By Val and Deacon Gary Streff
Special to the Herald
One of Pope Leo XIV’s goals this year is for Christians to be reacquainted with the Second Vatican Council and to rediscover the beauty and importance of the many ecclesial documents that came out of the historic meeting.
The “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services” was one of the documents that was formulated during Vatican II. It is now in its seventh edition, revised in November 2025.
The ERDs are promulgated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in consultation with medical professionals and church leaders, and are judged accordingly to reflect the church’s teachings. Their goal is twofold — to uphold the dignity of the human person and to provide guidance on moral issues that face Catholic health care.
It is important that we follow the charism of Jesus who tended to the physical, mental and spiritual healing of those who are ill or dying. Like the good Samaritan, we bring compassion, empathy and respect and are always looking out for the good of others.
The ERDs consist of 77 directives divided into six parts. Three-quarters of the directives offer positive guidance, while the rest take a more critical view.
Catholics do not believe in abortion, direct contraception, direct sterilization, in vitro fertilization, gender transitioning, euthanasia and assisted suicide. Directives on these topics might seem harsh to others, but our faith asks us to trust in God who knows what is best for each of us.
As Catholics, we will always find the best way to treat others and guide them to a more fruitful and promising way to live.
The dignity of the human person is to be upheld in everything we say, do and believe as Christians. “God created man in his own image” (Gn 1:27) — that means we are the only living creatures that reflect the attributes of God.
We are rational beings who have the capacity to reason, have free will and are masters of our actions (“Catechism of the Catholic Church,” No. 1730). The Holy Spirit placed in our hearts the innate sense of what is right or wrong; hopefully we are using this gift wisely.
Furthermore, our physical, social and mental well-being depend on our connectedness to others. We were not meant to live in isolation or to be independent — we are social creatures and as such we are to help others, be with others and rely on others in everything we do to live.
One topic the ERDs address is how to care for the sick and the dying. Christians are called to treat others as we would like to be treated when we become sick and seriously ill.
The directives explain the administering of the sacraments — such as the Eucharist, reconciliation and anointing of the sick — as well as the importance of providing nutrition and hydration unless the assistance is considered “extraordinary (or) disproportionate” care.
One major theological principle that people might not recognize is the principle of suffering.
In the secular world, suffering is undesirable and something to avoid at all costs. However, Christians who believe in the death and resurrection of Christ acknowledge that a kind of suffering called “redemptive suffering” allows us to unite ourselves ever more closely to the crucified Jesus.
Suffering can bring about personal growth, reconciliation with God and others, empathy for others and the knowledge that death is an opportunity for a final communion with God. St. John Paul II, in his 1984 apostolic letter on “Salvifici Doloris” (“Redemptive Suffering”), explains how our suffering united with Christ’s suffering can bring forth many blessings to those around us and to ourselves as we come to the end of our earthly journey.
Death is not the end. Earthly life is valuable, but eternal life is the goal for all of us.
If you would like to learn more about end-of-life care, please contact your parish priest or deacon. Deacon Raul Perez, chaplaincy instructor and supervisor for the permanent deacon formation program, can also give presentations.
Please contact the diocesan Respect Life Office at gstreff@rcchawaii.org or (808) 673-3074 for more information. God bless.
Val and Deacon Gary Streff are co-directors of the diocesan Respect Life Office.