There should be deep concern about Philadelphia's Catholic hospitals (i.e., 1) the paucity of NFP-only physicians, 2) "privileges" for IVF specialists, 3) "privileges" for associates of practices involved with "fetal reduction", 4) provision of information on "advance directives" which fails to specify that Catholic teaching must be honored - particularly with regard to the provision of nutrition and hydration). As per the Holy Father, "The diocesan Bishop is obliged, if necessary, to make known to the faithful the fact that the activity of a particular charitable agency is no longer being carried out in conformity with the Church’s teaching, and then to prohibit that agency from using the name 'Catholic'"
In my opinion, a look at political contributions by top hospital executives (See www.opensecrets.org, for example.) suggests why scandalous situations should not be at all surprising, and why these hospitals seem to merely give lip service to Catholic teaching. In several cases, the values (and treasures) of top executives appear to lie elsewhere.
Holy Redeemer
This past year, a proposed merger between Holy Redeemer and Abington Hospital was applauded by some, believing it would mean the end of abortions at Abington. After that proposed merger fell through, a National Catholic Bioethics Center article stated: "Collaborative relationships with Catholic health care institutions always require respect for Catholic identity, but that respect does not always mean the cooperating partner must fully comply with the ERDs. Depending on how the collaborative arrangement is structured, it may or may not require restrictions on immoral procedures at the partner institution.... Immoral procedures at the non-Catholic entity may or may not need to be ruled out based on the principle of cooperation with evil and concerns about causing moral scandal" (Holy Redeemer Health System and Abington Health: Seeking to Serve the Community, 7/29/12). Ow! Had pro-abortion forces known of political contributions by Holy Redeemer's three highest paid executives, I suspect that they would have been more convinced:- Holy Redeemer President Michael B. Laign (total compensation: $732,494) is reported to have financially contributed to pro-abortion candidates Congressman Bob Brady, former Congressman Jim Greenwood, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, and the late Senator Arlen Specter;
- Chief Medical Office Anthony Colleta (total compensation: $525,416) is reported to have financially contributed to the late, pro-abortion Senator Arlen Specter;
- Senior Vice President Michele Urofsky (total compensation: $387,155) is reported to have financially contributed to pro abortion, former Congressman Jim Greenwood.
Catholic Health East
This past year, the president/ceo of Catholic Health East (total compensation: $2,458,985) received papal honors. As per the newspaper of the Diocese of Trenton, "Judith M. Persichilli.... resides in Pennington with her husband, Anthony, and they are currently members of St. James Parish, Pennington" (The Monitor, 8/30/11). Anthony Persichilli is reported to have financially contributed to pro-abortion candidates President Barrack Obama and Congressman Rush Holt.Saint Mary Medical Center
CEO Greg Wozniak (total compensation: $743,547) appears to have contributed to pro-abortion (former) Congressman Patrick Murphy. As VP for Mission and Community Health, Terri Rivera is only the eighth highest paid administrator (total compensation: $246,692). Yet, Ms. Rivera seems to be the lead person for the dissemination and implementation of the USCCB's ERDs. Ms. Rivera also appears to have contributed to pro-abortion (former) Congressman Patrick Murphy.Mercy Health System
President/CEO H. Ray Welch, Jr (total compensation: $1,000,036) is reported to have contributed to the campaigns of pro-abortion Congressman Bob Brady and pro-abortion Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz. Mercy Philadelphia CEO Kathryn Conallen (total compensation: $435,437) is reported to have contributed to pro abortion Congressman Chaka Fattah. Nazareth CEO Christina Fitz-patrick (total compensation: $361,729) is reported to have contributed to pro abortion Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz.The Motu Proprio of 11/11/12
My personal impression is that the Archdiocese is reluctant to address situations at Catholic hospitals. Especially in light of yesterday's startling announcement, I respectfully beg that you honor the Holy Father and do not delay in following his instructions about personnel at Catholic institutions:- "I establish and decree the following:
- "Art. 1. - § 1. The faithful have the right to join in associations and to establish agencies to carry out specific charitable services, especially on behalf of the poor and suffering. To the extent that these are linked to the charitable service of the Church’s Pastors and/or intend to use for this purpose contributions made by the faithful, they must submit their own Statutes for the approval of the competent ecclesiastical authority and comply with the following norms....
- "Art. 7. - § 1. The agencies referred to in Article 1 § 1 are required to select their personnel from among persons who share, or at least respect, the Catholic identity of these works.
"§ 2. To ensure an evangelical witness in the service of charity, the diocesan Bishop is to take care that those who work in the Church’s charitable apostolate, along with due professional competence, give an example of Christian life and witness to a formation of heart which testifies to a faith working through charity [emphasis added]. To this end, he is also to provide for their theological and pastoral formation, through specific curricula agreed upon by the officers of various agencies and through suitable aids to the spiritual life....
"Art. 11. – The diocesan Bishop is obliged, if necessary, to make known to the faithful the fact that the activity of a particular charitable agency is no longer being carried out in conformity with the Church’s teaching, and then to prohibit that agency from using the name 'Catholic' [emphasis added] and to take the necessary measures should personal responsibilities emerge....
"I order that everything I have laid down in this Apostolic Letter issued Motu Proprio be fully observed [emphasis added]...and enter into force on 10 December 2012" [emphasis added] (Apostolic Letter Issued 'Motu Proprio' of the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI on the Services of Charity).
