Now and at the Hour of Our Death: Catholic Guidance for End-of-Life Decision Making
Talking about death and dying can be difficult and uncomfortable, yet perhaps no conversations are more profound or necessary for all of us. The fact is that most of us will face challenging decisions regarding treatment and care at the end of life, either for ourselves or our family members. The Now and at the Hour of Our Death website is designed to offer Catholics moral clarity and guidance on the Church’s teachings regarding end-of-life decision making. Illness and aging, coupled with rapid advances in medical technology, can lead to heightened anxiety when health care decisions must be made. We hope that this site will help you to navigate the end-of-life questions and challenges that you and/or your loved ones face, and bring peace to a stressful situation. It provides links to trustworthy resources, guidance, and support from Catholic sources all across the country.
Encouraging End-of-Life Conversations:
A Catholic Perspective on Advance Directives by the Catholic Conference of Illinois Download PDF here.
Additional Resources:
USCCB Resources – Catholic Care for the Sick and Dying
USCCB Resources – Assisted Suicide
National Catholic Bioethics Center
Consultation Services on Bioethical Issues (available through the NCBC)
Opposing Assisted Suicide – Diocese of Rockford
Do you have questions about a specific situation? Consider talking to the priest or deacon at your local parish.