Most Reverend Shawn McKnight, S.Th.D.
Metropolitan Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas
General Decree
Establishing the 7th edition of the ETHICAL AND RELIGIOUS DIRECTIVES FOR CATHOLIC HEALTH CARE SERVICES as particular law in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Mindful of my responsibility as the diocesan bishop to safeguard the integrity and unity of the truths of the faith, moral principles, and ecclesiastical discipline in the works of the apostolate pertaining to health care in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas (cf. canons 392, 394, 678, and 747);
I, Most Reverend Shawn McKnight, by the grace of God and the Apostolic See, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas, hereby issue this General Decree in accord with canon 29 establishing the 7th Edition of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services as particular law in the (Arch)diocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
The 7th Edition of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services is to be promulgated in accord with canon 8, §2 by publication of the text on the Internet Website for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas (www.archkck.org), and by delivering a copy of the same and a copy of this decree to the chief executive officers and sponsors of all Catholic health care institutions located in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. The provisions of the 7th Edition of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services shall become effective and binding within the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas on 19 January 2026, any particular legislation, directives, or instructions to the contrary notwithstanding.
Given in the Chancery on 19 December, in the Year of Our Lord 2025.
