The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (the Directives) were approved in 1971 and revised in 1994 by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. The document expresses the values governing institutionally-based Catholic health care services in the United States. A significant and controversial revision to the 1994 document was the addition of an Appendix outlining the "principles governing cooperation." These principles, introduced into Catholic moral theology in the 1700s reflect the fact "that in order to accomplish good, some cooperation with wrongdoing may at times be unavoidable."
The 1994 revision of the Directives had the two-fold purpose of reaffirming ethical standards and providing authoritative guidance on moral issues in an era of radical transformation in American health care. In particular, given the pressures to affiliate and comply with mandated benefits, the Appendix clarifies the deliberative process that should accompany any considerations by an institutional or individual health care provider of participation in activities (such as the provision of contraceptive or sterilization services) explicitly proscribed by Catholic doctrine.
In this paper, I will draw on particular examples to discuss the principle of material cooperation as it relates to the provision of reproductive services in Catholic or affiliated health care institutions.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.