Conflicts of Conscience for Catholic Healthcare Professionals

Abstract

First, this paper will review some of the recent controversies that involve accusations and even lawsuits that the Catholic Church is imposing its religious beliefs on non-believers in the area of medical practice, particularly on issues dealing with so-called “reproductive rights”—e.g., contraception, sterilization, and abortion. Secondly, the nature of a Catholic moral conscience will be described, especially as it is understood in recent magisterial documents. Thirdly, it will give an overview of the various moral strategies—e.g., the “principle of cooperation with evil,” the “principle of double-effect,” etc.—employed by the Tradition for handling conflicts of conscience. Fourthly, the nature of Catholic healthcare itself—i.e., its goals, purposes, virtues, principles, and norms—will be described. Finally, some suggestions will be offered for how to deal practically with conflicts of conscience in the Catholic healthcare setting on both the individual and institutional level.