But they were helpless to block it when Georgetown University Medical Center, frustrated in its efforts to discharge Ms. Nyirahabiyambere after she had spent eight costly months there without insurance, sought a guardian to make decisions that the family would not make.
“Now we are powerless spectators, just watching our mother die,” said Mr. Ndayishimiye, 33, who teaches health information management at the State University of New York’s Institute of Technology in Utica. “In our culture, we would never sentence a person to die from hunger.”
Link (here) to the full story at the New York Times
More (here) at First Things
The Terry Schiavo story (here)
March 20, 2004: Parts of Pope John Paul's allocution:
Georgetown University Medical Center is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through MedStar Health). Our mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on community outreach and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis — which means "care of the whole person."
Link (here) to Pope John Paul the Great's full statement
"Even our brothers and sisters who find themselves in the clinical condition of a 'vegetative state' retain their human dignity in all its fullness. The loving gaze of God the Father continues to fall upon them, acknowledging them as his sons and daughters, especially in need of help.
"I should like particularly to underline how the administration of water and food, even when provided by artificial means, always represents a natural means of preserving life, not a medical act. Its use, furthermore, should be considered, in principle, ordinary and proportionate, and as such morally obligatory, insofar as and until it is seen to have attained its proper finality, which in the present case consists in providing nourishment to the patient and alleviation of his suffering."
Georgetown University Medical Center is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through MedStar Health). Our mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on community outreach and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis — which means "care of the whole person."
Link (here) to GUMC
59 comments:
Like an o.b.a.m.a.c.a.r.e. death panel
The very first thing they do is call the lawyers in these situations. As a social worker, I have a lot of experience in this arena. They get the court appointed ad litem to make the cruel decisions. Then they say: " unfortunately our hands our ties". Medstar is a massive health conglomerate that has taken over Baltimore and DC. What irony: the values of Medstar and Georgetown seem actually quite simpatico where life is concerned. File and store for next year's Rite to Life blogging. We will all be admonished by the Jesuits. They will self righteously tell us, with moral indignation, that they are 'pro-life'.
Our mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on community outreach and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis — which means "care of the whole person."
They abandoned that mission the minute they joined forces with Medstar.
As we see, Maria is not beyond bearing false witness, at least where the Jesuits are concerned.
Georgetown University's hospital was consistently losing money, and would have eventually bankrupted the entire university, which, in any event, does not belong to the Jesuits, but is affiliated with them. Medstar has a contract which gives it the power to call the shots at the hospital.
I don't know who has more gall: Maria, who blames the Jesuits for decisions made by a contractor at a hospital that belongs to a hospital they do not own, or this Rwandan family, who talk of their country's cultural superiority scant years after a massive genocide, and who blame the hospital for not assuming a responsibility that is theirs, and theirs alone.
Perhaps we can pray for them.
Anonymous: Why not come out of the "darkness" and tell us your name?
Dear Anonymous @ 1:37 PM----
The Georgetown University School of Medicine Website states viz GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL:
"The new GEORGETOWN/MEDSTAR PARTNERSHIP REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE CATHOLIC JESUIT IDEALS OF CARE FOR THE WHOLE PATIENT AND SERVICE TO THOSE LESS FORTUNATE".
Oh. Except when it doesn't? Except when the lawyers say is doesn't? Hmmm. An aberration, I am sure...
1) Because I don't want a psychotic stalker; the Jesuits already have one.
2) Once again, you are dishonestly blaming the Jesuits for things done by institutions over which they have no control.
Get it into your head that Medstar is not GU, and GU is not the Jesuits.
"Jesuit" is NOT a trademark. There is nothing, but nothing at all to prevent Atheists, Protestants and Muslims from saying that they live by "Jesuit Catholic" ideals.
In fact, you are working towards the exact opposite of the goals you unctuously claim to promote, because the more you point out that the Jesuits do not really have control of GU and the hospital, the easier it becomes for the people at the hospital to ignore the Jesuit spirit which has been part of their legacy.
IF you want to do something, why don't you take the money you and your family would spend on vacations for the next few years, and put it into caring for this woman, whose own family won't care for her.
