Resources

Simply click on your state or scroll down the page to find morally appropriate guidance on end-of-life decision making, approved by the (Arch)Bishop(s) in your locale. Preferred advance directives, if legally available in your state, are encouraged at these links. If guidelines are not currently available for your state, please consider the General Resources below.


General Resources

The following resources provide general guidance for all people. Resources from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

  • The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, fifth edition, 2009, Part V: Issues in Care for the Seriously Ill and Dying. These Directives reaffirm the ethical standards that flow from the Church’s teaching about human life and dignity, and provide authoritative guidance on some specific moral issues HERE.
  • To Live Each Day with Dignity, the United States Bishops’ policy statement on assisted suicide, 2011, HERE.
  • Official Catholic Church teachings, prayers during serious illness, fact sheets and educational articles HERE.
  • More resources on euthanasia, including official Vatican declarations and commentaries, as well as articles and publications HERE.

 State Resources

ARIZONA

  • From the Diocese of Phoenix, an Advance Medical Directive in accord with Catholic teaching, with Q & A HERE.

CALIFORNIA

  • Resources from the California Catholic Conference, including frequently asked questions, a Catholic advance health care directive, prayers for the sick and dying and more can be found HERE.

COLORADO

  • Resources from the Colorado Catholic Conference, including information about the Catholic Healthcare Directive HERE.
  • The Catholic Healthcare Directive form HERE.

CONNECTICUT

  • For information about end-of-life issues and advance care planning in the state of Connecticut, contact the Connecticut Catholic Conference at: 134 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105 (860) 524-7882 E-mail: ccc@ctcatholic.org

DELAWARE

  • From the Diocese of Wilmington: The Catholic Advanced Health Care Directive, with instructions for use HERE.

FLORIDA

  • Resources from the Florida Catholic Conference: A Catholic Declaration on Life and Death/An Advanced Directive HERE.

GEORGIA

HAWAII

  • From the Diocese of Honolulu, an end-of-life resources page HERE, including an advance directive in conformity with Catholic teaching HERE.

ILLINOIS

  • From the Illinois Catholic Conference: "Encouraging End-of-Life Conversations: A Catholic Perspective on Advance Directives" HERE.

    Spanish version HERE.

    Polish version HERE.

    For appropriate advance directive forms to use, contact the Illinois Catholic Conference at 312-368-1066.

INDIANA

  • From the Indiana Catholic Conference, "A Catholic Guide to Health Care Directives" HERE.

IOWA

KANSAS

  • From the Archdiocese of Kansas: Catholic Guide for End of Life Planning HERE.

KENTUCKY

LOUISIANA

  • Resource from the Louisiana Catholic Bishops, "Approaching Death: The Moral Choices," with a recommended health care advance directive for Catholics HERE.

MAINE

  • The Diocese of Portland has developed an end-of-life care packet to assist Catholics in advance care planning. All the materials are consistent with Church teaching and conform to state law. To download or request the packet HERE.

MARYLAND

  • From the Catholic Bishops of Maryland, "A Catholic Perspective on Health Care Directives" can be found HERE.
  • From the Archdiocese of Baltimore, "In Joyful Hope" website on end-of-life issues HERE.

MASSACHUSETTS

  • From the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, a Roman Catholic Health Care Proxy, HERE.
  • Resources opposing the legalization of physician-assisted suicide HERE.

MICHIGAN

  • Resources from the Michigan Catholic Conference: "Guidelines for End of Life Decisions: Patient, Physician, and Family,” includes a Designation of Patient Advocate form HERE.

MINNESOTA

  • Resources from the Minnesota Catholic Conference, including a Catholic Health Care Directive and a guide on how to use it, as well as a Pastoral Statement on POLST are available HERE.

MISSOURI

  • Resource from the Missouri Catholic Conference: "A Catholic Guide to End-of-Life Decisions for Individuals and Families;" includes a Durable Power of Attorney form: HERE.

MONTANA

  • For information about advance care planning and morally appropriate resources in the state of Montana, contact the Montana Catholic Conference at:
    1313 11th Ave
    Helena, MT 59601
    (406) 442-5761
    www.montanacc.org

NEBRASKA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

  • From the Diocese of Manchester, resources including Three Beliefs: A Guide for New Hampshire Catholics on End-of-Life Decisions HERE

NEW JERSEY

  • New Jersey Catholic Conference advance directives for healthcare approved by the New Jersey bishops HERE.

NEW YORK

  • Resource from the New York State Catholic Conference: "Now and at the Hour of Our Death: A Catholic Guide to End-of-Life Decision-Making" in English HERE, and in Spanish HERE.

NORTH CAROLINA

  • From the Diocese of Raleigh: “End of Life Initiatives” resource page, including advance directive HERE.

NORTH DAKOTA

  • Resources from the North Dakota Catholic Conference: Catholic Health Care Directives, frequently asked questions and more HERE.

OHIO

  • Resources from the Ohio Catholic Conference HERE.
  • The Catholic Perspective on Advanced Medical Directives HERE.

PENNSYLVANIA

  • Resources from the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference: Living Will and Health Care Power of Attorney: What you should know about ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES (also available as a booklet) HERE.
  • Nutrition and Hydration: Moral Considerations HERE.
  • PCC Column December 2007: Advance Directives HERE.

RHODE ISLAND

  • "End of Life Decisions: The Catholic Perspective", from the Diocese of Providence HERE.
  • A Catholic Health Care Directive for Rhode Island HERE.

SOUTH CAROLINA

  • From the Diocese of Charleston, "A Roman Catholic Faith-based Health Care Power of Attorney for South Carolina" HERE.

SOUTH DAKOTA

  • Resources from the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls, includes an End of Life Planning Guide HERE.

TEXAS

  • Texas Catholic Advance Care Planning Documents are available HERE.
  • Background on Catholic Church Teaching, including a Power Point presentation, is HERE.

UTAH

  • From the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, "A Guide to Health Care Directives for Utah Catholics" can be found HERE.

VERMONT

  • From the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, links to "Information Packet on Advance Directives," the "Vermont Catholic Advance Directive Form," how to register the form, and more HERE.

VIRGINIA

WASHINGTON STATE

  • Resources from the Washington State Catholic Conference: Catholic teaching HERE.

WISCONSIN

WYOMING

  • From the Diocese of Cheyenne: Advance Healthcare Directive for Catholics HERE.