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.

The Cardinal and Caritas close to closing another deal that will require outsourcing abortions, sterilizations, family Planning

As previously mentioned, in addition to the contract to provide abortions through "CeltiCare", Cardinal O'Malley and Caritas have been in negotiations to purchase Landmark Medical Center in Rhode Island.


This will be the second business arrangement that will involve the Catholic Cardinal's agreement to subcontract parties to perform moral evils.

The mysterious pot of money in a corporation that is supposedly broke is apparently not limited to the previously reported 70 million they're spending on IT.

The financially strapped Caritas Christi Health Care hospital system is negotiating to buy the Landmark Medical Center, a 214-bed community hospital in Woonsocket, R.I., that has been in court-appointed receivership for a year. Massachusetts and Rhode Island regulators say they will take a hard look at the potential merger.

Officials at Caritas Christi and Landmark declined to confirm that a deal is close. “We have looked at Landmark Medical Center, as many others have, and have not yet decided whether we are interested in pursuing a relationship with them,’’ said Caritas Christi spokeswoman Teresa Prego. A merger would require Landmark to become a Catholic hospital.

While the hospital doesn’t perform abortions, Thundermist does offer family planning and sterilization at Landmark and would have to find other relationships to continue providing those services if the hospital is acquired by Caritas Christi, Montanaro said.

Any more questions about whether O'Malley has been upfront and truthful?

Caritas Abortions: Where The Rubber Meets the Road

Take a moment to view the reactions in the comments section to the CNA story on the Cardinal's pro-life "affirmation".

Pretty much across the board, the Cardinal's statement just did not fly.

In the last comment posted,"Mary" asks where's the groundswell of prolifers banging the drum in front of the Bishop's Cathedral with a sign in our hands.

The answer to that is, the Cardinal has said if the venture can't be reconciled with Catholic teaching he would "block it". Since the venture can not possibly be reconciled with Catholic teaching, they're assuming, any minute now, he'll announce the blockade with the opinion of the National Catholic Bioethics Center.

Like any activist community - there are a number of people on the ground who are extremely active in chasing down facts and then there are people who will move once they're given them. Most of the prolife movement in the pews is unaware that the contract was actually signed, money has changed hands and the thing is full speed ahead.

I'm going to predict that if we don't see a reversal of the contract, which at this point is going to be a legal breach, Cardinal O'Malley's tenure in Boston is going to dramatically change. We have plans to ensure that every parishioner in every parish get their hands on the charade. Then, we are going to put a choke on the money, their benefactors, their oxygen.

The Vatican is well aware of the situation through various sources and they had ample time to pour over the details and put the kibosh on it. They're aware of the deliberate deceptions and stonewalling, the publicity stunts to undermine the credibility put on by the Cardinal himself.

If they don't put the kibosh on this - with all the Bishops, lay people and folks in the Roman Curia with the evidence in their hand, there's something screwy going on.

They've spent the last five years trying to convince us that they're sincere about protecting children against salacious crimes. This is where the rubber meets the road.

My Conversation with Sister Carol Keehan of the Catholic Health Association

I asked Sr. Carol Keehan point blank questions which she refused to answer.

Essentially, she said she herself would never do any of the things required of the contract and if I thought she would, I obviously have no respect for her. She said everybody knows abortion is an option.

Yes, Sister. Everybody knows. Everybody knows drinking is an option too. But people with sound judgment don't send the alcoholic with a case of Dewers to the AA meeting.


Our exchange is below.

Sr. Carol seems like woman who would appalled if she knew the details of this arrangement. It's clear to me she doesn't.

The people who will be miles away from what's happening are simply not thinking this through.

They think they are setting up a system that can hoodwink the insurance company and use the opportunity to talk women out of the abortions. That you can do in a Catholic hospital.

What they're doing now is taking that environment away and replacing it with a system that is going to force Catholic healthcare workers to CEASE AND DESIST from talking women out of abortions. They are replacing it with a system that is forcing Catholic workers to talk about abortion in a positive light and hand the women the phone number. And, they're promising that monitors will be watching.

They've made the Cardinal Archbishop of Boston a man who has set up a partnership to hire people to kill other people. They've told him it's ok to do it.

