Catholic Ministry Promotes End-of-Life Resources to Help Faithful in Final Days

Aging with Dignity, a Catholic-focused ministry, is promoting end-of-life resources to help Catholics remain faithful during their final days.

The organization has released a new booklet called "Finishing Life Faithfully" that provides guidance on end-of-life decision-making and the ethical considerations involved, in line with Catholic teachings.

The booklet addresses complex topics such as pain management, feeding tubes, hospice care, and other matters surrounding death. It summarizes the Catholic Church's guidance on these issues, helping patients and their families better understand and follow Church teachings during this critical time.

Jim Towey, the founder of Aging with Dignity who previously served as legal counsel to Mother Teresa, says the materials aim to offer "a positive vision of care at the end of life that contrasts with the euthanasia and assisted suicide movements." The organization launched in 1996 to provide a hopeful approach that helps people practice their faith and does not treat dying as just a medical moment.

In addition to the new booklet, Aging with Dignity has distributed over 40 million copies of its "Five Wishes" legal document. This resource helps Catholics express their end-of-life wishes ahead of a serious illness, ensuring their care aligns with their faith.

The ministry distributes these materials through various channels, and they have been endorsed by U.S. Church leaders. Towey emphasizes that as euthanasia and assisted suicide become more prevalent, the Church needs to make it easier for families to access this type of information and support.

Why this matters: With assisted suicide becoming legal in more jurisdictions, resources that promote faithful end-of-life care are increasingly important. These materials can provide comfort and guidance to Catholics and their families navigating difficult decisions in their final days.

As Towey states, "The Church needs to make it easier for families to access this information and help people remain faithful during the critical transition to eternity." Ageing with Dignity plans to continue its advocacy efforts to ensure Catholics have the resources they need to uphold their faith and values at the end of life.

Key Takeaways

• Aging with Dignity promotes end-of-life resources for faithful Catholics.
• The new booklet "Finishing Life Faithfully" guides end-of-life decisions per Church teachings.
• Ageing with Dignity has distributed over 40 million "Five Wishes" legal documents.
• Resources aim to contrast with euthanasia and assisted suicide movements.
• Providing faithful end-of-life care is increasingly important as assisted suicide expands.