• Fort Worth Diocese, please especially reference their articles under:  Abortion, Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia, Stem Cell Research, and Homosexual Marriage. 
• United Staes Conference of Catholic Bishops
• The National Catholic Bioethics Center, established in 1972, conducts research, consultation, publishing and education to promote human dignity in health care and the life sciences, and derives its message directly from the teachings of the Catholic Church.  

• Loreto House
• Mary's Angels (Mary’s Angels is an outreach to those who find themselves in the bereavement process following the loss of a baby through miscarriage or still birth.)
• In My Shoes
• Rachel Ministries
• Spiritual Adoption
• Walking with Moms

Pray and Fast for conversion of hearts that all may respect life from the moment of conception to a natural death.

I pledge  to go to an additional Mass each week.

I pledge  to make an additional holy hour once a week.

"We need to participate for the common good. Sometimes we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader can govern."   - Pope Francis, 9/16/13

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Abby Johnson

Perhaps a parent has a severe stroke, or a family member is diagnosed with cancer, or we wish to make plans if we should become seriously ill.  Segments of our secular society are promoting euthanasia and assisted suicide. Our world seems to value productivity and perfection and tries to avoid suffering and even inconveniences at all cost.

What does our faith teach us?  We must go back to the beginning.  God made us.  We are children of God, made in His image.  Each human being has immeasurable value, immeasurable dignity – regardless of his or her size or age or capabilities or imperfections.  God loves us more than we can ever imagine.  His plan is perfect.  All that God wills for us is for our good and the good of others.  We live in an imperfect world:  a world that includes suffering.  No one likes to suffer and no one seeks it.  Yet God in His perfect wisdom and in His plan of love chose that His only begotten Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, should suffer and die by the cross so that all of us could be saved.  God had infinite choices and He chose suffering as the way to salvation.  Suffering must have value.  Through suffering we have the opportunity to unite ourselves more closely to Our Lord and to help others.  This is a gift of our faith.

Then comes the questions:  What about palliative care?  What about using painkillers?  What is the principle of double effect? What about food and water – including feeding tubes?  What if someone is in a coma?  What are ordinary and extraordinary medical procedures?  What is morally obligatory and what is morally optional?  Why is a Health Care Proxy or a Durable Power of Attorney preferable to a Living Will?  See the following resources:

• Fort Worth Diocese
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• National Catholic Bioethics Center
  • National Catholic Bioethics Center, A Catholic Guide to End-of-Life Decisions

• Article “Infertility” by Jeannie Hannermann, M. A.
• Whole Life Authentic Care -  NaProTECHNOLOGY -- Medical Clinic  at 1000 Bonnie Brae Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76111
• Arbor Vitae Health Care:  https://arborvitaehealth.com/ 

  Pro-Life OB/Gyn practice located at 8160 Walnut Hill Ln, Suite 328,  Dallas, TX 75231
  Dr. Ashley Womack - doctor trained in NaPro Technology.

• Novena to Saints Anne & Joachim

Catholic Church Teachings:

Dignitas personae (On Certain Bioethical Questions).2008, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 

“Released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, this document grapples with a number of bioethical questions raised in response to modern technological advancements in the field of human fertility and infertility. Using the principles of Catholic moral teaching, the document brings clarity and truth to the debates surrounding both procreation and genetic manipulation.” (usccb.org)

Donum vitae (Instruction on Respect for Human Life).1987, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

“Published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, this text is the predecessor to the above document, Dignitas personae. Written in the midst of significant medical innovation on assisted reproductive technology, this document defends the gift and dignity of human life (particularly in its earliest stages), against the onset of intrusive and immoral scientific innovation. (usccb.org)

Infertility Treatments – Summary

Pages with many resources from the USCCB – US Conference of Catholic Bishops:

• Reproductive Technology
• Infertility

A few more links:

• The Saint Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction is building a culture of life in women’s health care through its major developments — Creighton Model FertilityCare System and NaProTechnology.
• Dr. Bruchalski discusses successful fertility treatments that are faithful to the teachings of the Church in this article.
• An article:  “In Vitro Fertilization: The Human Cost”