Catholic bioethicists are sounding the alarm about a critical lack of agreement on what constitutes brain death; and the implications for organ donation are "profound," they said.
The National Catholic Bioethics Center, based near Philadelphia, released an April 11 statement on "Integrity in
In the midst of the COVID lockdowns, columnist Simcha Fisher lost her father. Yet his death, funeral and burial just before Easter 2020 gave her a renewed sense of the firm ground of God’s presence. In this article she talks about how
Katie Prejean McGrady shares the beautiful gift of being present at her devoted grandfather’s death during Holy Week. She says Jesus spent his Holy Week patiently and slowly saying, “I love you,” repeatedly, and Jesus is amid our own Holy Weeks, by
Are Catholics permitted to baptize a dying individual? If so, how is that done and what is spoken over the person? Monsignor Charles Pope explains: “In danger of death, many of the rules about sacraments are relaxed while what is urgent and
Each headstone in a Catholic graveyard is a type of signpost testifying to truths of the Faith, including one’s eternal destination. “Our faith has to be a living faith and so, therefore, if we believe everyone should be in a Catholic cemetery,
Death is on the mind of the Church in November. By celebrating the saints and praying for all the dead, we acknowledge that death comes for us all. The rich and mighty face the same end as the poor and weak. Memento
“God, please help me,” Matthew Perry whispered. “Show me that you are here. God, please help me.” In his memoir, the late actor described an encounter where he unmistakably knew God’s presence. He had been struggling with addiction. He even thought he
Stephen Doran, M.D., is a board-certified neurosurgeon with over 25 years of experience. He is also the author of “To Die Well: A Catholic Neurosurgeon’s Guide to the End of Life,” published this month by Ignatius Press. Stephen also happens to be
(OSV News) As an observing member of the Drafting Committee to Revise the Uniform Declaration of Death Act (UDDA) Dr. Christopher DeCock — talking with Charlie Camosy on behalf of OSV News — discusses an upcoming (and highly problematic) possible revision to
In Sunday’s reading from the Gospel of John, we heard the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. In her latest essay, Simcha Fisher reflects on the powerful moment when Christ openly grieves for his friend. “He weeps not despite his