Otherwise, silence would become you.
My dearest Jesus, teach me to be patient when all the day long my heart is troubled by small but annoying crosses.
Cardinal Merry del Val
That you do not answer logic arguments with logical arguments shows dishonest you are.
That you do not answer logical arguments with logical arguments shows how dishonest you are.
Dear Anon 1:37,
Great job defending life...not and schilling for the sub contractor Medstar. If the Jesuits get the check, they call the shots. Lets wait for a Jesuit statement. If the Jesuits don't call the shots they can pick up the bill for the poor lady.
" Get it into your head that Medstar is not GU, and GU is not the Jesuits."
The Jesuits founded Georgetown University, they founded Georgetown Hospital, Georgetown University uses Georgetown Medical Center for research and for student educational purposes. Georgetown University owns the property and hired Medstar to run their hospital. Jesuits work at Georgetown University Medical Center.
So get it in your head Anon 3:35 this is a Jesuit problem.
Thank you, Stewart. I was afraid I might fail against charity...
It's obvious the Jesuits are accountable here. The LEAST they could do was issue some kind of statement against this decision. The Anonymous poster who attacked Maria needs to wake up.
Leave Maria out of this. She's busy compiling her cut-and-paste links for next January. She has to wait ten long months! God smiles upon her efforts, which are the fruits of the good spirit.
Andrew:
Remarkably, there is virtually nothing in the news. This is, as anonymous # 1 correctly said, about Obama care and the death panels. Not surpisingly, the liberal media is mum. I hope that Fox will run with it. I cannot imagine that they won't. Wouldn't it be encouraging if just one lone Bishop called the Society itself out on this one?
Dear Fellow Anony.: You must be new--Maria has a long & storied history on the AMERICA website. I remember well last year when she wrote that Fr. Drinan was possessed by Satan.
As for Pope J.P. II, I don't recall him taking every last measure to keep the old ticker running. He died at home without the tubes etc.
ARTICLES ABOUT ASSISTED SUICIDE
Newest First | Oldest First
Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Next >>
Immigrant’s Health Crisis Leaves Her Family on Sideline
By DEBORAH SONTAG
NY Times lists the aritcle under "ARTICLES ABOUT ASSISTED SUICIDE". Interesting. Shouldn't the article be filed under "ARTICLES ABOUT MURDER"?
Anon 7:21, you are deeply ignorant, not to say deceitful.
The Jesuits were forced to leave Georgetown in the late 60s, and today, the fewer boats they rock, the more willing people are to let them appear on campus.
Anon 7:21, I meant Stewart of course.
The fact of the matter is that the Jesuits DO NOT, repeat DO NOT, get the checks!
Facts are your - and Maria's - friends.
Maria,
sometimes it is not charitable to not be quite blunt, and call a spade a spade.
Spare the rod and spoil the child, said the psalmist.
Subtlety doesn't seem to be your strength.
Sometimes charity is blunt – or cruel, or painful, or even evil. But this is a difficult judgment to make. Who holds their own judgment in such high esteem?
Even a Saint should be very hesitant to use blunt charity.
It is too easy to forget that we define ourselves to God in our choices. I know that I am being repetitious, but some things are worth repeating: Humility is advised for a reason.
Charity may be blunt – or cruel, or painful, or even evil.
Carelessly bearing false witness against people NOT on hand to defend themselves is neither charitable nor blunt, but it is cruel and evil.
And it's not humble either.
IF someone bears false witness how does one know that it is not integral with God’s plan? While revelation is real, and prayers can be answered, that would be unusual. More often, we are allowed to define ourselves before God. We are tested often, and fail often.
So, while we have to use our best judgment in such situations, that judgment would be well advised to include humility.
The CCC on false witness and charity
2477 Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury.278 He becomes guilty:
- of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;
- of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another's faults and failings to persons who did not know them;279
- of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.
2478 To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor's thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way:
Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another's statement than to condemn it. But if he cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved.
2479 Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one's neighbor. Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect. Thus, detraction and calumny offend against the virtues of justice and charity.
