End of Life Issues
Also See - When a Christian Dies: Roman Catholic Funeral Rites
Advanced Directive for Catholics
In the Fall of 2009, Bishop Kevin J. Farrell asked the St. Thomas More Society of the Diocese of Dallas to prepare a model Directive to Physicians (a.k.a "Living Will") and Medical Power of Attorney for use by Texas Catholics. Society President Mark Cronenwett appointed a committee, which prepared drafts and circulated them to other lawyers, physicians, and ethicists in the field. The committee was chaired by Ellen Eisenlohr Dorn and its members included: Thomas Brandt. Mark Cronenwett, Vince Hess, Kimberly Lawler, and Jeff Turner.
The committee's final work was presented to the Bishop on September 1, 2009. The Bishop reviewed these documents, consulted with various advisors, and approved them in December, 2010.
These forms are available to all attorneys who represent Catholic residents of Texas, to enable attorneys to help their clients receive end-of-life care in accordance with the Catholic Faith.
- Texas Catholic Advance Directive (PDF)
- Texas Catholic Medical Power of Attorney (PDF)
- Texas Health and Human Services Advance Directives Forms
Workshops on Advance Care Planning
St. Jude Allen, October 27, 2022
Click here to register 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm (English)
Christ the King Dallas, November 9, 2022
Click here to register 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm (English)
Want to schedule a workshop on Advance Care Planning and What Catholics Believe About End of Life? Contact Kevin Prevou
More End of Life Resources
For more information on end-of-life issues, please see the following resources
- When a Christian Dies: Roman Catholic Funeral Rites (from the Office of Worship)
- Life-Sustaining Treatments and Vegitative State: Scientific Advances and Ethical Dilemmas - Address of John Paul II to the participants in the International Congress, in response to the Terry Schaivo case
- Evangelium Vitae: To the Bishops, Priests and Deacons, Men and Women religious, lay Faithful and all People of Good Will on the Value and Inviolability of Human Life - Encyclical by John Paul II, 1995
- Human Dignity: End of Life - USCCB.com
- A Catholic Guide to End-of-Life Decisions - National Catholic Bioethics Center
Contact Us
For additional assistance with questions about End of Life issues or Advanced Directives, please contact:
Juan Rendon
Director of Catholic Social Ministry
(214) 379-2882
Please Note: Links are for information and educational use only; the Catholic Diocese of Dallas does not claim to offer endorsement of any legal advice.