family life

advance medical directive

The Advance Medical Directive (AMD) is a simple two-part document including an optional organ donation authorization that can be filled out for use by all Catholics -whether young or old, healthy or dying.

The Advance Medical Directive is a legal instrument authorized by, and meeting the requirements of the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia . AMDs are available through the Respect Life Office.  Below you will find a PDF copy of the AMD forms.  The Supplement explains some of the terms used in the AMD.  Unfortunately, there was a need to make some changes to the AMD; these corrections are found on the Errata Sheet. 

Church Documents

English Español

Document Type

Source

Date

Latin Title

English Title

Encyclical

Pope John Paul II

1995.03.25

Evangelium vitae

The Gospel of Life

Statement of U.S. Bishops

USCCB

1998.11

Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics

Statement of U.S. Bishops

USCCB

1999

Faithful Citizenship: Civic Responsibility for the New Millennium

Doctrinal Note

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

2003.01.16

Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life

Encíclicas

Papa Juan Pablo II

1995.03.25

Evangelium vitae

El Evangelio de la vida

La conferencia de obispos de los Estados Unidos

USCCB

1999

Ciudadanos comprometidos:
Responsabilidad cívica
para un nuevo milenio

Nota Doctrinal

Congregación para la Doctrina de la Fe

2003.01.16

Nota Doctrinal sobre algunas cuestiones relativas al
compromiso y la conducta de los católicos en la vida política

U.S. Supreme Court Case Ruling Fact Sheet ( see below)

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Supreme Court ruled that woman have a constitutional right to abortion.

  • fetus is not a person but a "potential life" thus does not have constitutional rights of its own.
  • 1st Trimester: state may not regulate abortion for any reason
  • 2nd Trimester: state may regulate only to protect the health of the woman
  • 3rd Trimester: state may regulate or prohibit abortion to promote its interests in the potential life of the fetus, except where abortion is necessary to preserve the woman's life or health

Doe v. Bolton (1973)

Court ruled that a woman's right to an abortion could not be limited by the state if abortion was sought for reasons of maternal health.

  • Health: defined as "all factors"-physical, emotional, psychological, familial & the woman's age-relevant to the well being of the patient
  • This health exception expanded the right to abortion for any reason through all three trimesters of pregnancy

Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)

Court said states could regulate abortion to require parental involvement when minor are involved, require a waiting period between seeking and obtaining an abortion, and require doctors to provide detailed medical information before obtaining consent for an abortion.

Stenberg v. Carhart ( 2000)

Court said that a state could not prohibit the late-term abortion procedure called partial birth abortion.

Stem Cell Research Resources

Description Price

Our Sunday Visitor – Pamphlet,
Stem Cell Research

 $10 for 50 copies or
$.20 each.
Family Research Council – Pamphlet, Human Cloning & the Abuse of Science $25 for 50 copies or
$.50 each.

Reverend Tadeusz Pacholczyk – DVD, Cutting through the Spin on Stem Cells and Cloning
(This DVD has an in-depth exploration of Church teachings and is an excellent resource for priests, catechists, and teachers.  Length 77 minutes.)

$12 each.

Family Life Office, Diocese of Arlington - DVD, The Human Experiment 
(This DVD on cloning/stem cell is an excellent resource for the laity.  We are producing several hundred copies. Length 25 minutes.)

 $9 each.

To order please contact the Office for Family Life:  703-841-2550