Blog
CMA Member Reports from FIAMC World Congress
CMA member Mary Davenport, M.D. attended the 23rd Congress of the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (FIAMC), in part in her capacity as vice president of the American Association of Pro-Life Ob-Gyns (AAPLOG). She issued the following report:
Phoenix Bishop Defends Life, Catholic Health Care
Thomas Olmsted, D.D., Bishop of Phoenix, recently issued a public statement that demonstrated a strong defense of human life and authentic Catholic health care. The Catholic Medical Association, in conjunction with the Catholic Physicians Guild of Phoenix, supports Bishop Olmsted and prays that healing and a renewed commitment to respect for human life can come out of this tragedy. The statement of the Diocese of Phoenix can be found here. Some FAQs about the case can be found after the jump.
23rd World Congress of FIAMC Held
The 23rd World Congress of FIAMC (the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations) was held in Lourdes, France, from May 6th through 9th. The congress was sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers. Thirty of the speakers from around the world reflected on the theme "Our Faith as Doctors." An appealing session was also held about the Catholic doctor's mission to protect life. For a video summary and additional news coverage of the congress, click here.
A Catholic Doctor’s Hope for America
CMA member Peter Bleyer, M.D. published a provocative article on health care legislation and Holy Week in the American Thinker. This article is worth reading and contemplating in its entirety. Check it out here.
Death Panel(s): Not just real, but really effective
Sarah Palin's comments last year describing the "death panels" that would exist under government-run health care were dismissed as completely unfounded. Now that the law has been signed, its supporters not only don't mind discussing death panels; they are bragging about how effective they will be in saving money. Watch the video after the jump.
Terri’s Day
March 31 has been designated as "Terri's Day" by the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation. The Foundation, in collaboration with Priests for Life, is holding an “International Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Terri Schindler Schiavo, and All of Our Vulnerable Brothers and Sisters,” to be observed each year on March 31, the anniversary of her death. Terri has been appropriately described as a "martyr of the culture of death."
Defending Pope Benedict
Over the last two weeks, an assault on the good name and reputation of Pope Benedict XVI has been launched by various Western media outlets, above all by the New York Times. In brief, Pope Benedict has been accused of being insufficiently responsive to incidences of the sexual abuse of children in the past.
CMA members should keep Pope Benedict in their prayers, and be ready to effectively respond to these attacks whenever possible. Here are some resources to help with the latter task.
Two Major Speeches by Archbishop Chaput—Great!
Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, Colorado is one of the most articulate, courageous, and substantive witnesses in the Church today, certainly in the United States. In the last two days in Houston, Texas, Chaput has given thought-provoking speeches on two major issues -- health care reform and the relationship between faith and public life in America. Follow the links to read the full text of these speeches.
FIAMC Conference Information
FIAMC (the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations) will be holding its 23rd World Congress and General Assembly from May 6-9, 2010 in Lourdes, France. The theme of the conference is "Medicine and Faith."
For more information, click here.
CMA National Chaplain on Health Care Reform
CMA National Chaplain Fr. John D. Ehrich, S.T.L. was recently interviewed by the Catholic Sun, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Phoenix. The interview, which revolved around issues in health care reform, provides some great examples of Fr. Ehrich's clear thinking and direct answers. Take a minute to read the interview.
New Resource for Publicizing Adult Stem Cell Therapies
Two allies of the Catholic Medical Association, Family Research Council and Saint Max Worldwide, have been collaborating on an education and awareness campaign regarding the successes of adult stem cell therapies.
Phase One of this project -- a new web site that features three "adult stem cell success stories" on video -- was just completed. The web address is www.stemcellresearchfacts.org. Take a minute to check out the videos there. They are very well done. Please pass them along to family, friends and colleagues.
CMA Responds to Consortium of Jesuit Bioethics Programs
In the February 13, 2009, issue of Commonweal, seven directors of bioethics programs at Jesuit universities (the Consortium of Jesuit Bioethics Programs) discussed their understanding of recent magisterial teaching regarding artificial nutrition and hydration. In the August issue of The Linacre Quarterly, representatives of the Catholic Medical Association responded to their statement.
CMA on EWTN
On Friday, October 2, CMA President Louis Breschi, M.D. and Executive Director John F. Brehany, Ph.D. appeared on EWTN's "The World Over" with Raymond Arroyo.
The program focused on health care reform, Catholic social teaching, and the role of Catholic organizations in the current debate.
A link to an audio recording of the the show is available by clicking HERE.
Legislative Strategy? Write Incomprehensible Language?
Echoing the philosophy of Sen. John Conyers (who, in July, said he had no intention of reading health care legislation because he'd need two days and two lawyers to understand it), Sen. Thomas Carper (D.-Del.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, recently confessed that he does not “expect” to read the actual legislative language of the committee’s health care bill because it is “confusing” and that anyone who claims they are going to read it and understand it is fooling people. Watch the video after the jump.
