NCBC Statement on the COVID-19 Pandemic

March 19, 2020: Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church

We at The National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC) wish to convey to our many contacts, benefactors, and friends our continued resolve to serve as a trusted source of ethical counsel and information as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds globally.

The NCBC will soon be releasing ethical guidance on triage policies for access to ventilators in times of pandemic, as a response to consultations with health care professionals and hospitals seeking to draw on the wisdom and resources of the Catholic moral tradition.

We are striving to increase the effectiveness of our outreach even though many of our courses and speaking engagements are being cancelled or going online.

The NCBC free ethical consultation service is fully functional. Call 215-877-2660 or submit a request online.

It is very important to maintain good truthful communication and to prevent understandable concern from leading to uncharitable and unjust actions like hoarding supplies or abandoning the vulnerable. We have to remember that the COVID-19 virus is not only causing threats to life and health; it is creating ethical crises as well, as people struggle with fear and uncertainty.

Lessons can be learned from the Great Pandemic Flu of 1918-1919. Strong precautionary safety measures taken early saved many lives in some places; whereas the lack of adequate social distancing unnecessarily condemned many to illness and death in other cities.

It is also important to appreciate the good that can come from this crisis.

We have a precious opportunity to show our love and concern for our immediate family and for those in need via calls, emails, and financial help. Our prayer life as we finish Lent can be strengthened. We may not have direct access to Mass or most sacraments, but nothing can separate us from the love of God if we strive to stay close to our Savior. The Catholic Church has an impressive record of heroic service, especially on the part of bishops, priests, and religious, during past plagues and pandemics.

We could emerge from this pandemic to promote a strong international consensus to legally restrict potentially harmful genetic manipulation of viruses and human beings. The NCBC will take a leading role in advocating for ethical progress in this area.

The NCBC will start to send regular emails with COVID-19 related information and frequently update our website. We will be tackling all the major ethical issues raised by this virus.

Please be assured of our prayers and strong support as we move through these very difficult challenges.

Joseph Meaney, PhD
President