Archdiocese reviewing Catholic network's alleged role in providing abortions

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Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston

Boston, Mass., Jun 9, 2009 / 06:21 am (CNA).- Further information about the Celticare medical program created in a Catholic health care network’s partnership with a secular company has renewed charges that the Catholic network will be complicit in the provision of abortions. The Archdiocese of Boston told CNA it is reviewing the matter.

The Caritas Christi Health Care network, which is affiliated with the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, joined in a partnership with Centene Corp. to enter into the state’s subsidized health program, Commonwealth Care.

The Centene-Caritas Christi partnership, in which Centene is the senior partner, established Celticare as a for-profit HMO to manage the Commonwealth Care contract awarded by the Massachusetts state government.

As of Monday afternoon, benefit information at the Celticare site lists abortion services for $0, $50, $100 depending on the participant’s health plan. Another Celticare document listing “Family Planning and Reproductive Services Providers,” dated May 21, gives information on four Planned Parenthood affiliates.

Centene and Caritas Christi each said they would partner with providers to ensure access to all services required by the Massachusetts Connector Authority, including “confidential family planning services.”

In March, Caritas Christi said it would ensure that its participation would be “in accord with Catholic teaching.”

Archbishop of Boston Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley said Caritas Christi Health Care had assured him that it will not be “engaged in any procedures nor draw any benefits from any relationship which violate the Church’s moral teaching as found in the Ethical and Religious Directives.”

The Catholic Action League, a lay group critical of Caritas Christi, said the new information was “final and conclusive proof” that Caritas will be a participant in “state subsidized abortions.”

CAL Executive Director C. J. Doyle accused the Archdiocese of Boston of “cynically misleading” Catholics in the controversy and said Cardinal O’Malley should “apologize” for asserting that Caritas Christi will not promote abortions or direct any patients to providers of abortions.

CNA sought comment from the Archdiocese of Boston and was told the matter was “under review.”

Terrence Donolin, the Archdiocese’s Secretary for Communications and Public Affairs, referred CNA to previous stories, stating “At this juncture there is nothing new to report and no announcements have been made.”

Comments: 17

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Ed Mulrenan
Waterbury, Ct., USA 06/24/2009 06:59 PM EST

Here in Connecticut the Catholic Hospitals caved in and provide Plan B Abortion drug to alleged rape victims due to state of Ct. legislation. Female acquantances tell me the First thing they are asked by catholic? hospitals in Ct. by the staff is "What kind of Birth control are they using ". The Catholic Hospitals in Ct. do not know what their own faith teaches on Birt control-Contraceptives let alone abortion or Abortifacients like Plan B.

Published by: Debbie Furtado
New Bedford, Ma. 06/12/2009 11:20 PM EST

I pray to God and Blessed Virgin Mary that the Bishops make the correct Catholic prolife decision and give Cardinal O'Malley the support he needs to do what needs to be done. Please join me in sending the Bishops prayers, fasting, Masses and Divine Mercies Chaplets to protect the babies.

Published by: Joyce
Philadelphia/Pa 06/11/2009 02:45 PM EST

Isn't this Ecumenical???
For sooooo long the False Ecumenism has been seeping in Our Catholic Church, causing confusion, watering down the faith to where it's almost unrecognizable. So, why is anyone surprised about all this scandal...in fact I think we even have done away with scandal, anything goes.
We reap what we sow...and we need to uprooted it and start teaching authentic Catholic teaching. TRADITION is what the Catholic Faith is rooted in and that was before Vatican ll! BRING the Church Fathers and saints words to the front of the enemy lines of ECUMENISM!

Published by: LJRoy
Chelmsford MA 06/11/2009 06:04 AM EST

Where I live is part of the Archdiocese. You must remember that our politicians are pro-abortion democrats. I think politics and money for the state has a lot to do with it.

Published by: james
denver 06/10/2009 08:41 AM EST

Is Cardinal O'Malley "personally opposed, but"?

Published by: Gail
East Stroudsburg,PA 06/10/2009 06:48 AM EST

Following the Notre Dame debacle perhaps Caritas Christi Health Care may not believe abortion provision violates the Church's moral teaching...the domino effect we feared.

Published by: Kathy Reilly
Greenville, SC 06/09/2009 07:40 PM EST

It is of utmost importance to keep our Catholic Hospitals CATHOLIC! Once they join forces with the government, they will be expected to march to the governments drum instead of to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. If the government mandates that aabortions are to be performed at our Catholic Hospitals is to CLOSE the Maternity Wards, just like Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH did years ago.

