The NACN-USA Ethics Committee continues to be vibrant and active.

We have been reviewing the updated 2025 ANA Code of Ethics and have assessed the revised CICIAMS Ethics Guidelines and Principles of Practice for Catholic Nurse and Midwives draft which was revised in 2023.

We held two Watch Parties, “The Euthanasia Deception” May 8, 2025 and “No Mercy” with Sr. DeDe on October 18, 2025. Both were fabulous!

We will be hosting a nine month ENDOW study entitled Salvifici Doloris | On the Christian Meaning of Suffering. It will begin in August 2026 and will meet once a month, virtually. All are welcome to attend. Here is the study’s description from the ENDOW website:

“Reconciling the world’s beauty with the weight of human suffering is a problem almost as old as the world itself. Every age and culture has attempted to understand the meaning of human suffering. In this study, you will meditate upon the words of Pope St. John Paul II, explore the various ways we experience suffering, and reflect on how suffering can serve as pathways to personal sanctification. Through this study, you will examine your own heart, mind, and actions, seeking to find the meaning in your own walk through ‘the Valley of Tears.’ “ https://endowgroups.org/products/salvifici-doloris-on-the-christian-meaning-of-suffering/

In addition, the Ethics Committee has had the opportunity to sign onto several important documents either in opposition to or in support of various bioethical issues in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

• The United States Department of Health and Human Services released a Comprehensive Review of Medical Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Gender Dysphoria May 1, 2025. You can read them here: https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/gender-dysphoria-report-release.html

• In June, NACN-USA urged New York’s governor to veto assisted suicide legislation and joined an amicus brief opposing Colorado’s Minor Conversion Therapy law.
• The Supreme Court ruled in favor of nuns challenging New York’s abortion mandate, a case supported by co-signatories including NACN-USA.
• Feedback was provided to the FDA regarding telemedicine chemical abortions, emphasizing transparency, comprehensive adverse effect reporting, and informed consent.
• Following Executive Order 14202, HHS sought input from organizations on anti-Christian bias; the Office for Civil Rights invites feedback. Membership was asked to share their experiences with anti-Christian bias.
• Joint comments supporting reinstating exclusions on abortion coverage within VA benefits and CHAMPVA were submitted.
• Advocacy continued for religious exemptions to vaccine mandates, particularly for the Amish, and for protecting conscience rights and religious freedom in healthcare policy, notably around Medicare residency program accreditation and opposition to DEI programs that may encourage unlawful discrimination.
• NACN-USA affirms the dignity of all human life and opposes procedures harmful to reproductive organs or against Catholic teachings. Recent submissions addressed potentially deceptive practices in “gender-affirming care” for minors.
• In November, we, along with our colleague agencies, petitioned the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to recognize the health needs of persons who regret sexual transitioning and are seeking to restore their true sexual identity.

The Ethics Committee will be sending out a survey to members in a few weeks. We want to hear your experiences with ethical issues and learn more about how we can help you in your nursing practice. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or comments for us in the meantime!

Respectfully,
Judie Boyle

Judith Boyle, DNP, RN
NACN-USA President-Elect and Ethics Committee Chair
judith_boyle@icloud.com

Catholic Nurses and the Lenten Journey

          Lent began on Ash Wednesday and our first reading at Mass (Joel 2:12-18) illustrates the Prophet telling us, “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart…” as God desires us to always and everywhere return to Him. For many Catholics, Lent is simply about giving up something, perhaps double cheese pizza, chocolate or alcohol.

          But Lent is much more, it is a season comprised of prayer, fasting and almsgiving—for the purpose of growing closer to the Lord, to have a conversion or “transfiguration” of our human heart. We can grow in discipleship of Christ only through God’s healing grace and by our human action—free will—our choice to follow Him. In the second Sunday of Lent, the Matthean Gospel gives us the account of the Transfiguration, when Jesus revealed His Divine nature and when we heard God tell us to “Listen to Him” (His Divine Son), so as to know who Christ is, to understand His teachings, and to incorporate His love, mercy and forgiveness into our words and deeds.

          Catholic nurses are a powerful extension of Christ’s healing ministry. For Catholic healthcare is not just about treatments, surgeries or medications—it is about compassion, advocacy and healing the whole person—body, mind and spirit. Catholic nurses must advocate for their patients. They must be one with their patients (in prayer), for prayer is a healing remedy; this advocacy takes place in listening to them and understanding their needs. Lenten “fasting” comes by way of giving up of yourself—to take time to comfort them when they are scared, being present to them in their hour of need; and, charity (almsgiving) is an aspect of Catholic nursing in the going beyond the “duty” of nursing care in the emptying of oneself to be more than one more pill, treatment or procedure, but rather to offer a sense of spiritual love and hope in the eternal goodness and healing power of God for their unending future. This is especially true in hospice care, when at the end of life, the true healing treatment is not one more “round of something,” but rather to hold their hand and help them, with compassion, to spiritually transition to what the Transfiguration promises: our destiny promised by God, to be forever healed in Hs loving presence—healed for eternity.

