Press Statement: The NCBC Welcomes the New ERDs
BROOMALL, Pa., November 20, 2025—The National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC) welcomes the seventh edition of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERDs), approved and published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on November 12, 2025. The NCBC is grateful to the U.S. bishops and to their staff and consultants who worked diligently over the course of almost two and one-half years to update the ERDs. The NCBC supports the bishops of the United States through consultation and educational services on a wide range of issues in health care ethics and was pleased to contribute to this critically important project.
A significant focus of the ERD revision process—and much media attention—was devoted to the creation of two new Directives (nos. 28-29) proscribing sex reassignment interventions and encouraging appropriate care of patients with gender dysphoria. Clarification on these topics is most welcome. The seventh edition of the ERDs also addresses several new issues for the first time, including medical referrals, the freezing of human embryos and gametes, voluntary stopping of eating and drinking, and palliative care. Indeed, the seventh edition has resulted in the most extensive revisions to several parts of the ERDs since 1994, including Parts One, Three, Four, and Five.
“I am deeply grateful to the bishops of the United States for this historic update to the Ethical and Religious Directives, which are a major touchstone for the mission and work of the NCBC,” said Dr. John A. Di Camillo, President of the NCBC. “The NCBC faithfully serves many constituents, including bishops, Catholic health care leaders, individual clinicians, and patients and their families, bringing the light and love of Christ to challenging health care questions. We are ready to assist with the implementation of this seventh edition of the ERDs in dioceses and health care systems around the country. Now more than ever, our world needs this clearsighted moral guidance rooted in the dignity of each human person, body and soul, and directed toward the common good of families, communities, and our nation. Deo gratias!”
###
The National Catholic Bioethics Center provides education, guidance, and resources to the Church and society to uphold the dignity of the human person in health care and biomedical research, thereby sharing in the ministry of Jesus Christ and his Church. The NCBC envisions a world in which the integral understanding of the human person underlying Catholic teaching on respect for human life and dignity is better understood and more widely embraced in America and worldwide. More information can be found at www.ncbcenter.org.
###
Contact Name John F. Brehany, PhD
Phone 215-871-2015
Email jbrehany@ncbcenter.org
Website www.ncbcenter.org
For a PDF of the document, click here.