They've told the Catholics at Caritas its ok to do it. But when you ask them if they'd ever do it themselves, they tell you they're prolife and would never get involved in any aspect of killing anybody else. We have no respect for them if we would think such a thing about them.


It's too crazy to be of human origin. It's the devil, hiding truth, clouding judgment, taking advantage of naive people.

Also worthy of reading is Leila Lawlor's below post on this menacing debacle. The Cardinal's game playing has left her with doubts about the National Catholic Bioethics Center. I personally have never heard anything that came out of Father Tad's mouth that wasn't wholly consistent with the teachings of the Church in any matter and I cannot imagine him compromising truth. I do share Leila's sentiments about the foolishness of having to ask somebody whether Catholics can hire somebody to kill people and then point people in their direction.

It's giving the appearance of a disingenuous game. The Cardinal's statement that he "in order to assure" him, he hired the NCBC to review the agreement and "assure him" wasn't exactly helpful.

In order to assure me that this agreement will provide for the integrity of the Catholic identity and practices of Caritas Christi Health Care System, I have asked the National Catholic Bioethics Center to review the agreement and to assure me that it is faithful to Catholic principles."

Seems to many people that the Cardinal, who sits on the Board and helps fund the National Catholic Bioethics Center, has already given them the conclusion of their opinion.

The fight has not been kept far from the walls. The fight is inside the house.

I completely agree that the the culture of death has infested the walls within.

Sister Carol's exchange below (read from bottom up):


-----Original Message-----
From: cmmckinley@aol.com
To: srcarolk@chausa.org


That is an unfair response Sister.

You have made an assertion that will affect thousands of Catholics and I'm asking you to doctrinally confirm your assertions.

It's one thing to be in a Catholic institution and speak to women who approach you in that context and it's another to direct a flow of hundreds of thousands of Catholics who are covered for abortion services and intend to get them - and compel our Catholic physicians to do what you would never do yourself.

You have told the public that it is ok for the Cardinal to hire somebody to kill people and it is ok for Catholics to pass out those phone numbers.

Answer the questions, please.


-----Original Message-----
From: Sr. Carol Keehan <srcarolk@chausa.org>
To: cmmckinley@aol.com <cmmckinley@aol.com>

I am saddened by your response. I would never ask you if you had ever hired someone to kill another. As much as I want to work with you it does not seem possible, I have saved the lives of thousands of babies and never ever done anything to hurt much less kill anyone. You obviously have no respect for me if that is your response. Let’s pray for each other but no longer communicate.

-----Original Message-----
From: cmmckinley@aol.com
To: srcarolk@chausa.org


Sister,

You didn't answer the questions.

Would you kindly answer them?

Can a Cardinal Archbishop hire somebody to kill somebody else?

Can Catholics then give them that phone number?

Have you ever done it.

That's what I want to know from you.


-----Original Message-----
From: Sr. Carol Keehan <srcarolk@chausa.org>
To: cmmckinley@aol.com <cmmckinley@aol.com>

I am convinced few have complete information and I am concerned at the tone of so many comments about permission to kill etc. We are Church and we should talk these issues out with respect. What you are quoting is not what my understanding of the statement has to be. Also in todayE2s world, how many people do you think don’t know abortion is an option?

In my forty years in health care much of it in perinatology and neonatology, many women start out saying I can’t have this baby, I can’t afford it or I am too ashamed and because we are there for them in a loving and supportive way, we get a real chance to prevent the abortion. So many have been prevented because of this.

In any “service” that a provider does not provide, the person is sent back to the insurance company to have them deal with it. Often but not in this case the insurance company will tell the person that it is not covered or if it is what providers they can choose from.

No one likes to hear that someone is going to get an abortion, but if we stay in the business of Ob, we get a real opportunity to help women deal with this challenging time and often are able to save the baby. I am sure for our crisis pregnancy lines, it is an agony that never gets better to talk with someone who ultimately makes the decision to abort but if we don’t keep our call line open we can’t prevent so many of them.

