Ethics on Call

In this episode of Ethics on Call, Dan and Tom examine Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical, Magnifica humanitas, exploring its ethical vision for artificial intelligence and its implications for Catholic healthcare. Through interviews with theologian Nichole Flores, Ph. D. (Associate Professor Religious Studies at the University of Virginia) and AI leader Byron Yount, Ph. D. (Chief Data and Artificial I...

This episode features the opening keynote address from Monsignor Renzo Pegoraro, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, at the conference hosted by the Center on "AI and Medicine: Artificial Intelligence, Authentic Mercy: Navigating AI Ethics in Catholic Health," recorded live at Boston College on March 20, 2026.    Monsignor Pegoraro's talk is titled "AI and Medicine: The Challenge of Huma...

What happens when some of the nation’s leading voices in AI ethics, medicine, theology, and health care leadership come together to tackle one of the most urgent questions of our time? In this special episode of Ethics on Call, Dan moderates a powerful roundtable conversation recorded live at the conference: Artificial Intelligence, Authentic Mercy: Navigating AI Ethics in Catholic Health (Boston...

In this episode, Dan and Tom interview Dr. Mark Kuczewski about his recent work advocating for immigrant patients during the ongoing federal immigration enforcement surge. They discuss the following: Why the Church has always affirmed the universal human dignity and rights of immigrants and migrants (regardless of legal status) Ways for health professionals to advocate for immigrant patients The n...

Dan and Tom interview four leaders in Catholic health on the newly promulgated 7th edition of ERDs.  They discuss the history of the ERDs, how they are being implemented by ethicists, mission leaders, and health care professionals, and highlight the significance of several developments in the 7th edition. They also identify how these directives enable Catholic health care to promote the dignity an...

In November 2025, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops voted to approve a new 7th Edition of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.   In this episode, Dan and Tom talk with Nathaniel Blanton Hibner, Ph. D., Senior Director of Ethics at the Catholic Health Association, who discusses the process by which this edition was developed over the past four years...

Ethicists, clinicians, and administrators share a sincere commitment to building health care ministries that serve those in need and strengthen the social conditions that support healthy communities. But how can we achieve this without a clear account of what social structures and culture are, how they change, and—most importantly—how they can help us provide the best care, especially to those who...

This episode includes three interviews recorded live from the floor of the exhibit hall of the ASBH annual conference in October 2025 with the following bioethicists: Michael McCarthy , Associate Professor and the Graduate Program Director for Healthcare Mission Leadership at Loyola University Chicago Laura Webster, Northwest Region Vice President of Ethics at Common Spirit Health ; and Jason Eber...

Dan and Tom discuss Pope Leo XIV’s new apostolic exhortation, Dilexi te . They place the document in its context, explore its content and structure, and analyze its relevance for Catholic health care.  Read Dilexi te here. Subscribe to Ethics on Call on YouTube , Spotify, Apple or Simplecast. Visit our website, theologyandethics.org , for more information on the Center for Theology & Ethics in...

In this episode of Ethics on Call , Dan and Tom discuss the recent controversy in Catholic circles surrounding the determination of death by neurologic criteria (DNC). The episode features an interview with Dr. Sherri Bracksick, a neuro-intensivist who regularly assesses patients for DNC. Dan and Tom discuss the various options that Catholic health organizations have and offer their own moral anal...

In the new episode of Ethics on Call, hosts Dan Daly and Tom Bushlack discuss recent work in theology on mental health. They discuss theologically informed ways of looking at grief, trauma, depression, and anxiety. The work they consider contends that mental health disorders and suffering are often both medical and  existential conditions.  You can find the articles and books discussed in this epi...

In the latest episode of Ethics on Call, hosts Dan Daly, Executive Director of the Center for Theology and Ethics in Catholic Health, and Tom Bushlack, Senior Director of the Center, discuss Antiqua et nova , a January 2025 doctrinal note on artificial intelligence issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Culture and Education. Dan and Tom discuss the document's...

In episode two of Ethics on Call, hosts Dan Daly, Executive Director of the Center for Theology and Ethics in Catholic Health, and Tom Bushlack, Senior Director of the Center, discuss the theological and ethical legacy of Pope Francis in light of his recent passing. Subscribe to Ethics on Call on YouTube , Spotify, Apple or Simplecast. Visit our website, theologyandethics.org , for more informatio...

Welcome to Ethics on Call, the official podcast of the Center for Theology & Ethics in Catholic Health! In their first episode, hosts Dan Daly, Executive Director of the Center, and Tom Bushlack, Senior Director of the Center, discuss the Center's first official position statement, Access for All: A Reaffirmation of the Theological and Ethical Principles in Support of Health Care for All Persons....