CMA Responds to Senate Finance Committee Votes
On September 30, 2009, the Senate Finance Committee voted down amendments excluding federal funding of abortion and prohibiting discrimination against any individual or entity who refuses to provide, pay for, or refer for abortions. The refusal of the Senate Finance Committee to guarantee the most rudimentary respect for the conscience rights of health-care professionals could be the harbinger of a brave new world in health care and American culture generally.
N.C. Register Health Care Reform Article Features CMA Members
An article in the National Catholic Register (posted on Sept. 18 and slated for publication in the Sept. 27-Oct. 3, 2009 issue) prominently featured members of the Catholic Medical Association. In the article, entitled "Catholic Physicians Wary of Health Care Reform," Register correspondent Joan Frawley Desmond, drew attention to a critique of current health care reform legislation that has received insufficient media attention to date.
CMA Sends Letter to Key Congressional Committees
In a September 4, 2009 letter sent to the congressional committees working on health care reform, CMA reiterated its chief concerns regarding current legislation and urged these Members of Congress to base reform on sound ethical and economic principles, and to take the time necessary to craft well-founded legislation.
Bishops on Health Care Reform
Throughout the summer, a number of individual U.S. bishops spoke out on key concerns related to health care reform legislation. They urged Congress to respect rights of conscience, exclude abortion from federally funded or mandated benefits, or to respect the principle of subsidiarity. While some of these statements are brief, several are remarkably well done (for example, the statement from the bishops of Kansas City (Kansas and Missiouri). A helpful compilation of these statements can be found at a great blog called American Papist. Click here to find the most recent list of statements.
2009 Special Event’s Lincoln Museum Is Something Special!
This year’s Annual Conference Special Event, on Thursday, October 22, is a private viewing, reception and dinner at the renowned Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in downtown Springfield. The fact that the Lincoln Museum passed its 2 millionth visitor faster than any other presidential museum shows how impressive it is.
Obama Compares Health Care Reform Plan to Post Office-FedEx Relationship
In a town hall meeting in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, President Obama defended his support for a "public option" health care plan by citing the success of FedEx and United Parcel Service. The video and some commentary can be found after the jump.
Catholic College’s Religious Freedom Denied
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruled July 30, 2009 that a Catholic college must include coverage for artificial contraceptives in its employee health insurance plan. The EEOC declared that Belmont Abbey College discriminated against women employees by ending coverage of contraception in college-provided health insurance.
CMA Board Member George Isajiw interviewed by Our Sunday Visitor
CMA Board member and self-described "country doctor" George Isajiw, M.D. was featured in an Our Sunday Visitor interview in the July 26, 2009 issue.
CMA Member Profiled in National News Story
CMA member Michael Kloess, M.D., along with his partner Anna Volk Johnson, M.D., were recently profiled in a Catholic News Agency story that highlighted their innovative approach to practicing medicine and caring for the poor.
New Guild in San Antonio Forming
A recent story in the San Antonio Catholic Times note the growing interest in a CMA Chartered Guild in the city of San Antonio, Texas.
CMA Member Published in American Principles Project
CMA member Aaron Kheriaty recently published a reflection on the demise of President Bush's Council on Bioethics.
New Encyclical Released
On July 7, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI released his new social encyclical, Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth). This is the Pope’s third encyclical since becoming Pope in 2005. The encyclical marks an important chapter in Catholic social teaching, and its lessons can and should have a bearing on the issue of health care reform in the United States.
John Paul II Guild Gets Coverage
The John Paul II Guild of Columbus, Ohio was featured on the front page of the April 26, 2009 issue of the Catholic Times, the newspaper of the Diocese of Columbus.
St. Paul and Minneapolis Catholic Physicians Guild Announces Summer Events
The St. Paul and Minneapolic Catholic Physicians Guild is sponsoring several events this summer and fall, including a Family Picnic, a presentation about St. Gianna Molla with a chance to meet her son, and the annual White Mass. For more information, see the links above.
Conscience Rights
So far there has been no decision by HHS regarding the Conscience Protection Rule. This delay may be due in part to the impressive show of support for the rule mentioned in April’s update. (Here is a link to a very interesting analysis of where we are and what might happen) The most important thing we can do now is keep the issue in the public’s eye.
NIH Draft Guidelines
NIH released its proposed "ethical guidelines" for human embryonic stem cell research on April 23, 2009, and provided 30 days for the public to comment. The deadline is May 26, 2009. As with the Conscience Protection Rule, despite the fact that we are facing hostile forces in the federal government, it is important for the CMA and all members as individuals to convey our critiques of and objections to this policy.