My sense of this arrangement is not the same as yours but I do have faith in the integrity of the Archbishop. There is a difference is saying we don’t do that and hopefully they will ask why, and sending them back to their insurance company office. It is such a painful reality and our work together is the best way to be sure we have every opportunity for women to make another choice. Our example of providing services etc as well as a welcoming Church will do so much to change individual and public opinion which strengthens our pro life position. Sometimes it can be like walking a tightrope in order to have the opportunity to encourage life choices in pregnant women.

We may not see this the same exact way or even have the same information but I hope we can respect the goodwill we both have and the commitment both of us have to pro life. Thank you and God bless you . Sr Carol

From: cmmckinley@aol.com [mailto:cmmckinley@aol.com]

To: Sr. Carol Keehan
Subject: Re: question

Sister,

I'm not convinced you had complete information when you made your statements in the Boston Globe regarding the Caritas situation and I'd like to clarify your doctrinal assertions. We have thousands of Catholics who have expressed that this arragement will force them to quit their job.

Both Caritas and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has confirmed that Catholic employees at Caritas will be compelled to respond to a woman who is di straught about her pregnancy and wishes to terminate it by saying "Abortion is an option for you". Caritas has given written guarantees in writing that they will force Catholic employees to provide abortion information in a positive light and give them further instructions on how to obtain that abortion. The Commonwealth is now working out the details of how to monitor conversations of Catholic employees at Caritas to ensure they are complying with these orders. (please see citation from the Boston Globe below.)

Many of us are confused by your statements.

Can Catholics respond to people asking you to kill somebody by saying "I can't do that but here's the phone number of somebody who willl connect you to the right person?"


Have you ever responded to a distraught women who sought information about obtaining an abortion by giving her the phone numbers to get it or arranging for her ride?


Is it consistent with Catholic ethics for a priest to respond to a woman seeking information about aborti on by explaining the procedure and giving her the phone number to obtain it?

Is it completely consistent with Catholic ethics to respond to a distraught pregnant women by telling her abortion is an option for her and refer her to the phone number of people Cardinal O'Malley has subcontracted to kill the unborn child?



Is it morally ethical for a Cardinal Archbishop to create a partnership that is a subcontract knowing tha t the people employed by that contract are people that will assist and carry out a murder?



Thanks for the clarfications and answers to the questions. See below for the article and links.







http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/13/mass_regulators_ok_joint_caritas_centene_healthcare_venture/

The Connector Authority board, which oversees the Commonwealth Care program, voted unanimously in favor of the joint venture proposed by Centene Corp., a St. Louis-based health organization, and Caritas Christi Health Care Network.

The vote followed several closed-door sessions in which officials from Centene and Caritas, the minority partner in the joint venture, assured regulators that women will have "rea dy access" to family planning and reproductive services, an issue that sparked concerns from abortion foes and reproductive rights activists.

Among the written assurances are a pledge that medical staff operating under the Centene-Caritas insurance plan, known as Commonwealth Family Health Plan, will inform women of their healthcare options, including abortion.

From the National Catholic Register:

If Caritas-Centene proceeds with its plan, state regulators and abortion advocates will be watching. “How compliance will be monitored is just being worked out now,” Massachusetts health authority spokesman Powers said March 16.

Andrea Miller, executive director of NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League) Pro-Choice Massachusetts, said her abortion advocacy group “vows to monitor” the Catholic hospitals to ensure that people have access to services to “protect them from pregnancy and disease …” In the past, NARAL operatives have made covert calls to hospitals, including Catholic ones, to see if personnel complied with a law to offer the abortifacient “morning after” pill.

Carol McKinley

Diogenes: Rex Mottram, Model for Catholic Laity

Diogenes' Commentary on Cardinal O'Malley's Abortion Taxicab Services at Caritas Christi:

In Brideshead Revisited, Rex Mottram is determined to become a Catholic-- for reasons that have nothing to do with faith. Actually Rex has no interest whatsoever in questions of faith, and consequently he is quite happy to profess whatever beliefs are required of him....

Rex Mottram would fit nicely into the Boston archdiocese. He would not ask questions. He would accept statements offered by the cardinal-archbishop, no matter how implausible those statements might seem.

(Best of all, Rex would toss folding money into the collection basket. Did I mention that the Annual Appeal begins this weekend?)