Fr. Michael Whyte
Chaplain

Sisters and Brothers,

Greetings from the NACN-USA Spirituality Ad Hoc Committee.

We pray God will increase the reach of NACN-USA to those Catholic nurses who are not aware of NACN-USA and join us in our mission. We pray for Pope Leo XIV, our clergy, priesthood vocations, the suffering souls in purgatory, world peace, our martyred African sisters and brothers, those who may die in the state of mortal sin, that God will have mercy on their souls, and for all our intentions. As we continue as pilgrims on our Lenten journey to Holy Week and Christ’s passion and the joy of His resurrection, we pray God will bless us with all the sanctifying graces we need. Go to confession! God bless you!

May we be illuminated by the love of Jesus Christ our Savior!

Theresa Newlin, MSN, ANP-BC, Chair, Spirituality Ad Hoc Committee

Lenten Meditation

Great and Holy Lent, the Retreat that our Mother, the Church bids us to embrace and walk Prayerfully and humbly into each Spring.

The length and the harshness of Winter, attempt to cover the hope for and promise of Spring.

The deprivation and harshness of sin can become a blinding ring.

So, Lent reconnects us to Our Lord, to His Church, and to those we are Called to love unconditionally and without measure.

`Tis Lent, and our letting go,

That will guide us back to the Lord,

Our only True Eternal Treasure!

By: Jamie Shephard, LPN, SFO, Buffalo, NY. Jamie received his BA from Franciscan University majoring in Theology, Sacred Scripture & minoring in Human Life Issues, May, 1990 and is an ad hoc member of the Spirituality Ad Hoc Committee.

Pilgrimage

Since retiring from a full-time nursing faculty position, Daniel (my husband) and I have embarked on several travel adventures. We made the focused decision to explore Catholic locations during these journeys. Just before Lent, we headed to New Mexico and Arizona for 9 days….

How does travelling, particularly pilgrimages, relate to Lent? These 40 days of Lent are preparing us to follow Jesus to Jerusalem and His Cross, Death and Resurrection. A pilgrimage is a unique journey in current circumstances where God can use a new or repeated experience to draw us more closely to Himself through places, people and events….Clic here for the full article with amazing pictures!

By: Peggy Dextraze Humm, MSN, BSN, RN

Region 9, NACN’s “Pacific region,” has been active with regional meetings and sponsoring the NACN’s book club.

Nurses in Region 9 – Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa – convene for online meetings every other month. Our last meeting was in January, and our next meeting is in March. The “Spotlight on Catholic Nursing” portion of Region 9 meetings features a clinical practice area or a special topic relevant to Catholic nurses.

At the January meeting, Region 9 members Bonnie Blachly and Gwenn Baer presented their parish nursing Momento Mori program, which helps parishioners prepare for end-of-life. Their program uses The Art of Dying by Father Columba Thomas, O.P., M.D., our Fall 2025 Book Club selection. The book discusses the five last temptations before dying and the five virtues that offset them.

At the upcoming March meeting, Dr. Judith Boyle, NACN’s incoming President and Ethics Committee Chair, will join Region 9 Director Dr. Vicky Pebsworth and NACN President Bonnie Blachly to discuss “Social Media Use by Nurses: Appropriateness and Effects.” Before the meeting, we will read an essay by Mr. Rob Dreher titled “How Afraid of Nurses Should We Be?,” watch nurse social media videos, and review relevant portions of the American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics and the USCCB’s Ethical and Religious Directives, 7^th Edition. We will discuss what, if anything, Catholic nurses, as individuals, and the NACN, as an organization, might consider doing to discourage and redirect inappropriate social media use by nurses.

In conjunction with the NACN Ad Hoc Spirituality Committee, Region 9 is sponsoring a Spring 2026 Book Club, and we will read St. Louis de Montfort’s classic The Secret of the Rosary and prepare to join the Rosary Confraternity in May. The book club will meet at 5 pm PT on March 17, April 21, and May 19. Please consider joining us as we read, discuss, and share insights about the Rosary and its relevance to our lives as Catholic nurses. Section leaders will be Vebs Dominguez, NACN Hawaii State Representative; Theresa Newlin, Ad Hoc Spirituality Committee Chair; and Bonnie Blachly, NACN President. They are working to create a stimulating and edifying book club.

Consider joining our Book Club! All are welcome.