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DETROIT — The end-of-life trial of Pope John Paul II and, in a much different way, the starving death of Terri Schiavo have recently brought end-of-life issues to the forefront of the Catholic mind in the United States.

But the Archdiocese of Detroit for years has been helping Catholics understand the importance of preparing to place their health, their estates, or even their very lives in the hands of their loved ones.

It’s all a part of Christian stewardship.

“Catholic faith tells us there are certain end-of-life moral issues you have to deal with,” says Tom Scholler, director of planned giving for the archdiocese. “As part of stewardship, taking care of one of the gifts God gives us, our health and bodies – that’s part of the planning process.”

One of the programs funded by Catholic Services Appeal, the campaign which begins next weekend, is a stewardship education program – and it reaches far beyond money. Christian stewardship begins with the idea that all a person has – health, body, mind and soul as well as resources, such as property, possessions and money – are gifts from God. And it’s a Christian’s responsibility to take care of those gifts and use them for the love of man and the good of His kingdom.

The stewardship education program in the archdiocese for a long time has taught Catholics about end-of-life stewardship, Scholler says. As one of the services the Development Office offers, Scholler visits parishes to give talks on basic estate planning, which touches on wills, irrevocable trusts, and so-called “living wills” or durable power of attorney for health care – documents that dictate how a person is treated when their condition won’t allow them to voice their wishes.

The archdiocese also publishes a newsletter called “The Disciple’s Legacy,” which deals with issues of stewardship, estate planning and planned charitable giving. And with society’s increased focus on end-of-life issues, the Development Office plans to post more information on the topic on the Archdiocese of Detroit Web site, www.aodonline.org.

While the government and news media stress the importance of such things as living wills, Scholler says it’s not just for practicality – St. Paul spoke strongly of providing for your loved ones after your death.

“This isn’t something that’s just advocated by the state bar of Michigan,” Scholler says. “There’s a fair amount of scriptural reference in estate planning.”

For example, Scholler points to 1 Timothy 5:8, in which St. Paul is teaching about widowhood. St. Paul writes: “…if anyone does not take care of his own, and especially of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Later in the same letter, 1 Timothy 6:7, St. Paul reminds Timothy, “…we brought nothing into the world, and certainly we can take nothing out.”

Through its seminars and educational materials, the archdiocese helps Catholics understand the importance of providing for loved ones, as stated in Scripture. Also, Scholler says, estate planning may include a charitable donation to local Catholic communities, such as parishes, schools or various charities.

Providing for loved ones and charities through an estate plan, he says, is “a last act of Stewardship” when it comes to possessions.

Scholler adds that there are a couple of myths regarding estate planning. One is that you should only think about estate planning if you have a lot of money or property – a Christian is responsible for all they have, whether it’s a great amount or a small one.

A second myth is that making an estate plan is one of the final acts a person does during her life. As highlighted by the Schiavo case, it’s wise to plan early.

Patti Moore, for example, was only about 30 years old when she and her husband established estate plans and assigned durable power of attorney.

“After you have kids, I think it’s a good thing,” says Moore, a parishioner at St. Daniel Parish, Clarkston. “There are so many reasons you should (prepare). It’s kind to your family, it takes the burden away from them at certain times, it avoids legal family battles, and it gives you some control about your end of life.”

Moore has been a registered nurse for 25 years and is parish nurse coordinator at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital in Pontiac. She first saw the significance of estate planning when she worked in a cancer ward and had daily contact with patients, family members and chaplains.

“For me, I just saw what people went through,” she says. “And I know how important it is.”

Another obstacle may be simply the hassle of paperwork. That’s an obstacle, Moore says, that isn’t hard to handle.

“It’s not a hard thing at all,” she says.

And, as Scholler stressed in citing St. Paul, it is a Christian one.

Estate planning   The Catholic Services Appeal, which begins next weekend, helps fund informational services about end-of-life issues, such as estate planning; establishing durable power of attorney for health and finances; and charitable giving. Here are some ways the Archdiocese of Detroit provides to learn about end-of-life preparedness and stewardship. The Development Office conducts seminars in parishes across the archdiocese called “Wills Awareness and Planned Giving.” Contact your parish or the Development Office, to find out times and dates of the seminars. Subscribe to The Disciple’s Legacy newsletter, which deals with issues of stewardship, estate planning and planned charitable giving. Call (313) 883-8657. For more information on this website:  Giving opportunities | Christian Stewardship