Cardinal O'Malley tells us that he has been assured a partnership formed by the Caritas Christi health-care chain will not violate Catholic moral principles-- despite the fact that the partnership will provide for abortions, sterilizations, and the whole panoply of medical services mandated by a state government program. Rex would find the cardinal's statement convincing.

When somebody shows you who they are, believe them.

Our religion is not a cult. It is neither sinful nor evil to unravel lies, even when the Cardinal is dishing them out for consumption.

There is no room to believe this elaborate set up to was done in good faith.

They know it's wrong because they set up a partnership to bait other people into doing what they wouldn't do themselves.

Even if you can logic your way around the child killed and the mother, the doctors and nurses exploited, the conscience protections of Catholics given away, the thousands who will have to quit their jobs or take blood money with consequences to their soul and their state of grace--- in the best case scenario, the Cardinal is baiting Centene employees, the mother, the cabdriver and the abortionist to commit a grave offense against God. Who would throw uncatechized people, poor people lost in the despair of an unplanned pregnancy into this debauchery?

This couldn't possibly be the one and same Gospel of Life of Christ Crucified. It is it's antithesis and it takes a nanosecond to fisk it.

There is no excuse for this and the lies to cover it up are as disturbing as the arrangement itself.

Details of Cardinal O'Malley's Abortion Contract

Sean O'Malley is even going to give women needing abortions a ride.


http://www.boston.com/news/health/blog/2009/03/caritascentene.html

By Kay Lazar, Globe Staff

State regulators today voted to accept a controversial bid by a Massachusetts Catholic hospital chain and a secular health organization to provide health insurance to low income residents.

The Connector Authority board, which oversees the Commonwealth Care program, voted unanimously in favor of the joint venture proposed by Caritas Christi Health Care Network and the Centene Corporation, a St. Louis-based health organization.

The vote came after Caritas-Centene assured the panel that women will have "ready access" to timely family planning services, with no primary care physician referral required. They also promised creation of a toll-free 800 customer service number that will provide women information about where they can get family planning and reproductive services -- and, in an emergency, will provide transporation to the nearest approriate facility.

Board officials promised close monitoring to make sure the promises are kept.

The proposed venture drew criticism from both sides of the political spectrum in the days leading up to today's vote.

At issue was how the Catholic-affiliated venture would handle reproductive health services, such as abortions, contraception, sterilization and other services that go against Catholic teachings.

Earlier statements by a spokeswoman for the joint venture said the entity would "contract with providers, both in and out of the Caritas network, to ensure access to all services required by the Authority, including confidential family planning services."

That infuriated abortion foes, who said such an arrangement would betray Catholic teachings. Abortion rights advocates voiced concerns for low-income women, saying the entity was not clear about how the services would be provided, especially in Caritas' six-hospital chain, which adheres to Catholic teachings.

The insurance offered by the new venture will be available, starting July 1, to the roughly 164,000 consumers in the state's Commonwealth Care program.

More later, have a phone call into the lawyers.

---

Caritas Arrangement is Getting a Second Opinion

Cardinal O'Malley has posted a nice pastoral blog post mentioning the people doing a disservice to the Church who have given him cause to seek a second opinion regarding the abortion referrals at Caritas Christi.

Ahem. Um... Moving right along...

There has been a significant amount of public dialogue concerning my statement yesterday (as copied below) about the proposed arrangement involving Caritas Christi Health Care with the Commonwealth Care Program.

To be perfectly clear, 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. We are committed to the Gospel of Life and no arrangement will be entered into unless it is completely in accord with Church teaching.

Recognizing the complexity of the proposed arrangement, I will ask the National Catholic Bioethics Center to review the arrangement and to provide me their opinion.

I'm posting my letter to the folks at the bioethics center below and will be encouraging others to do so.



----Original Message-----
From: cmmckinley@aol.com
To: DrJohnHaas@aol.com; tad.grd.nsc@aya.yale.edu; acioffi@ncbcenter.org; mhilliard@ncbcenter.org
Cc: Nuntius@Worldnet.att.net; Cardinal O'Malley, Vicar General, BenedictXVI@Vatican.va; SDiago@RCAB.org; JimK@firstbristol.com
Sent: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 1:44 pm
Subject: the Integrity of Conscious Protections at Caritas Christi

March 8, 2009


+
IHS

Dear Dr. Haas, Dr. Hilliard, Father Cioffi and Father Tad,

It is my understanding that Cardinal O'Malley has asked the favor of your opinion in the abortion referral controversy surrounding the Archdiocescan Caritas Christi Healthcare System.

