Any Church documents on healthcare and medical fields?

[invisiblewitnes]

Hi,

I just wanted to ask if anyone knows of any Church or Papal documents, that are specifically on healthcare and the medical fields? Considering that the Church is being explicitly attacked through these areas which are necessary to life, I think it would be good to know what documents the Church has produced to help us practice and profess our faith in regards to these areas. Also, perhaps we could pray for God to give our Pope and bishops great insights into how we can live the Gospel in the areas of healthcare and medical fields. I think the Church authorities are going to have to articulate some principles which shine light on how we should view the areas of healthcare and medical service providing specifically. The culture of death specifically targets these fields now, because that is where you can either save or destroy life depending on what intentions and ideas you promote. Perhaps we can pray for more instruction on virtue and morality in the health care and medical fields. But if you know of any already published Church documents, preferably at the Papal or Vatican source, but also any that are perhaps writtten by bishops or councils that are available, and how to get them.

Thank you and God bless you all.

 

[Joe_5859]

The Vatican has a Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers. You might find their documents of interest.

Since 1993, the pope annually issues a Message for the World Day of the Sick (messages from John Paul II and Benedict XVI).

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith occassionally responds to health related questions (mostly in terms of bioethics) such as with Dignitatis Personae and Responses to Certain Questions of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Concerning Artificial Nutrition and Hydration (with Commentary).

In addition, there are always the “social justice” encyclicals: Caritas in Veritate, Centesimus Annus, Sollictudo Rei Socialis, Laborem Exercens, Populorum Progressio, Rerum Novarum, and even the second half of Gaudium et Spes. Those documents don’t always speak about healthcare explicitly at any great length. But many of the principles they lay out are very much applicable.

On the more local level, the USCCB has loads of stuff related to health care.