The Diocese of Saint Cloud maintains the position of Consultant for Healthcare Ethics to assist with information, education, resources, referrals, and consultation on bioethical matters related to the field of health care. The consultant is available to assist healthcare institutions and systems, the clergy of the diocese, other diocesan offices, parishes, organizations, ethics committees, and individual members of the diocese in ethical discernment on questions related to health care and bioethics issues. The consultant also assists other dioceses and the general public at their request.
As appropriate, the consultant will address questions and assist in ethical reflection by phone, e-mail, or in person. The consultant is also available to conduct educational sessions on various topics related to bioethics.
The position of Consultant for Healthcare Ethics is currently staffed by Father Thomas Knoblach, Ph.D. Father Knoblach, who can be contacted at:
Fr. Tom Knoblach
osapientia@juno.com
Several “primers” on topics of current interest are available:
- A Brief Ethical Primer on Ethical Issues in Organ Transplantation from the Catholic Perspective (PDF)
- A Brief Ethical Primer on Medical Decisions Regarding Life-Sustaining Treatments (PDF)
- A Brief Ethical Primer on Abortion (PDF)
- A Brief Ethical Primer Just War Theory (PDF)
- A Brief Ethical Primer on Artificial Reproductive Technologies in the Catholic Tradition (PDF)
- A Brief Ethical Primer on Cloning (PDF)
- A Brief Ethical Primer on Medically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration (PDF)
- A Brief Ethical Primer on Stem Cell Research (PDF)
- A Brief Ethical Primer on Capital Punishment (PDF)
- Dignitas Personae (PDF)
- “On the CDF’s Responses Concerning Artificial Nutrition and Hydration” (PDF)
- The Principles Governing Cooperation: A Flowchart Summary (PDF)