You should know that in March of 2008, Attorney General Martha Coakley in her role of overseeing public charities, released a public report with the assertions that the Catholic Church was mismanaging the Caritas Christ Health Care System and pressured the Archdiocese to cede control of the operation of Caritas Christi Health Care System so that an independent board with expertise in healthcare management can run it.

You should also know that Caritas Christi is withholding the details of the structure of that board by failing to file their annual reports with the Secretary of State disclosing the names of it's officers and directors and also refusing to answer structure/identity questions about Board and this has eroded the trust that decisions in conflict with the Catholic religion is being done in good faith. We do know that the Cardinal has retained the authority to review and veto proposals of services and arrangements that conflict with integrity of our Catholic mission.

As to the current controversy, last week, prol ifers found out that the Caritas Christi Board was negotiating with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to provide healthcare services that included contraception and abortion coverage. A board member of the Massachusetts agency that grants approvals for insurers to participate in the plan subsequently objected to Caritas' ability to provide full services due to Catholic restrictions on performing abortions.

In response to that objection on Feb. 26, Caritas and it's partner in the venture, Centene, issued a joint statement stating their new venture “will contract with providers, both in and out of the Caritas network, to ensure access to all services required by the Authority, including confidential family planning services.”

On March 3rd Caritas further clarified the arrangement by saying Caritas “will contract with a multitude of health care providers in Massachusetts similar to the HMO contracts held by Tufts, BC/BS, and Harvard Pilgrim. These contracts are negotiated by Centene, Inc., the majority owner of CFHP.”

When asking specific questions directed to Cardinal O'Malley and Caritas Christi about how the dynamics of this proposal would compromise Catholics who are supposed to be protected from the supression of free expression of the teachings of the Church about the sanctity of life and moreoever, material cooperation in the woman's abortion - we have been denied answers.

On March 5th, Cardinal O'Malley released a public statement that appears to contradict Caritas Christi:

"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," O'Malley said in a statement released by the archdiocese late yesterday.

Archdiocesan spokesman Terrence C. Donilon further stated that "Caritas would not be cooperating with abortion services by joining the venture because the hospital network will not perform abortions or other services that violate Catholic teachings, will not refer patients to other providers who offer such procedures"

You can't have it both ways~Since Caritas has been straightforward that the arrangment will require referring the woman out of "network" to get the abortion - and C ardinal O'Malley and his spokesperson has said that there will be no referrals from Caritas for abortions, I do not see how these statements could possibly coexist.

Today, March 7th, the Cardinal in his post to his blog that those of us "doing great disservice to the Church" by asking questions about material cooperation in the abortion referral arrangement, he mentions the word "complexities" of this referral system and has asked for the assistance from the National Catholic Bioethics Center.

To be perfectly clear, 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. We are committed to the Gospel of Life and no arrangement will be entered into unless it is completely in accord with Church teaching.

Recognizing the complexity of the proposed arrangement, I will ask the National Catholic Bioethics Center to review the arrangement and to provide me their opinion.

Judging from the public statements above, the "complexities" of the arrangement most likely involve a referral twice removed. Caritas physicians and healthcare workers will be forced to surpress discussi on that abortion is murdering her child, the negative impact to her spiritually and intellectually. They will be unable to engage in a discussing Evangelium Vitae and Humanae Vitae to persuade her or to talk about the excommunication involved or suggest she seek the guidance of a priest. Ultimately, I cannot see any other way for the woman to get the abortion 'out of network" other than the employee having to refer to phone numbers and instructions on how to get to the next physician who will then refer her to the abortion clinic.

My questions to you:


1. Are these not sins of omission being forced upon the employees of Caritas Christi?
2. Is the second degree abortion referrals of the Caritas employee matieral cooperation in the abortions?

Further questions arise:

Is it permissible for Catholics to respond n conversations with friends, family, next door neighbor, coworker who mention they are pregnant and want to seek an abortion by referring them to a person who will support and facilitate their abortion?

