Your Health care plan causes confusion and and scandal. Especially in light of this news artical.

http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=94289

please take notice to the last couple of paragraphs.

If I may from the article….
“Last week, in a response to such criticism, Cardinal Sean O’Malley asserted: “Caritas Christi will never do anything to promote abortions, to direct any patients to providers of abortion or in any way to participate in actions that are contrary to Catholic moral teaching and anyone who suggests otherwise is doing a great disservice to the Catholic Church.” However, the cardinal’s claim was contradicted by representatives of Commonwealth Care, who assured state officials that their program would provide “ready access” to all of the services mandated by the government program, including abortion.

Under the Commonwealth Family Health Plan system, abortions will not be performed at the Caritas Christi hospitals. But women who wish to procure abortions will be given a telephone number to call for information on where abortions are performed, and, if necessary, transportation to those sites. ”

Jim

A article in the Globe Friday 03-13-09 states that Caritas gave written assurances that medical staff orperating under the Centene-Caritas insurance plan will inform women of their healthcare options includeing Abortions. Caritas may not do the Abortion themselves but helping women optain the Abortion or transporting them to the clinic for the Abortion is just as sinful as performing the Abortion themselves

For example, the Catholic entity makes 100 dollars of profit that is used for the non-Catholic entity. The non-catholic entity is careful not to apply that 100 dollars to activities that are incompatible with catholic morals. So the 100 dollars goes into fund X and 100 dollars that would have went into the general fund now can go to the non-Catholic entity. It may not be the actual bills but the effect is the same. It’s naive to think that the Catholic entity can be part of a secular entity and not be affected by that entity. Over time the Catholic identify will be lost, people will resent restrictions and the Catholic entity will become shell game.
‘

The trouble with the Boston Archdiocese is that it is too much concerned with the Church as an institution. One is reminded
of the twelve apostles before being visited by the Holy Spirit.

When the Church becomes a silent partner in the State’s efforts to promote the culture of death we are far down the road to perdition.

I hope Caritas Christi and the Cardinal will reconsider. My contribution to the 2009 Appeal will not be forthcoming unless a decision is made in favor of a culture of life.

For what it’s worth, I have come to the conclusion that healthcare in the USA today is simply big business – it’s not a charity and not a mission in any meaningful way. I strongly recommend the Church exit the healthcare business in the USA as the corrupting effect of money in this business overwhelms the good of the charism that once imbued the orders’ actions.

The “Daughters of Money” (a name given to one order in a WSJ article some years ago), the issues of abortion, euthanasia and contraception, horrendously complicated civil laws and regulations with criminal penalties, added to billions of dollars is a recipe for scandal and evil – healthcare not a charity like it was 100 years ago.

God and mammon, Eminence. It’s just big business nowadays in the USA.

Pax te cum,

Although I am not a Catholic, I hold the Catholic Church dear to my heart. It was at the Chapel of Mary at Stonehill College where my entire family received the Lord Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour while attending a Bible study. I have also been involved in Operation Rescue with many of my Catholic Brother and Sisters, and if it were not for the Catholic Church there would be very little pro-life movement in the United States. I applaud and admire the Catholics and their work for the unborn, but I must say that I have been shocked that an other opinion would have to be sought regarding Caritas and this health plan, anything involving in anyway abortion is dealing with the enemy, and you know that you can not deal with the enemy. God’s word clearly states Resist him and he will flee! Please do not fall for any of Satan’s tricks. Rick Warren let himself be tricked either through pride or twisting of
God’s word to appear with the President at the inauguration. It was a confusion to many Christians, yes, we are to pray for our leaders, God’s word tells us to, but to stand with them, and be part of their administration, no. Rick Warren could have done that at his church in CA. I don’t know why he showed up in D.C. but I know that it confused many Christians, and we know that confusion is not of the Lord, that is Satan’s tool. Just as this vice with Caritas and this insurance is, it is only causing confusion in the minds of many. The Holy Father made it clear to Speaker Pelosi on her visit to the Vatican what the Church’s stand is on abortion, and where a Catholics’s stand should be there is no second opinion needed. It is not a gray area, it is clearly a black and white matter, right or wrong.

Caroline Sullivan

I’ve just read the news reports on the abortion referral services at Caritas. You have not been honest.

