Catholic Physicians concerned that President Obama will speak at Catholic Health Association Assembly
June 09, 2015
The Catholic Medical Association congratulates the Catholic Health Association (CHA) on its 100th anniversary of advancing the Catholic health ministry of the United States in caring for people and communities. The CHA’s support of religious liberty and conscience protection for health care workers is also to be applauded. The CHA’s long and esteemed history of service to the poor, needy and most vulnerable members of our society is also gratefully acknowledged.
It was recently announced that President Barack Obama was invited to address the CHA’s annual membership, with expressed gratitude for the President’s leadership on the Affordable Care Act. The invitation to the President could be misinterpreted by Catholics and the secular public to imply tacit support for the Affordable Care Act and its subsequent regulation, the mandate of the HHS to provide contraception, sterilization, and abortion-inducing pharmaceuticals.
While the CMA certainly respects the office of the President of the United States, on a number of points the policies of President Obama’s administration are in clear opposition to the direction of the Bishops of the United States with regard to healthcare policies. In addition, the ACA violates the integrity of the practice of medicine in the United States, undermines the dignity of the human person, and compromises the delivery of Catholic healthcare.
Many large Catholic and other religious institutions, as well as Catholic and Christian business owners, are currently in litigation because of the demands of the ACA with respect to the contraceptive mandate. Conscience protection is being violated as some state regulatory agencies, such as the Department of Health and Managed Care in the State of California, now identify abortion as a basic human right which must be covered by all health insurance companies. As physicians in medical practice, we see our patients facing the difficulty of rising costs of insurance premiums, higher deductibles, and limits on their access to care.
The Catholic Medical Association seeks to continue to collaborate with the Catholic Health Association to work toward a more just healthcare system that ensures patient access to care without compromising the dignity of the human person or violating the conscience protection of healthcare workers.
About The Catholic Medical Association:
The Catholic Medical Association (CMA) is the largest association of Catholic individuals in health care. The CMA helps members grow in faith, maintain ethical integrity, and provide excellent health care in accordance with the teachings of the Church. As a leading national voice on applying the principles of the Catholic faith to medicine, the CMA creates and organizes educational resources and events; advocates for members, the Church, and the medical profession in public forums; and provides guidance for bishops and other national leaders on healthcare ethics and policy. CMA builds communities of support through local guilds and is dedicated to educating and supporting the next generation.
For more information please contact:
Catholic Medical Association 29 Bala Ave., Suite 205
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004-3206
Tel: 484-270-8002 or info@cathmed.org
