The Bedrock Catholic Values of Caritas - Hosting Fundraiser with Obama

After a Patrick rally at the Hynes Convention Center, the president was traveling to West Newton for a fundraiser at the home of Caritas Cristi CEO Ralph de la Torre.



Meanwhile, de la Torre has been counting on local Democrats from Attorney General Martha Coakley on down to back the $895 million proposed sale of six Caritas Catholic hospitals to Cerberus, a for-profit, private equity firm.

Coakley recently approved the sale -- with conditions -- despite admonitions from her campaign opponent, Republican James McKenna, to recuse herself from the case.

De la Torre contributed $4,800 to her own Senate campaign in January, when Coakley lost a race to retain the seat held by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Republican Scott Brown ended up winning, giving the GOP a 40th Senate and allowing it to filibuster Democratic initiatives.

Story HERE.

This is just another reminder about de la Torre's Dear Obama letter about  healthcare reform.

How should we define access? Should every U.S. citizen have a primary care physician? Should anyone on U.S. soil at any given moment be entitled to medical care? Should the elderly and the very poor continue to have access that others do not? Does "access" define all medical care without reservation?

Where should we set the parameters for quality? Do we want to shoulder the tremendous costs of medicine that meet the very highest standards? What should be the goals for infant mortality, cancer survival rates, and other such metrics?

Don't you worry your pretty little heads though, the Cardinal says 'tis all as Catholic as the pope.

***UPDATE


CJ's Press release:

NEWS RELEASE

 

 

 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: C. J. DOYLE

(781) 251-9739

 

 

CATHOLIC ACTION LEAGUE CRITICIZES

CARITAS CHRISTI CHIEF FOR HOSTING OBAMA FUNDRAISER

The Catholic Action League of Massachusetts today criticized Doctor Ralph de la Torre, chief executive of Caritas Christi Health Care--the network of six Catholic hospitals affiliated with the Archdiocese of Boston--for hosting President Barack Obama at a political fundraiser in his Newton home. The event, held yesterday, reportedly raised $900,000 for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

 

The Catholic Action League called de la Torre's decision to host the affair "a stunning example of audacious hypocrisy."

 

Catholic Action League Executive Director C. J. Doyle stated: "On October 13th, Dr. de la Torre testified before the Massachusetts Public Health Council about the 'bedrock' Catholic values of Caritas Christi being preserved under his leadership following its impending sale to new owners. Three days later, he hosted a campaign event showcasing a political figure whose support for legal and unrestricted abortion is a bedrock component of his political ideology. Ralph de la Torre is of course, a repeat offender in these matters. In 2009, he was a prominent contributor to Attorney-General Martha Coakley, who famously advised pro-life Catholics not to work in hospital emergency rooms."

 

"No rational person can reasonably be expected to take seriously alleged guarantees of the future Catholic identity of Caritas Christi when Ralph de la Torre's own political choices speak to indifference and infidelity to fundamental Catholic moral teaching."

de la Torre and the Cardinal Contradict Caritas and Landmark

It's déjà vu all over again.



In an Aug. 28 story, The Providence Journal quoted spokesmen for both Caritas and Landmark as saying that Landmark would remain secular following the proposed acquisition. The statements drew criticism from those who said (<----i.e., BOSTON CATHOLIC BLOGGERS, CJ DOYLE, DEAL HUDSON, JOHN O'GORMAN, RAY NEARY AND THE COALITION TO SAVE CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE!) this could result in Landmark providing family planning, sterilization and other medical services considered immoral by Catholics.

On Sept. 1 the archdiocese released a statement saying that Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley "was concerned about public statements that Landmark would not be operated as a Catholic hospital if acquired by Caritas" and had met with Caritas's chief executive officer, Dr. Ralph de la Torre.



This is off-point, but isn't it a little late to look into the situation?

Another shining example of letting people go unsupervised until you read what they're doing in the newspaper.

We're making progress though. He was Johnny on the spot responding to the criticism, there was no attempt to call us people doing a disservice to the Church and they skipped the charade of calling in the National Catholic Bioethics Center and thanking them for their opinion without releasing that opinion publicly.

In any event, the Cardinal summoned de la Torre and a meeting took place.

As Catholics in Boston are quite accustomed to now, a statement was released following the meeting that contradicts the spokespeople for the two parties involved in the deal.


The details of the arrangement are hermetically sealed in an envelope and are to remain secretive until the deal gets the go-ahead from the judge.

No further questions about the contradiction were (or will be) answered. But trust them, it is all as Catholic as the Pope.

Why the secret?


This is exactly the same thing that happened with Centene, remember?

The Commonwealth said Caritas would and in fact was was compelled to provide abortions.
Caritas said it was going to make arrangements to provide abortions.
Centene admitted to sufficient facts that abortions would be provided.


But the Cardinal and Ralph dela Torre said it was all balderdash.

