Ethics on Call is the official podcast of the Center for Theology and Ethics in Catholic Health. Join the Center’s leaders, Dan Daly and Tom Bushlack, for a monthly review of recent scholarship, deep dives into key topics, and news in theology and ethics pertinent to Catholic health care.
Drawing on Catholic social teaching, whole-person care, spiritual practices, and the healing ministry of Jesus, Dan and Tom are interviewed on the Catholic Health Association's "Health Calls" podcast to discuss how leaders can imagine new possibilities that promote human flourishing, uphold human dignity, and strengthen the common good.
23 Jun 2026
What does Pope Leo XIV's Magnifica Humanitas mean for AI in Catholic Healthcare?
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.
27 May 2026
AI and Medicine: The Challenge of Human Dignity
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 Human Dignity," and he outlines the history of the Vatican's engagement with the ethics of AI, and the main principles that have emerged from that work to guide its use in health care
21 Apr 2026
Expert Panel Discussion on AI, Ethics, and the Future of Catholic Healthcare
In this special episode of Ethics on Call, Dan moderates a roundtable conversation recorded live at the conference: Artificial Intelligence, Authentic Mercy: Navigating AI Ethics in Catholic Health (Boston College | March 20–21, 2026)
17 Mar 2026
Healthcare Transcends Borders: Treating Immigrant Patients with Dignity
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.
17 Feb 2026
From Promulgation to Practice: Leaders Reflect on the 7th Edition of the ERDs
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.
20 Jan 2026
Analysis and Commentary on the Newly Promulgated 7th Edition of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services
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.
16 Dec 2025
Organizational Ethics: Building and Sustaining Virtuous Health Care Ministries
In this episode Dan and Tom begin by reviewing the ways that critical realist social theory has contributed to a Christian ethical analysis of social structures and culture. Then they consider two recent articles that apply these insights to clinical and bioethics, and to building healthy hospital cultures.
25 Nov 2025
Field Report from the American Society for Bioethics in the Humanities 2025 Annual Conference
This episode includes three interviews recorded live from the floor of the exhibit hall of the ASBH annual conference in October 2025. Dan and Tom also discuss their takeaways and learnings from some of the papers and sessions at the conference, summarize the trends they see reflected in the field of bioethics today, and consider their implications for the Catholic health ministry.
4 Nov 2025
Commentary on Pope Leo XIV's Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi Te
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.
21 Oct 2025
Recent Controversies Regarding Brain Death in Catholic Ethics
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 analysis of the current American Academy of Neurology guideline.
23 Sept 2025
Recent Theological Reflection on Mental Health
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.
19 Aug 2025
Antiqua et nova and Catholic Health: AI, the Human Person, and Human Flourishing
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 purpose and main arguments and connect it to Catholic health.
22 Jul 2025
Pope Francis's Legacy
In episode two of Ethics on Call, hosts Dan Daly, Executive Director of the Center, and Tom Bushlack, Senior Director of the Center, discuss the moral and ethical legacy of Pope Francis in light of his recent passing.
20 Jun 2025
Health Care Access for All
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.
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