Cardinal, theologians back Boston health-care agency's bid for government contract
March 11, 2009
Amid controversy over a proposed arrangement that would lead the Archdiocese of Boston’s health-care network to become involved with insurance coverage for abortion, the Boston Globe found "leading theologians" from Creighton and Duquesne universities who supported the move, noting that the Church would be providing health care for the poor. (The Catholic network would administer a state government program offering subsidized coverage for low-income residents.)
Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley reiterated on March 6 that “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.” The cardinal said that he had asked the National Catholic Bioethics Center to render an opinion on the propriety of the proposed arrangement.
Sister Carol Keehan, president of the Catholic Health Association, told the Globe that she had reviewed the proposal and supported it. Caritas Christi, the health-care network of the Boston archdiocese, has refused to anwer reporters' questions about its policies, its corporate structure, or the details of the proposed insurance plan.
Caritas Christi has joined with an out-of-state enterprise, Centene Corporation, in a joint bid for the state government contract. State officials are scheduled to award the contract on March 12; the Caritas Christi/Centene proposal is reportedly the lowest bid.
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Further information:
- Caritas deal gets support of leading theologians (Boston Globe)
- Catholic Appeal Weekend (Cardinal Sean’s Blog)
- Boston cardinal backs Catholic agency's bid for contract involving abortion coverage (CWN)
- Debate continues on Boston health-care agency's bid for contract involving abortion coverage (CWN)
- National Catholic Bioethics Center
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