Caritas Abortion Surprise? Not So Much

American Life League continues its relentless spotlight on Cardinal O'Malley's abortion scandal.

Caritas Christi, a network of Catholic health-care facilities and hospitals, is affiliated with the Archdiocese of Boston and is answerable to Cardinal Sean O’Malley. The Archdiocese has been under intense scrutiny since early February regarding a joint venture between Caritas and Centene Corporation. The venture will make financially strapped Caritas eligible for Commonwealth Care funding from the state of Massachusetts.

“The Archdiocese of Boston has another scandal on its hands. They are in danger of participating in state-sponsored abortion,” said Shaun Kenney, executive director of American Life League. “It’s time Cardinal O’Malley put a stop to this travesty.”

The venture, CeltiCare, of which Caritas has a 49 percent interest, has listed abortion and family planning “services” among the benefits included in its health-care coverage.

The plan is set to go into effect July 1.

“This problem at Caritas goes to the very top: We have clearly seen that the majority of the Caritas Board of Governors supports abortion access, so why should we be surprised they’re allowing it in Caritas?” Kenney asked.

Frankly, and I'm sorry to say this, but the Cardinal put them there. During his tenure here, Cardinal O'Malley has not taken any teaching of the Church seriously. He has coddled, appointed those he knows mislead on the teachings of the Church - and therefore, mislead the people.

I'm not saying it is intentional but it is most definitely an indication that he does not care about the teachings of the Church or the people relying upon proper guidance to circumvent moral bankruptcy, like he cares about the money. When it comes to money, he has scrutinized credentials and appointed only people whose portfolios proved they have the right background to direct the finances. There are no poor people with fiduciary duties.

There is no excuse for the Cardinal's appointees.

Correspondence with Caritas Christi Board and the Diocese

Is this group of men unaware that when a woman asks the physician at Caritas Christi for the phone number where she can get her abortion because they don't provide it, and he gives it to her, that doesn't constitute a "referral", an interference with the freedom to practice medicine or a violation of Catholic teachings?



-----Original Message-----
From: cmmckinley@aol.com
To: Vicar_General@rcab.org; jimk@firstbristol.com; kcphelan@m-g.com; john-chessare@caritaschristi.org; robert.guyon@caritschrist.org; edalelio@comcast.net; pfaheyl@lumc.edu; reverend_peter_gori@rcab.org; rgustafson@crescentcredit.org; fhogan@lwelaw.com; jimk@firstbristol.com; neil_lynch@cal.uscourts.gov; jpm@rcab.org; john@voxvue.com; Cardinal O'Malley
Cc: mpaulson@globe.com; klazar@globe.com; tdonilon@vzw.blackberry.net; terrence_donilon@rcab.org
Sent: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 11:46 am
Subject: Fwd: how does the woman get to the abortion clinic?

+
IHS

Gentlmen:

As Officers and Directors of Caritas Christi, I am forwarding to you my communication below addressed to the Cardinal Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal O'Malley and his spokesperson, Mr. Donilon.


Mr. Donilon's remarks in the Boston Globe make the representation that no employee of Caritas will "refer" a pregnant woman to any institution that will provide her with an abortion or any information about abortion that is contrary to the teachings of the Church. Most of us are having a hard time getting specific information on what the actions from the time she is at Caritas Christi expressing she'd like an abortion and the conversations that have to take place in order to get her to the abortion clinic without referring her to something or somebody who'll help her carry out the action.

The definition of word "referral" in the context that would make a Roman Catholic an accessory to an abortion, violate the freedom of Catholic workers to practice medicine without violtions of their conscience, violate By-laws & Articles of Organization of Caritas Christi and the teachings of the Catholic Church, the Deposit of Faith and the Roman Pontiff are the following:

1. Any discussion between an employee of Caritas Christi that creates moral ambiuity or confusion about the violation of the Sixth Commandment regarding a procedural abortion.

2. Any action, verbal instructions or "referral" to contact a person, persons, entitities or institutions that will assist her in carrying out an abortion.

3. Any provision of material or reference to it that discussing abortion not in conformity with the teachings of the Catholic Church or written by advocates of abortion.

4. Any venture or partnership that would force any employee of Caritas Christi into a sin of omission. Explicitly, a sin of omission would be any prohibition of Evangelium Vitae or Humanae Vitae when a pregnant Catholic woman expresses her desire for an abortion.

Since the decision with the Commonwealth is due March 15th, faithfully practicing Catholics do not have time to waste to obtain legal action to restrain you from entering the venture to protect the temporal rights and freedoms of Roman Catholics in the Archdiocese of Boston.

A group of us would like to meet with the Board of Caritas and the Diocese with legal counsel to answer our specific questions about the role of the employees of Caritas Christi when a woman makes a request for an abortion or for that matter, contraception.

In the absence of hearing from a representative of the Board by the end of today, Friday, March 6th, we will proceed on Monday morning.

I may be reached at 781-987-4293. If you would prefer to call C.J. Doyle of the Catholic Action League, whom I believe will be interested and may be reached at 617-534-6309.

As soon as I am finished with this email, I am going to go form a Massachusetts 501 (c)3 in the event we will be needing it Monday morning.

Please do not force us into doing this.

Carol McKinley