use of contraceptives for medical purposes acceptable? Is it morally acceptable to try …

The Shepherd's Voice Series brings you the current teaching of Bishops and Cardinals on vital topics facing the Catholic Church today. Archbishop Jos é Gomez, renowned expert on death and dying issues, explains what every Catholic needs to know in order to effectively and morally prepare for the inevitable death of our loved ones and even ourselves.  With changing values and modern medical …

In The Clash of Orthodoxies: Law, Religion, and Morality in Crisis , Robert George tackles the issues at the heart of the contemporary conflict of worldviews. Challenging liberalism's claim to represent the triumph of reason, George argues that on controversial issues like abortion, embryonic stem-cell research, euthanasia, same-sex unions, civil rights and liberties, and the place of religion …

Fr. Frank A. Pavone Beginning with the proclamation, “Jesus Christ is risen from the dead” this pamphlet reminds us that to stand with Christ, means to defend life - to preach the Gospel of Life. The court decision (Roe vs. Wade) legalizing abortion has had far-reaching effects. Many are surprised to learn that the decision did not deny that the unborn child is human. Does this mean that the …

End of Life Issues From the " What The Church Teaches " pamphlet series. The Catholic Church teaches that all life, from conception to natural death, is sacred.  However, modern medical advances have made end of life issues increasingly difficult to sort out.  What is the difference between letting a person die and practicing euthanasia?  Can Catholics have "living wills?"  …

Wesley J. Smith believes that American medicine "is changing from a system based on the sanctity of human life into a starkly utilitarian model in which the medically defenseless are seen as having not just a 'right' but a 'duty' to die." Going behind the current scenes of our health care system, he shows how doctors withdraw desired care based on Futile Care Theory rather than providing it as …

Mark Fuhrman We all watched Terry Schiavo die. The controversy around her case dominated the headlines and talk shows, going all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, the White House, and the Vatican. And it's not over yet. Despite her death, the controversy lingers. In Silent Witness , former LAPD detective and New York Times best-selling author Mark Fuhrman applies his highly respected …

An important and timely consideration of the nature and rights of the human embryo. The bitter national debates over abortion, euthanasia, and stem cell research have created an unbridgeable gap between religious groups and those who insist that faith-based views have no place in public policy. Religious conservatives are so adamantly opposed to stem cell research in particular that President …