The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, often called the ERDs or the Directives, is the document that offers moral guidance, drawn from the Catholic Church's theological and moral teachings, on various aspects of health care delivery. The Directives can be found on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Access the Ethical and Religious Directives
CHA offers a variety of resources to help members of the ministry understand and apply the ERDs through a series of webinars, publications and online resources.
Understanding Key Updates to the Ethical and Religious Directives
Following the promulgation of the seventh edition of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, CHA convened a webinar to help members gain a deeper understanding of the updates. In the three brief webinar clips below, Nathaniel Blanton Hibner, Ph.D., CHA senior director of ethics, offers further explanation of updates concerning abortion, gender, and referrals.
A Compendium of Edits for the Seventh Edition
In November 2025, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued changes to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. In cooperation with the USCCB, the Catholic Health Association presents this copy of the ERDs with changes for the Seventh Edition highlighted as a reference for members of the Catholic health ministry.
The Road to Revision: Updated ERDs Set Guidelines for Catholic Care
Nathaniel Blanton Hibner, PhD
The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERDs) outline the moral and theological principles guiding Catholic hospitals and health systems in fulfilling their mission of healing. They articulate the Church's deep convictions about human dignity, the common good and faithful stewardship within the modern practice of medicine. As science and social questions evolve, so too must the guidance that supports the Catholic health ministry.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has completed the latest revision of the ERDs, marking the seventh edition of the document. Understanding what the ERDs are, how they have been revised, and what themes are emerging in the current version is essential for all those serving in Catholic health care today.
Annotations by the Catholic Health Association of the United States
This publication incorporates the original text of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services alongside annotations from ethicists throughout the Catholic health care ministry. Annotations include commentary, literature, and links to online articles that can help guide your understanding of this crucial document.
CHA ERD Videos
Orientation (short version)
Orientation (long version)
Ethics Mobile App
- Complete searchable version of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services
- Glossary of ethics terms
- Knowledge base of resources
