I regularly contact elected officials in support of positions advocated by the Pa Catholic Conference and the USCCB, including conscience protections in health care. Yet, I fear that we may be losing sight of the ultimate reason that we need these protections. As per one former
John Cardinal Krol Chair of Moral Theology:
"The Catholic Church opposes direct sterilization, and the use of
contraceptive drugs and devices, including those which may cause
abortion, not as a matter of 'company policy,' but as a matter of moral
conviction that these practices violate the true dignity of the human
person. One cannot promote the true good of individuals and society by
facilitating and promoting practices that are, in fact, injurious to
persons" (Msgr. Kevin T. McMahon, STD, Catholic World Report, 4/18/12).
Just "company policy" or recognized as "injurious to
persons"?
I can find only 30 NFP-only physicians in Pennsylvania and only six in Greater Philadelphia (cf,
http://onemoresoul.com/nfp_by_state/PA). Kudos to Drs.
George Isajiw, Alfred Maurielle II, Monique Ruberu, Lester Ruppersberger, Eleanor Tiongson, and William Williams! Bravo Bravissimo Doctors! Yet, with regard to Catholic hospitals in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia....
- None of the six is presently in the directory of the Mercy Health System of Southeast Pa, while Mercy claims to provide "Women's Health Services" (See 1).
- None of the six is presently in the directory of St. Mary Medical Center, while St Mary claims to provide "Women's Health Services" (See 1). I am troubled that St. Mary's directory includes three
specialists in Maternal Fetal Medicine (See 1, 2, and 3), each of whom is an "Abington Perinatal Associate" (See 1a, 2a, and 3a.), when a 4th Abington Perinatal Associate has been reported to be involved with fetal
"reduction" (See 1, 2,
and 3.).
- Dr Ruberu is indeed in the directory of Holy Redeemer. Holy Redeemer's directory also includes five physicans (i.e., 1,
2, 3,
4,
5) from Reproductive
Medicine Associates of Philadelphia or Abington Reproductive
Medicine, which offer services, recognized by the Catholic Church as "injurious to persons."
Can we expect that the practice at Catholic hospitals will follow the Catholic Medical Association's call to discontinue all use of Plan B, because of the danger of abortion?
- "Given increased scientific information suggesting the post fertilization effect of Plan B, the CMA issued a position paper in Sept. 2015 urging healthcare facilities to discontinue using Plan B. The CMA strongly encourages a more thorough and accurate approach, thereby avoiding the falsehood that the drug does not induce abortion. The entailed risk of taking a human life through Plan B's MOA is ethically unacceptable. This is because we are obliged to choose the morally safer course of action, which in this case can only be realized by not having recourse to the use of Plan B" (Catholic Medical Association, 11/29/16).
Especially because some products sold as "contraceptives" can act in an abortifacient manner, ads for
providers of contraceptives should have no place in any Catholic media. Do we see such in some parish bulletins because of inadequate notions about ''cooperation''? Taking him somewhat out of context...
"The principle of cooperation was never intended as a tool to
rationalize the promotion of evil. We must not look for 'loopholes' in
Catholic moral teaching to excuse ourselves from the prophetic witness
that this moment demands. Cooperation is not an option" (Msgr. Kevin T. McMahon, STD, Catholic World Report, 4/18/12)
And in my opinion,
neither Saint Mary's
Advanced Directives and Living Wills nor Holy Redeemer's
Making Your Own Health Care Decisions clearly specify
- Catholic teaching with regard to nutrition and hydration, and
that
- health care services cannot honor advance directives (e.g.,
non-specific directives to forego nutrition and hydration) opposed to
Catholic teaching.
What I am writing is certainly not news to those familiar with Catholic health care institutions or pro life concerns. Yet, nothing seems to be changing. While the National Catholic Bioethics Center offers
trainings/certifications, don't exorbitant CEO salaries (See
Philadelphia Inquirer.) simply provide disincentives for change? As per the character Che from Evita, "
When the money keeps rolling in, you don't ask how." It seems to me that the situation calls for much more than a "continuing ed" approach:
''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' and to take the necessary measures
should personal responsibilities emerge'' (Apostolic Letter Issued 'Motu Proprio' of the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI on the Services of Charity, 4/11/12).
Thank you,