For a trip down memory lane, visit THIS for another episode of "there is nothing violating Catholic teaching is involved in the arrangement" while all parties involved in the arrangement are contradicting you.

It turned out the Cardinal and Ralph delaTorre were not being forthright about that deal.

Here is yesterday's statement from the Cardinal and de la Torre:

On Sept. 1 the archdiocese released a statement saying that Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley "was concerned about public statements that Landmark would not be operated as a Catholic hospital if acquired by Caritas" and had met with Caritas's chief executive officer, Dr. Ralph de la Torre.

In the statement de la Torre said, "We wish to clarify statements that have been previously made regarding Landmark Medical Center and its affiliation with Caritas Christi. Currently, Caritas Christi advises Landmark Medical Center, but does not manage the hospital. If Landmark Medical Center is acquired by Caritas Christi or by any company owning the Caritas Christi hospitals, Landmark Medical Center will function within and abide by the Ethical and Religious Directives."

"I am grateful to Dr. de la Torre for his strong leadership in turning around the Caritas Christi Health Care System," said Cardinal Seán. "He shares our commitment to advancing the mission of Caritas Christi. We look forward to the conclusion of the Caritas Christi transaction with Steward Health Care System LLC so that the system will receive much needed capital for its infrastructure, programs, and pension funds while continuing to provide high quality healthcare in accord with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services adopted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops."

and here is the statements of both Caritas and Landmark:

“The goal is to remain secular, and that’s what we’re aiming at,” a spokesman for Rhode Island’s Landmark hospital told the Providence Journal. A Caritas Christi spokesman confirmed: “Our intent is to preserve Landmark in its current form, which includes no religious affiliation."

Got trust?

And, by the way, if Ralph de la Torre has Caritas now turning a profit, remind me again, why do we have to sell them off?

More Caritas Conflicts of Interest

I know this is hard to believe after this post, but there appears to be more conflicts of interest involved in the Caritas deal.

As one commenter put it, Hellooooooooo Martha?? Speak up dear, we can't hear you.

Speaking of comments, do note the link to the comments in Caritas Coinkydinks 2 from the commenter stating there is no whistleblower policy in the Archdiocese.

Hard to imagine isn't it.

One thing I am learning from all this is exactly how many priests and lay people across the archdiocese are scared silly to blow the whistle.

Since this was the problem to begin with, any notion that there has been real reform inside of the Catholic Church is a delusion of grandeur.

Cerebus, Hades and the Archdiocese of Boston

American Life League on the Dismantling of Catholic Hospital and Conscience Protections in Boston

Judie Brown and the American Life League has done some diligence on the deal the Archdiocese is trying to make with Three Headed Monster Guarding the Gates of Hell to prevent escape.

Not only that, but we have learned, “The sale agreement requires the new management to continue adhering to Catholic moral principles in its medical procedures. However the new ownership has the option to terminate that aspect of the agreement by paying an addition[al] $25 million to an approved archdiocesan charity, if it finds that adherence to Catholic moral standards has become ‘unlawful or materially burdensome.’”

But we already know that adherence to Catholic moral standards is unlawful for any hospital that participates in the Massachusetts universal health care insurance program (the model for ObamaCare), because the program requires participants to provide abortion, contraception, sterilization, etc. In fact, the archdiocese’s inability to participate in the Massachusetts program is precisely the reason why Caritas is unprofitable and is being sold. So the termination of Catholic standards is inevitable. Why the charade to mislead the public that Caritas will remain Catholic?

Even before the formal termination of Catholic standards, adherence to those standards by the new owners will be questionable. We followed up on this and found the “Stewardship Agreement” that has been filed with the state of Massachusetts. One section (4.4) addresses the establishment of “ethics committees.” It is clear from the document that even though the Archdiocese of Boston is tossed the bone of being able to appoint an ethicist, the owner of the hospital will actually be paying this “ethicist” by reimbursing the archdiocese. So whose ethicist will contribute to discussions? This is a dangerous situation in view of the new health care reform law which encourages rationing and other forms of euthanasia.

Is the three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hades now poised to devour the Archdiocese of Boston’s hospital system? The evil one’s traps are always cleverly appealing

Register your concerns here.

It's critical. Please.

The Blood on the Cardinal's Hands

Excellent Article by Phil Lawler on Caritas Abortion Business

One update - the Commonwealth Family Health Plan structure has been abandoned.

The Cardinal and Caritas on May 5th created Celtic Care Health Care Plan of Massachusetts, Inc. The Cardinal gave the go-ahead for Caritas Christi Health Care to invest in, become a partner in, be a substantial shareholder in, Celtic Care Health Plan of Massachusetts, Inc. The Articles of Organization can be viewed at the Massachusetts Secretary of State. In this arrangement, when the women and patients are "referred" out for abortions and other services - guess whose number they will be given? Celtic Care. Celtic Care Health Care Plan of Massachusetts, Inc., is a business venture of the Cardinal Archbishop and the Archdiocese of Boston.

