Bioethics
The Latest
South Dakota bishops support conscientious, religious exemptions from Covid vaccine mandates
In response to questions from Catholics about COVID-19 vaccine mandates being imposed by employers or other authorities, the bishops of... Read more
Bishops in Colorado back conscientious exemption for coronavirus vaccines
The Catholic bishops in Colorado have emphasized the need to respect those with conscientious objections to the COVID-19 vaccines and... Read more
European court rejects parents’ appeal against removal of 2-year-old’s life-support treatment
The family’s lawyer said the parents were ‘extremely disappointed’ by the decision. Read more
Parents of 2-year-old girl await UK Supreme Court response on removing life-support against their wishes
The case has drawn international scrutiny. Read more
Catholic health care giant Ascension to mandate coronavirus vaccines for employees
The Catholic health care network Ascension will mandate coronavirus vaccination for its employees, physicians, volunteers, and vendors. It cited a... Read more
Catholic archbishop: With new law, foundation of French bioethics ‘has been erased’
The new law gives single women and lesbian couples access to state-sponsored medically assisted reproduction. Read more
Catholic columnist: ‘Brave new world’ of embryo experimentation could sharpen Communion debate
Recent developments regarding experimentation on human embryos could force a larger conflict between Catholic Democratic politicians and U.S. bishops on... Read more
Bioethicists deplore relaxation of 14-day limit on human embryo research
The International Society for Stem Cell Research has dropped the decades-old rule. Read more
‘Utter disregard’ for life: Members of Congress slam new guidance on embryo research
Two members of Congress this week criticized new guidance by a leading scientific organization removing prohibitions on research of human... Read more
Proposed change to brain death laws draws criticism from some doctors, ethicists
A proposed change to U.S. law concerning the determination of brain death has drawn criticism from a group of doctors,... Read more
Calif. bill targets university healthcare links to Catholic hospitals, demands further moral compromise
A bill threatens to ban University of California health systems from partnering with institutions that follow Catholic ethics, prompting concern... Read more
Catholic bioethicist laments HHS removal of restrictions on fetal tissue research
A Catholic bioethicist has repeated his objection to the Biden administration’s decision that the National Institutes of Health no longer... Read more
What Catholics should know about brain death
While the moment of human conception— the beginning of life— is well-understood and observed from a scientific standpoint, the exact... Read more
Ethicists urge caution after creation of monkey embryos containing human cells
Catholic scientists and ethicists have warned of the potential for a slippery slope in response to reports that scientists had... Read more
Pro-life group: End of mother’s UK legal battle over life support for 5-year-old girl ‘a tragedy’
A pro-life group has described the U.K. Supreme Court’s decision not to hear a mother’s appeal over the removal of... Read more
Research on human embryos in an artificial womb? Why recent experiments have ethicists concerned
After scientists successfully grew mouse embryos in an artificial uterus, ethicists are warning against any future extension of the experiments... Read more
Catholic bishop laments appeal court ruling on removing life-support from 5-year-old against mother’s wishes
A Catholic bishop has lamented an English appeal court ruling that life-sustaining treatment can be withdrawn from a five-year-old girl... Read more
Human embryo, or a model? Resist 'depersonalizing' research, ethicist cautions
New “models” of early human embryos that cannot grow into full human beings provoke ethical questions about whether they are... Read more
Canada's bishops: Choose Covid vaccines with least connection to abortion, when possible
The Catholic bishops of Canada wrote this week on whether certain COVID-19 vaccines are morally preferable for Catholics, if given... Read more
Catholic women issue statement opposing use of 'abortion-tainted vaccines'
Eighty-six Catholic women from 25 countries issued a letter Monday opposing what they called “abortion-tainted” COVID-19 vaccines, and arguing Church... Read more
