The National Catholic Bioethics Center

The National Catholic Bioethics Center

conducts research, consultation, publishing and education to promote human dignity in health care and the life sciences, and derives its message directly from the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Some of the resources on the Center’s Web site are for sale or restricted to subscribers, but there are a number of features that are accessible to everyone. Among these are articles from a monthly column called Making Sense out of Bioethics written by Father Tad Pacholczyk, Director of Education at the NCBC, that appears in various diocesan newspapers across the United States. These articles provide concise explanations of the Church's position on bioethics issues.

Also featured on the Web site and freely accessible is Bioethics FAQ's and Pastoral Resources, responses to frequently asked questions to assist individuals facing difficult decisions regarding the care of family members.

Also available are NCBC Resources on Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning.

Living Faith

The Archdiocese of Seattle Living Faith has begun publishing a series of parish bulletin inserts called Living Faith. These inserts aim at informing Catholics about Catholic Social Teaching and the major issues confronting American Catholics. The goal of these inserts is that

Members of the local Church with a better understanding can enter discussions of contemporary moral/political issues with people they meet in their everyday lives.

Each insert is a two page document that succinctly outlines church teaching on a given topic and suggests concrete ways Catholics can share this teaching with others.

Inserts published in 2007:

Our Faith/Our Life: The Consistent Ethic of Life (April 2007)

Protecting Life from the Violence of Abortion (June 2007)

Understanding Stem Cell Research (November 2007)

Future Issues of Living Faith will focus on the following themes:

Nonviolence & Just War Tradition
Environment & Climate Change
Marriage/Same-Sex Unions
Access to Health Care
Assisted Suicide
Homelessness
Economic Justice
Consumerism