{{Short description|Conservative Catholic think tank}} {{Infobox organization | name = National Catholic Bioethics Center | logo = National Catholic Bioethics Center Logo.png | headquarters = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | leader_title = President | leader_name = John A. Di Camillo<ref name=history/> | website = https://ncbcenter.org }} {{Primary sources|date=May 2016}} The '''National Catholic Bioethics Center''' ('''NCBC''') is a not-for-profit research center located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after previous locations in St. Louis (1972–1985) and Boston (1985–2004).<ref name=history>[https://www.ncbcenter.org/history "Our History"], NCBC. Retrieved February 16, 2022.</ref> Its mission is "to uphold the dignity of the human person in health care and biomedical research, thereby sharing in the ministry of Jesus Christ and his Church."<ref>[https://www.ncbcenter.org/missiontoserve "Our Mission to Serve"], NCBC. Retrieved February 16, 2022.</ref> The chairman of the Board of Directors is Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans.<ref>[https://www.ncbcenter.org/board "Our Board of Directors"], NCBC. Retrieved February 16, 2022.</ref> The organization publishes ''Ethics & Medics'' monthly<ref>[https://www.ncbcenter.org/ethics-and-medics "Ethics & Medics"], NCBC. Retrieved February 16, 2022.</ref> and ''The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly'',<ref>[https://www.ncbcenter.org/ncbquarterly "National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly"], NCBC. Retrieved February 16, 2022.</ref> as well as books including the ''Handbook on Critical Life Issues''.<ref>[https://www.ncbcenter.org/store "Store"], NCBC. Retrieved February 16, 2022.</ref>

== Activities == The founding president of the NCBC was Albert S. Moraczewski, O.P.<ref name=history/> The staff of professional ethicists responds to hundreds of requests each year for advice on moral issues of concern to Catholics and other interested parties, via e-mail, phone, and letter.<ref>[https://www.ncbcenter.org/ask-a-question "Ask a Question"], NCBC. Retrieved February 16, 2022.</ref> The Ph.D. ethicists include John M. Haas, Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, and Marie T. Hilliard.<ref>[https://www.ncbcenter.org/ethicists "Our Ethicists"], NCBC. Retrieved February 16, 2022.</ref> The organization also provides moral analysis to the offices of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and to the dicasteries of the Holy See (Vatican), although the organization is not itself governed or funded by the Catholic Church.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.fathertad.com/files/1615/9295/2433/Exploring_the_National_Catholic_Bioethics_Center.pdf |title=Exploring the National Catholic Bioethics Center |first=Tadeusz |last=Pacholczyk |journal=Deacon Digest |date=May–June 2019 |access-date=February 16, 2022 |pages=30–33}}</ref>

In a 1999 article of ''Ethics & Medics'', it was argued that "as parents have a moral obligation to secure the life and health of their children", so too do they "have a moral obligation to provide vaccinations to their children."<ref>{{cite journal |last=Furton |first=Edward J. |title=Vaccines Originating in Abortion |journal=Ethics & Medics |volume=24 |number=3 |date=March 1999}}</ref> The NCBC later developed an extensive set of online resources specifically for the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>[https://www.ncbcenter.org/covid19/vaccineletter "COVID-19 and Vaccine Resources"], NCBC. Retrieved February 16, 2022.</ref>

The activities of the NCBC include education, publications, research, and public policy. The education department administers "The National Catholic Certification Program in Health Care Ethics", a year-long distance learning program that educates candidates in the fundamentals of Catholic medical-moral teaching. The program gives special emphasis to ''Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services'', a USCCB document designed to guide Catholic health care institutions.<ref>[https://www.ncbcenter.org/certification-program "Certification Program"], NCBC. Retrieved February 16, 2022.</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.ncbcenter.org/ Official website]

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Category:Bioethics research organizations Category:Catholic Church in the United States