Bioethics

The Latest

In an interview with “EWTN News Nightly” anchor Tracy Sabol, National Catholics Bioethics Center President Dr. Joseph Meaney discusses the first-ever therapy approved by the FDA using CRISPR, a genome editing technology.

‘Groundbreaking’ gene-editing therapy receives thumbs up from Catholic bioethicist

Dec 12, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

A new gene-editing therapy designed to help treat patients suffering from sickle cell disease has been endorsed by the National... Read more

The Italian government decided in an emergency meeting on Nov. 6, 2023, to grant critically ill 8-month-old baby Indi Gregory Italian citizenship and to cover the cost of her medical treatment at the Vatican’s Bambino Gesù hospital. The Vatican’s pediatric hospital has offered to treat after a British court ruled that she be removed from life support against her parents’ wishes.

Indi Gregory case: Baby to be removed from life support Thursday despite parents’ pleas

Nov 8, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

A terminally ill baby in England is set to be removed from life support following a judge’s ruling, despite the... Read more

null

U.S. bishops warn against proposed change to definition of brain death 

Jul 20, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The USCCB and a key Catholic bioethics group are both warning of a potential rewriting of U.S. law to broaden... Read more

Human embryos.

First reported synthetic human embryo sparks ethical concerns, creates questions

Jun 19, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Cambridge University researchers developed the world’s first synthetic human embryo models using stem cells but without using an egg or... Read more

Illustration of eight-cell embryo.

UK birth of ‘three-parent baby’ came at a high moral cost, Catholic bioethicists warn

May 11, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

“This is the destruction of two embryonic human individuals to create a third individual,” the Anscombe Bioethics Centre said. Read more

Roberto Dell’Oro is the director of the Bioethics Institute and a professor in the Department of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.

Another Pontifical Academy for Life member criticizes overturning Roe v. Wade

Oct 21, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Bioethicist Roberto Dell’Oro argues that the Dobbs decision violates women’s “autonomy.” Read more

Mónica López Barahona, member of the board of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

Pontifical Academy for Life board member: Church teaching on contraception has not changed

Jul 21, 2022

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

Dr. Mónica López Barahona, a member of the Board of Directors of the Pontifical Academy for Life and president of... Read more

The Court of Appeal is based at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

English courts to reconsider life support for Archie Battersbee, severely brain-injured boy

Jun 29, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

England’s High Court must hold another hearing to determine whether ending the life support of a severely injured 12-year-old boy,... Read more

null

Bioethicists highlight greater threshold for medical decisions for children

Apr 28, 2022

By CNA Staff

As Moderna asks the Food and Drug Administration to authorize its coronavirus vaccine for children under 6, the National Catholic... Read more

Human Embryo, File Photo.

Pope Francis’ March prayer intention: For Christians facing new bioethical challenges

Mar 8, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

‘Let us pray that we may give a Christian response to bioethical challenges,’ the pope said. Read more

null

Study challenges claim that legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide could ‘save lives’

Feb 17, 2022

By CNA Staff

The peer-reviewed paper analyzed suicide rates in Europe. Read more

Joseph Meaney, president of the National Catholic Bioethics Center (second from left), speaks during a press conference Jan. 20, 2023 in Washington, D.C. announcing the formation of the Catholic Health Care Leadership Alliance. With him in the photo are other members of the alliance's board of directors: Dr. Steven White of the Catholic Medical Association (far left), Douglas G. Wilson, Jr., CEO of the Catholic Benefits Association (third from left), and Louis Brown, executive director of the Christ Medicus Foundation.

Coalition to protect, advance Catholic health care launches

Jan 20, 2022

By Shannon Mullen, Carl Bunderson

Bishop James Conley and the leaders of five Catholic medical or professional associations on Thursday founded the Catholic Health Care... Read more

null

No Supreme Court hearing for Catholic hospital sued for declining transgender surgery

Nov 2, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

The Supreme Court has declined to intervene in a lawsuit against a Catholic hospital that declined to perform a hysterectomy... Read more

Alta Fixsler

Alta Fixsler dies in hospice

Oct 23, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

Alta Fixsler, the two-year-old British girl whose parents fought to keep on life support, died October 18 after her life... Read more

null

UK woman who regrets teen gender transition sees court victory overturned on appeal

Sep 17, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

A woman who says she was too young when a gender clinic prescribed her puberty blockers has lamented that a... Read more

Bishop Kevin Sweeney of Paterson. Photo courtesy DeSales Media Group.

Paterson bishop: Vaccination exemption for clergy 'will be minimal'

Sep 15, 2021

By Joe Bukuras

Bishop Kevin Sweeney of Paterson wrote to clerics of his diocese Tuesday to ‘strongly encourage’ their vaccination against COVID-19. Non-medical... Read more

Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland in Oregon.

Portland archdiocese asks its schools to follow COVID vaccine mandate, but will consider conscience exemptions

Aug 31, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

The Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon responded Monday to a new state COVID-19 vaccine mandate, noting that Catholic schools in... Read more

null

Mexico City archdiocese encourages COVID vaccination

Aug 23, 2021

By David Ramos

The Archdiocese of Mexico called Sunday on the faithful voluntarily to get vaccinated against COVID-19, but is currently not considering... Read more

Charles Camosy urges Covid vaccination, and upholds conscience rights

Aug 16, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

A Catholic bioethicist has made the case for everyone to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, while also holding that the Church... Read more

Jennifer Doudna, a co-inventor of CRISPR gene editing, who was appointed a member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences Aug. 11, 2021. Credit: Christopher Michel via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Inventors of CRISPR gene editing appointed to Pontifical Academy of Sciences

Aug 12, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis has appointed the co-inventors of the CRISPR genome editing technology to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Read more