Colby

~Emily

Thank you,Caridnal Sean, for another wonderul blog this week. I watched the video that is on this weeks blog. I very much support this cause because we do need to fufill the mission of our catholic church, and also Jesus’ mission. There are many people out there who need our help and do not have the gifts we have received from Jesus. We should share these things with them. We do not realize somtimes how lucky we really are. We may be jealous of our peer for having something we want such as a new bike or a new tecnology. But when we see that the people who are less fortunate, what they have, we begin to see just how blessed we really are. I know that whenever I feel jealousy toward someone or something that someone else has, I always remember that I have a lot of special things in my life, such as my family, my health, my home, food when I am hungry, but I could be someone who has nothing at all. This week’s blog meant a lot to me. Thank you, Cardinal Sean.

-Gabriella

~Hannah

If it is not too late, could you ask the National Catholic Bioethics Center to provide an opinion on a very closely related topic? I.e. the moral validity of Catholic Hospitals providing the so-called “Morning-After Pill” (emergency contraception) in their emergency rooms for rape victims. The Pontifical Academy for Life issued what appears to be a clear teaching on this subject (“Statement on the So-Called ‘Morning-After Pill’” dated October 2000) which was reiterated recently in “Dignitatis Personae”. We are told that the pill only could prevent ovulation (i.e. function as a contraceptive) if taken several days before the rape. Otherwise, when taken not later than 72 hours after a presumably fertile act of sexual intercourse, it has a predominantly “anti-implantation” function. This function is further described as “nothing other than a chemically induced abortion.”

The press has reported that at least some of the six Caritas Christi hospitals stock and administer the abortifacient emergency contraceptive pill in their emergency rooms. State law does indeed require this, but at least a few of the Catholic hospitals my not be complying with the requirement on moral grounds. If the National Catholic Bioethics Center’s view on this question differs from that of the Pontifical Academy, this should be explained.

Thank You!
Clara K.

8th grade St. Paul Student
Hingham MA.

Thank You!
Clara K.

8th grade St. Paul Student
Hingham MA.

Re the Hispanic Men’s retreat in Waltham, what a pity the band was placed in the sanctuary in competition to what was happening at the altar. Does the church have a choir loft?

Praised be Jesus and Mary! I was very pleased to see your comments about the wonderful servants of God at Caritas Christi never doing anything to promote abortions nor directing any patients to abortion providers, or participating in actions contrary to Catholic moral teachings.

~Caroline K.

I just found the below quote from the Boston Pilot which seems to adjudicate the matter:

“Those providers are anticipated to include the six Caritas Christi Hospitals and approximately 33 other hospitals and 66 community health centers,” the statement said.

“Caritas Christi Health Care wishes to make clear that at all times and in all cases we will observe the Ethical and Religious Directives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the basic principles of Catholic moral theology,” said the statement.

The document referenced by the Caritas statement “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services,” states that Catholic health care institutions, “are not to provide abortion services, even based upon the principle of material cooperation.”

Material cooperation is a Catholic moral term that refers to actions of cooperation with evil that can sometimes be permitted if there are proportionate reasons.

“In this context, Catholic health care institutions need to be concerned about the danger of scandal in any association with abortion providers,” the document states.

from,shannon m

Thank you so much for seeking a second opinion.

As a practicing anesthesiologist for 22 years in a Catholic hospital, I am now very confused about the teachings of the Church in terms of what is permissible and I look forward to reading the opinion of the Bioethics Center.

Our pro-life initiative in was privileged to work with Fr. Tad when we were fighting stem cell legislation and can vouch for his doctrinal integrity and zeal for the Church.

I’m sure you don’t recall, but we met once at a function near my summer home in Osterville when you were the Bishop in Fall River. I was most impressed with your humility and gentleness. I enjoy reading your blog and the photographs are magnificent.

We met once at a function

§2. The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires.

§3. According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons.

