Caritas Christi discussing ‘acceptable modifications’ to joint venture, Boston archdiocese says

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Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston

Boston, Mass., Jun 11, 2009 / 01:26 pm (CNA).- Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley and Caritas Christi Healthcare System have again commented on Caritas Christi’s cooperation in a joint venture which may provide abortion services, saying its participation is “consistent with Catholic identity.” The archdiocese said in a statement that there are “active discussions” being held to make “acceptable modifications” to the arrangement.

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

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

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

In a Wednesday statement from the Archdiocese of Boston, Cardinal O’Malley, who is Archbishop of Boston, and Caritas Christi President Dr. Ralph de la Torre commented on Caritas Christi’s involvement.

The statement said that the proposed arrangement has been submitted for analysis to the National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC), which provides guidance for Catholic health systems.

“Caritas is in active discussions with Celtic Group and CeltiCare with a view to making acceptable modifications to their arrangement,” the statement said.

Commenting in the statement, Dr. de la Torre explained that when a patient seeks “such a procedure,” Caritas health care professionals will be “clear” that the hospital does not perform them and that the patient must “turn to his or her insurer for further guidance.”

According to Dr. de la Torre, this is the current practice in the Caritas system in its work with other insurance companies under state laws that mandate access to “procedures not provided within the Caritas system.”

“Caritas Christi is dedicated to providing quality health care to the citizens of the Commonwealth, especially the poor, in a way that expresses our unwavering commitment to Catholic teaching,” he added.

Catholic health care efforts are especially important at the present, Dr. de la Torre added, saying many Massachusetts communities are facing “an unprecedented need” with some areas’ unemployment rates approaching 18 percent.

For his part, in the Wednesday statement Cardinal O’Malley reaffirmed that it has always been clear to him that Caritas Christi has been “consistently faithful” in its commitment to comply with Catholic moral teaching.

In any revised agreement among Celtic Group, CeltiCare and Caritas Christi, the cardinal wrote, “under no circumstances” will Caritas perform procedures prohibited by the Catholic Bishops’ Ethical and Religious Directives (ERDs) for Catholic Health Care Services or refer any patients to other providers who “perform or procure such procedures.”

Cardinal O’Malley said that ministry to the poor and caring for the unborn are “central tenets” of the ERDs and are “at the very heart of Catholicism.”

Comments: 4

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Mary
Franklin, TN 06/13/2009 04:22 PM EST

This is quite disturbing, considering the length some dioceses are going to oppose the FOCA act. I have been told that the opposition is so solid that if they are forced to even make referrals for abortion services, they will close their doors. The administrations for these Catholic hospitals are willing to not only shut their door, but not sell the business and let the land, building, equipment go to waste, rather than take a risk that they will sell it to someone who will use these resources for abortion. AND HERE BOSTON IS HOPPING INTO BED WITH THESE PEOPLE. What has happened to this Cardinal? Where is the Vatican? Why is the parishioners who support this diocese silent? I would be sitting outside my bishop's cathedral with a sign in my hand. This is not what the Church supports. Giving these people money (even indirectly) will only contribute to a cause that the Church has vehemently fought against. No, if O'Malley gives these people a single red cent of Catholic money, and the Vatican does not oppose it, we need to wonder if our Catholic leaders are truly leading with Christ in mind (keep in mind, one does not say that lightly).

Published by: ccp
boston 06/12/2009 09:09 PM EST

Many other sources have now confirmed that CeltiCare, who are the same people as Caritas has hired bilingual people to answer phones 24/7 to refer women to the abortionists they have subcontracted with and, CeltiCare has put NARAL and Planned Parenthood on their advisory board. All they did was change the name to disguise what is going on. This is a terrible situation.

Published by: matthew hyland
s.i. n.y. 06/12/2009 01:31 PM EST

Is Cardinal O'malley kidding? I am afraid for our Church; first, President Obama,a radical pro-abortion rights supporter, not only is invited to speak at Notre Dame,but is awarded an honorary doctorate. Now this shameful pandering to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I recall with a tremble Pope Paul VI saying, according to Malachy Martin, that he has detected a whiff of brimstone in the very heart of the Church. If the Church gives any ground in the abortion debate,other than presently allowing the proceedure under certain strict circumstances, we are truly in a struggle against evil in our very midst. God help our Holy Mother Church.

Published by: georgeaquinas
South Bend, IN 06/11/2009 05:43 PM EST

I do not understand how the Cardinal can condone this arrangement. No matter you nuance it, the Church is still supporting abortions. It is foolishness to think that the state will allow allow the Archdiocese to renege on the, apparent contractual requirement to offer "family planning" services. The Archdiocese needs to cancel this arrangement and this affiliation. Sadly, it appears that once again the Church will be saddled by scandal.

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