Keep your candles burning and your oil in your lamps and God help us all.

Published by: John Cronin
No., Andover, MA 06/09/2009 03:30 PM EST

Shame! Shame! Shame!
Our Cardinal Archbishop of Boston, Sean Patrick O'Malley had turned on his pro-life supporters all for the chase for dollar. Better to give up Caritas Christ than to partake in any part of abortion. Listen to God, not the lawyers, Cardinal O'Malley

Published by: Francis Xavier T
Washington, D.C. 06/09/2009 03:28 PM EST

Fr. Peter Richards is correct!!! To Miss Mary Ann Kreitzer of Virginia, if you have ever met Fr. Sean O'Malley in Washington D.C, now who is a cardinal, you will know the truth. Please let me ask you two questions. Do you blame God to allow Satan roaming around? Is God responsible to create demons? You know where I am going. I am sure that Cardinal O'Malley is hurt and perhaps even crying right now as I know of him.

Published by: Radomysl Twardowski
Bismarck, ND, USA 06/09/2009 01:07 PM EST

It's the continuation of "personally opposed, but" mantra, of "I disagree with him, but choose to award honorary doctorate for his perfect opposition to my Catholic beliefs" and similarly twisted explanations. No wonder then, that further practical steps may follow.

Published by: Fr. Peter Richards
Albertville, MN, USA 06/09/2009 01:04 PM EST

Way to go Catholic Action League for catching this. However, why does the Executive Director have to jump to the conclusion that the ARchdiocese of Boston "cynically mislead" Catholics and call for the Cardinal to "apologize". I'm sure if the allegations are true, the Cardinal will have something to say about it.

Published by: Laura
NJ 06/09/2009 12:17 PM EST

These are the dangers when we as Catholics get involved with secular agencies and government programs. Once we accept funds or use their programs, we have to do what they want! "Come out from among them and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean things!"

Published by: Mary Ann Kreitzer
Virginia 06/09/2009 12:00 PM EST

Love of money is the root of all evils even in the Church. Many of our problems can be traced directly to the Church feeding at the public trough. Many bishops seem to care less about Almighty God and more about the almighty tax deduction. It keeps them from preaching the truth with courage and leaves the flock without shepherds. Pray for holy bishops who truly love poverty. As a Franciscan, Cardinal O'Malley should be one, but his actions to date have not been encouraging.

Published by: Richard Coleman
Port Hueneme, CA 06/09/2009 10:41 AM EST

Shame on you Celticare You should've known better; you can't partner with a secular medical organisation and not expect to run into the murdering of babies. Call it "CELT"icare to make it inviting in the Boston area but it is still a crime against GOD and Church. I'm a former parishoner, altar boy, & choir boy of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End (40's & 50's)

Published by: Francis Xavier T
Washington, D.C. 06/09/2009 09:47 AM EST

CAL Executive Director C. J. Doyle's accusation of the Cardinal is NONE SENSE. Caritas Christi is the organization that betrays the Catholics. Since when that an innocent person should apologize? Director Doyle, are you a real Christian? If you are not, please don't hide among us like those advocates of abortion and murder

Published by: Michael
Michigan 06/09/2009 08:55 AM EST

Cardinal O'malley, we must obey the Church's teaching loudly, clearly and timely. Our Lord and His defenseless ones are waiting.

Published by: dAVID LARSEN
scituate Mass. USA 06/09/2009 07:44 AM EST

I assure you that Cardinal O'Malley is a fine Cardinal of great integrity. We are lucky to have him in Boston. In my opinion so was Cardinal Law! This state of Massachusetts is full of deceptive vipers that would try always and in any way to destroy the Catholic Church. Caritas Christi has always been anti-abortion. Carney Hospital saved my life in the early 80's and I will never forget the fine care that this Catholic institution provided. They saw to my physical and spiritual needs and I wasn't even a Catholic then. They are one of the many fine Caritas Christi Hospitals. There has been a recent merger with Centene corp. and if it is state subsidized it then it is the deceptive state government that would try to create an abortion provision not the Archdiocese. This is probably the profit angle. Thus the creation of Celticare. I believe that the state government would like all hospitals to be abortion providers. The archdiocese threatened to get out of the hospital business because of the abortion issue. My impression is that the merger saved Caritas Christi from getting out of the hospital field.

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