Thank for for explaining your decision on Caritas Christi. I am certain that you intend for that organization to remain free from the stain of the blood of murdered babies. However, ultimately it is incorrect for any Catholic organization to seek contracts or other financial arrangements with Caesar. However well intentioned your decision is (and it IS well intentioned), the Church must remain forever separate of and independent from the grasp of Caesar’s power. Every time we entangle the Body of Christ with Caesar – even in pursuit of what we think is social justice and the common good – we submit a portion of authority from Christ (the Head of the Church) to Caesar. Catholic social service organizations should never, ever barter with Caesar. Otherwise, we give Caesar permission to tell the Body of Christ what to do. Catholic organizations should never make any contracts with Caesar, they should never receive any tax monies from the public treasury, and they should never support any endeavor of Caesar beyond the twin principles of (1) the individual right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and (2) the non-initiation of force. Now does this mean that the Church should remove itself from public political life? Heaven forbid! Of course not! Rather, by refusing to become entangled with Caesar over money and contracts, we preserve the purity of our mission (which is to save souls) and lend no legitimate room for Caesar to tell us what to do. Socialism is inherently immoral, whether theocratic or atheistic. In order for us to have a moral leg to stand on when we tell Caesar that infanticide and sodomy are evil, we must refuse all financial endeavors with Caesar, especially when they are done under the false guise of social justice and the common good. Without the individual right to life, there is NO common good, no social justice.

Cardinal O’Malley, by supporting the proposed Caritas merger with Commonwealth Care- “which covers abortions and family planning services” you are cutting a deal with the devil by the inevitable comingled relationship with a secular health organization. This venture will indeed compromise Catholic identity.

In all times, both good and bad, people need to realize that the only way for our world to survive and be good is through sharing what we have with the less fortunate.I think a great way to help others is through donating to the 2009 Catholic Appeal.

In my Religion class at St. Paul School in Hingham, we learned about the parable of the rich young man. A wealthy young man knelt before Jesus and asked, “What can I do to earn eternal life in heaven?” Jesus responded, “Sell all you own, give the money away, and after you have done this, come and follow me.” The young man however did not lisiten to Jesus. Instead, he walked away from him. From this eyeopening story, I learned that giving to others is what Jesus would want me to do. Through prayer and charity, I walk closer to God instead of away from him.

Thank you for this weeks blog! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sincerely,

Mariah Ward
Seventh Grade student at St. Paul School in Hingham

I too agree that the characterization by you to that prolifers raising concerns about this venture are people who “do a great disservice to the Catholic Church” is most surprising.

As a poster states above, the information that Caritas will refer women who want abortions out of network to get them, came from Caritas itself.

If the teachings of the Catholic Church are that it is okay to refer a woman to a person who will THEN refer her to an abortion clinic, this is news to us.

A few months ago, you (correctly) told us that it was morally wrong to vote for a pro-abortion politician.

But now Caritas Christi wants to form a partnership that promises the Commonwealth it will directly provide abortion services– and you say *that* is OK?

I’m afraid I don’t follow that logic at all.

Both actions seem to be about voluntarily supporting an entity that advocates for or provides abortion– isn’t that morally wrong?

I don’t think it’s the case that raising this concern “is doing a great disservice to the Catholic Church.” Those are very strong words. Please don’t aim them at us.

Sadly, this isn’t the first time that Massachusetts pro-life supporters feel that the Archdiocese has burned them. Phil Lawler soberly recounts some of that history in his book, “The Faithful Departed.”

There are many of us who care about you, and the Church, deeply. We are praying for you and we are hoping that you can help settle this problem that has us all concerned.

Peace.

http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2009/02/27/caritas_bids_to_join_state_network_of_health_insurers/

“How will our female members be provided these reproductive services?” said member Nancy Turnbull, an associate dean at the Harvard School of Public Health. “Those are not services Caritas provides.”

In response, Caritas and Centene issued a joint statement late yesterday that said the new venture “will contract with providers, both in and out of the Caritas network, to ensure access to all services required by the authority, including confidential family planning services.”

This statement strongly suggested participation in actions contrary to Catholic moral teaching, and strikes me as the opening shot in doing a “great disservice to the Catholic Church.” The subsequent statement “Caritas is the appropriate agency to respond” by your spokesman, Terry Donilon, continued the disservice, and with all due respect, your March 5 statement also did not explicitly rule out referring patients to abortion providers.

So, your latest statement is most welcome! Yet it’s still unclear how Caritas can legitimately be a part of a program that requires access to abortion services, but somehow avoid referring patients to providers of those services. Since there is some validity to the expression, “Those who lie down with dogs wake up with fleas,” I hope you can understand why many people remain skeptical that Caritas can have it both ways. I hope and pray we are proven wrong, or that you end this agreement.