Abstract

In August of last year (2007) the Congregation for the doctrine of the Faith issued a “Responses” to questions raided by the US Catholic Bishops in July 2005 on the moral status of artificially administered nutrition and hydration. The “Responses” was accompanied by a “Commentary” also authored by the CDF. The questions raised and clarification sought by the American Bishops arose from the debate surrounding the care of Terri Schiavo. That case attracted world-wide attention and contributed to the ongoing debate within the Catholic and woder community on the appropriate care of persons in a permanently vegetative state [PVS]. The purpose of this short article is to outline both the general approach of the Catholic moral tradition to the care of the dying and seriously ill and the content of CDF statement. Finally I will indicate the persistence of some ambiguities and uncertainties in the “Commentary” that accompanied the CDF intervention.