John M. Haas, PhD, STL, MDiv

President and Senior Fellow

Dr. John Haas is the president of The National Catholic Bioethics Center. He received his doctorate in moral theology from the Catholic University of America and his licentiate in moral theology from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. He also studied at the University of Chicago Divinity School and the University of Munich in Germany. Dr. Haas also serves as the John Cardinal Krol Professor of Moral Theology at St. Charles Borromeo Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He was an adjunct professor at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, DC. He has been a consultant to both the Committee for Pro-Life Activities and the Subcommittee on Health Care Issues under the Committee on Doctrine for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as a Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life and later a member of the Academy’s Directive Council. In 2011 the Pope Benedict appointed him as a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers. In 2017 Pope Francis re-appointed Dr. Haas to the Pontifical Academy for Life. He is a Knight of Magistral Grace of the Order of Malta and in November 2016 His Most Eminent Highness, the Prince and Grand Master of the Order and the Sovereign Council granted him the Cross of Commander “Pro Merito Melitense.” Pope Francis made him and his wife Martha a Knight and Dame of St. Gregory the Great, the highest honor that the pope can bestow directly on a lay person. Dr. Haas’ wife, Martha, passed away November 2021. Dr. Haas has nine children and 38 grandchildren and resides in Philadelphia.