Church Teaching
Resource Center: Church Documents on Life Issues, Marriage, and Family
Humanae Vitae (Of Human Life):
The encyclical of Paul VI that reinforced and articulated the Church’s teaching on human sexuality and contraception. In the midst of the sexual revolution, Paul VI prophetically articulates the Church’s teaching about the inseparability of the unitive (love) and procreative (children) meaning/end of the marital act and warns of the dire effects that will occur to marriage, family, and society.
Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life):
Arguably John Paul II’s most popular and important encyclical that coined the phrase “culture of death.” It addresses the many offenses to human life in the modern world and considers the many causes of the Culture of Death. Topics include: Abortion, euthanasia, physician assisted suicide, contraception, prenatal diagnosis, artificial reproductive technologies, and the death penalty.
The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality: Guidelines for Education within the Family:
This document, produced by the Pontifical Council for the Family, is a guide for parents to adequately prepare children for adult life, particularly with regard to education in the true meaning of sexuality. The Council put forward these pastoral guidelines, drawing on the wisdom which comes from the Word of the Lord and the values which illuminate the teaching of the Church, to tie this help for parents to fundamental content about the truth and meaning of sex, within the framework of a genuine and rich anthropology.
Donum Vitae (The Gift of Life):
A document of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), the Church’s office responsible for upholding and defending Catholic doctrine. Themes of Donum Vitae include the Church’s teaching on technology, science, artificial reproductive technologies, prenatal diagnosis, experimentation on unborn human life, and infertility.
Dignitas Personae (The Dignity of a Person):
Dignitas Personae bring the Church’s teaching from Donum Vitae up-to-date. Themes include stem cell research, artificial reproductive technologies, use of vaccines derived from aborted fetal remains, in vitro fertilization, and “embryo adoption” of abandoned and frozen embryos.
Following the dramatic and ultimately disastrous case Terri Schiavo the Church reaffirmed Pope John Paul’s teaching concerning medically administered food and water. Such food and water is normal comfort care, that, in principle must be provided.
The CDF addresses end of life issues and distinguished between Proportionate (morally necessary) and Disproportionate (morally unnecessary) medical treatments. This document helps families distinguish between “mercy killing” which is always immoral and the morally legitimate choice to not pursue burdensome and unreasonable treatment options.
Ecclesia in America (The Church in America):
John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation that briefly addresses nearly every issue we face as Catholics in the Americas from the dignity of women to the Church’s social doctrine, human rights to vocations.
Familiaris Consortio (The family in the modern world):
One of the most beautiful and important documents of John Paul II that addresses the plan that God has for families, the role of the family in transforming society, and the dignity of women and children. Here John Paul describes the family as the “Domestic Church,” “School of Virtue,” and parents as the “primary educators” of their children.
Salvifici Doloris (On Human Suffering):
The Apostolic Letter of John Paul II that he most lived at the end of his life as he suffered with Parkinsons disease and approached his own death with true dignity. This document is a beautiful expression of the role of suffering in the life of the Christian.
Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth):
Pope Benedict’s third encyclical addresses the Church’s social doctrine in light of Love and truth. Themes include authentic human development, economics, the environment, technology, and poverty.