Is this it permissible for priests to counsel the woman by sending her "out of network" to somebody who will support her abortion procedure?

I appreciate very much your clarifications regarding this new interpretation of Catholic doctrine. Many of us have toiling a lot of years guiding the consciences of the uncatechized, helping guide the woman to20the understanding of the teachings of the Church and we are having trouble processing these new directives. If we are wrong, we certainly owe a lot of mea culpas to a lot of people!

In Christ,

Carol McKinley
41 Lady Slipper Circle
Pembroke, MA 02359

cc: Apostolic Nuncio
Pope Benedict XVI


I'll be emailing this through my network and encouraging others to make contact - especially with the Nuncio and other Bishops who may be affected by this should Caritas fall. Some emails and phone numbers are below.

Ralph de la Torre, MD, President/CEO

Caritas Christi Health Care
77 Warren Street
Boston, MA 02135
617-789-3000

CCR.Webmaster@CaritasChristi.org

Most Rev. Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio:
Fax: (202) 333-7121

Holy Father: BenedictXVI@Vatican.va

Cardinal Sean O'Malley's receptionist: SDiago@RCAB.org
617-782-2544

The Fox in the Henhouse

March 6, 2008 - Letter to the Caritas Christi Community from Cardinal Seán and James Karam

To the Caritas Christi Community:

At this time we wish to share with you news concerning significant progress that the Caritas Christi Board of Governors and the Archdiocese have achieved toward assuring that the Caritas Christi Healthcare System will continue its proud tradition of delivering the highest quality Catholic healthcare in Eastern Massachusetts long into the future. In particular we want to advise you that we have implemented a revised governance model for the system, building on the work of the Caritas Board of Governors and a Governance Review Committee, led by Kenneth K. Quigley, Jr., president of Curry College, and other Caritas Board members including Neal Finnegan, former chairman of Citizens Bank and Kevin Phelan, president of Meredith and Grew. This committee was established in October 2007 for the purpose of recommending a governance model that would optimize the system’s ability to thrive in the competitive and complex health care market, while continuing the distinctive mission of Catholic health care.

There is a shared understanding and commitment among Caritas leadership that changes in governance will strengthen the system, allowing us to attract and retain highly qualified individuals for the Board and senior management. Consistent with other successful Catholic healthcare systems throughout the country, an independent Board and senior management will be responsible for the strategic and business decisions of the system. The revised governance provides a defined process for governors to select board members and officers. In addition, the Vicar General and Chancellor for the Archdiocese will no longer serve on the Board of Governors. Under the new model, the Archdiocese’s reserve powers are limited to matters pertaining to Catholic identity, mission, and the implementation of the religious and ethical directives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and any transaction that would involve the sale or transfer of the system.

The original proposal for revised governance for Caritas Christi followed the Archdiocese having retained Navigant Consulting in November 2006, to conduct a strategic review of the system and its operations. Navigant analyzed the role and structure of the Board of Governors of Caritas Christi and conducted an overall review of the financial status of the system. While Navigant proposed four different strategies which Caritas could adopt, including continuing as an independent system or transferring sponsorship to a larger Catholic health care system, the concept of a restructured governance model was adopted from the outset.

We are also pleased to announce the appointment of Reverend J. Bryan Hehir as the Archdiocesan liaison to Caritas and also a member of the Board of Governors, with oversight and authority on issues relating to the Catholic identity and mission of the Caritas Christi Healthcare system. As such, he will assume additional responsibility in an expanded position at the Archdiocese as the Secretary of Health & Social Services. Currently Fr. Hehir serves as the Secretary of Social Services.

It is our conviction that these changes strengthen our commitment to providing health care in the model of the healing ministry of Christ, with fidelity to the intellectual and moral dimensions of the Catholic tradition and the highest quality pastoral care.

Going forward we remain determined to serve the needs of the poor and the vulnerable in our midst. In light of the challenges facing health care today, we believe that the Church provides a valuable service to society by caring for each person in manner that always respects their human dignity.

With the assurance of our prayers for all whom we are privileged to serve, we remain.

+ Seán P. Cardinal O'Malley, OFM, Cap
Archbishop of Boston

James Karam
Chairman, Board of Governors
Caritas Christi Health Care