Texas bishop dissents from colleagues’ statement on health-care resources

March 30, 2020

In a rare public disagreement, Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas has dissented from a statement signed by all other Catholic bishops in Texas, supporting Governor Greg Abbott’s plan for setting health-care priorities during the CO19 epidemic.

In their joint statement, issued through the Texas Catholic Conference, the bishops applauded the governor’s efforts to cope with the crisis. They cautioned that new guidelines “should reject rationing of healthcare resources based solely on age, disability, or future ‘quality of life’ decisions.’”

However, in the passage that drew Bishop Strickland’s dissent, the other Texas bishops backed the governor’s bid to protect health-care workers from criminal and civil liability. The bishops approved of “waiving regulations and statutes which could result in fines, civil liability, and even criminal charges for decisions related to the allocation of resources during this declared disaster.”

Bishop Strickland argued that this policy could negate “the excellent laws [Abbott] has helped put in place to protect the vulnerable.” While most health-care workers would carry out their duties conscientiously, Bishop Strickland said, some might allow their own prejudices to guide their medical decisions, “rather than to be guided by respect for the equality of all.”

Bishop Strickland argued: “The fact is that waiving law can do more to benefit lawbreakers and the unscrupulous than good people.”

 

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Further information:

• Statement on Scarce Healthcare Resources (Texas Catholic Conference)
• A Statement from Bishop Joseph Strickland