One other thing worth repeating:

On March 5th, the Cardinal said:

“I want to confirm for the Catholic community and the wider interested public that Caritas Christi Health Care has assured me that it will not be engaged in any procedures nor draw any benefits from any relationship which violate the Church’s moral teaching..."

Let's look at the compelling part about whether the Cardinal is being hoodwinked or whether he knows that the contract violates Church teaching:


“I want to confirm for the Catholic community and the wider interested public that Caritas Christi Health Care has assured me that it will not...draw any benefits from any relationship which violate the Church’s moral teaching..."


The Cardinal knows that the contract will force people to commit moral evils. Period. There is a profound lack of concern for the souls who will have to carry out those moral evils and who will have those moral evils performed upon them. Lastly, the idea that Caritas is doing all this to help the poor people and will not benefit by any of it is simply untrue. They explicitly promised to kill infants so they could win a lucrative contract. Of course there is benefit.



Also, Cardinal O'Malley and Caritas are putting together another acquisition and hoping to use it as the model to advance forward.

Landmark Medical Center, on the brink of collapse a year ago, may be finding its road to survival.

Jonathan N. Savage, the lawyer who was court-appointed last June to run the troubled Woonsocket hospital, said he’s hopeful the hospital will soon announce a partnership that will keep it afloat.

“I hope we’ll have some positive news to report prior to the sixth interim report,” Savage told Superior Court Judge Michael A. Silverstein on Friday, while delivering his fifth interim report. The sixth report is expected in four weeks.

Hospital officials have long asserted that Landmark cannot survive on its own; they have been looking for a buyer both in state and out of state. In a phone interview Friday, hospital spokesman Bill Fischer hinted that Landmark was working on an innovative arrangement. “If we accomplish this,” he said, “I think there are other hospitals that will look at this model.”Unionized employees received a letter a couple of months ago naming Caritas Christi Health Care as a potential partner for Landmark, according to Chris Callaci, staff representative with the United Nurses and Allied Professionals, a union representing 500 Landmark workers. Caritas Christi is a Catholic chain of six hospitals in Massachusetts, including St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River.

Fischer, the hospital spokesman, said that employees received the letter when Landmark was in the midst of a “due diligence process” with Caritas. “These people were coming into the hospital,” he said. “We thought it would be appropriate to inform employees who they were.” Fischer declined to say whether the negotiations progressed after that.

The Superior Court appointed Savage to take control of the hospital on June 26, after Landmark petitioned for help because it was in danger of closing within six to nine months. Although called a “special master,” Savage is like a receiver, and functions as the hospital’s chief executive and board chairman. His court-supervised role gives him powers that the previous hospital management did not possess, including the right to renegotiate contracts and to defer payments.

Mass Citizens for Life Caves, Centene Clarifies One Issue

Paulson gets the sound byte here.

Essentially, MCFL says they know the Cardinal has the authority to choose to abortion referrals but they are confident in his dedication to sanctity of life.

Other than the death and destruction, Mrs. Lincoln enjoys the play.

Craven.

Their cave was predicted in the grassroots prolife community.

Meanwhile, Centene sent over a statement that explains how they would handle a situation in which a patient seeks a service that a Catholic hospital will not provide:

"Like all managed care plans, our health plans contract with a full spectrum of providers to ensure that all benefits are available to members, as required and approved by our state regulatory agencies. If a provider does not perform certain medical services, that provider directs patients back to the health plan. Our health plans have local staff and 1-800 numbers available 24/7 for access to information on all services provided. This number and information about all services are readily available online and in printed materials. In Massachusetts, we will apply these same procedures."

The Catholic doctors and nurses will be giving out proabortion materials, the phone numbers and the website to book their abortion appointment.

The Cardinal is not referring women for abortions. No, no...this is the Gospel of Life. It's the Blessed Mother, I tell you.


Look, what Centene does is about 1/100th of the problem.

99% of the problem is what Cardinal is enforcing upon the doctors and nurses, the woman and the unborn child at Caritas Christi. Centene is just carrying out the Cardinals orders.

Further, for the Cardinal and Caritas to say they aren't making any money off the contract they're bidding on is preposterous.

Do check out the comments of a poster that has, up until the Centene statement, been on board with the material cooperation. He's now off the Cardinal's cheering bus and feels compelled to call the Chancery.

But, it's a little too late. Cardinal O'Malley has spent the week saying the people spreading rumors that Caritas was going to refer women out of network to get their abortions, were doing a great disservice to the Church. He bought himself the time he needed through intellectual dishonesty and a slanderous blog post about Church Militant to hold off the opposition.

What a tool.

Anyhoo...I still say there is something drastically wrong with the faithful to have such blatant statements before them saying Caritas employees would provide contraception services in and out of network, have the Commonwealth make that a stipulation of receiving the contract and the people be so utterly blind to lies they are being told by a Cardinal.