2485 By its very nature, lying is to be condemned. It is a profanation of speech, whereas the purpose of speech is to communicate known truth to others. The deliberate intention of leading a neighbor into error by saying things contrary to the truth constitutes a failure in justice and charity. The culpability is greater when the intention of deceiving entails the risk of deadly consequences for those who are led astray.
2486 Since it violates the virtue of truthfulness, a lie does real violence to another. It affects his ability to know, which is a condition of every judgment and decision. It contains the seed of discord and all consequent evils. Lying is destructive of society; it undermines trust among men and tears apart the fabric of social relationships.
God's plan forsees the possibility of people sinning, but does not forsee the actual sins; otherwise there would be no free will.
Posting anonymously, without a glossy picture and without a link to a profile and other blogs is a sign of humility. You may be thinking of meekness; a trait unknown to Inigo of Loyola.
2478 To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor's thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way:
Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another's statement than to condemn it. But if he cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved.
FROM GUMC/MEDSTAR WEBSITE
Georgetown University Hospital was founded in 1898 to promote health through education, research and patient care. This mission has been shaped by and reflects Georgetown's Catholic, Jesuit identity and heritage.
That seems pretty clear, to me.
@ 3:34
I don't have a blog. My piocture shows up and I unfortunately don't know how to get rid of it. Seems the catechetical admonitions you prescribe for me might also apply to you, my friend.
1) GUMC and or Medstar is misrepresenting the amount of clout the Jesuits have at GUMC, and the Jesuits are all but certainly in a tough spot, because what clout they do have rests on maintaining this illusion. They are damned either way. Speak out about a few exceptional cases, and risk being edged out, or remain silent, and do the good they can, and know that it's not great either.
2478 To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor's thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way:
Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another's statement than to condemn it.
2) I never wrote or implied that you have a blog. I wrote that I didn't "link to blogs."
Discussions are much more fun and productive when we can agree on the facts at hand.
… The deliberate intention of leading a neighbor into error by saying things contrary to the truth constitutes a failure in justice and charity. The culpability is greater when the intention of deceiving entails the risk of deadly consequences for those who are led astray…
If you notice, this recognizes that lying varies in “culpability” depending on situation. So we are back to the classic “would you lie to Nazi’s about where the Jew is hiding” question. Many theologians fail to recognize the importance of context, and dismiss it as “relativism”. That is their mistake. A mistake we need not make.
I would be hard pressed to think of any reason not to assume the good intentions of fellow bloggers here. The very nature of this blog would only appeal to serious-minded individuals.
And while I consider this to be a “friendly” discussion, that does not mean that there are not harsh consequences for those who offend God.
Tony,
I am not going to assess culpability; I can't do it, and don't want to. I do, however, think that we should be careful to not make wrongful and unflattering claims about others.
The fact of the matter of this story is this: unlike Fordham and Fairfield and the rest, Georgetown is NOT, repeat NOT a Jesuit university, in the strict sense that the Jesuits control it.
The Jesuit presence at Georgetown is at the pleasure of the board of trustees, and, living in an imperfect world, the Jesuits have to make compromises. While we may regret the compromises that they make, and regret that they have to make compromises, it would be wholly unfair and unwise to hold the Jesuits at Georgetown to the same standards as one might hold Jesuits at universities which they control.
And I do not think I am going out on a limb in saying that if one doesn't know the details of a story, which in this case are extremely important, one should not go around judging others.
Anonymous 1:48,
I agree.
But what is or isn’t true is not the most important consideration. We are here learning lessons and we express our movement through those lessons in our thoughts, actions, and words.
“Love your neighbor” implies respecting others’ values. (The most important commandment is not “tell the truth”) We are expected to make judgments and trade-offs about love, humility, truth, compassion, good, evil, community values, and societal values.
Maria is far more important than the truth. My interaction with her defines me before God. Her interaction with me defines her before God. Truth becomes relatively unimportant in this context.
This is expressed in “love your neighbor”. Some people reading this will understand this interpretation, since it aligns with who they have become through their lessons here. Others will cling to their own ego, and associated justifications for their lack of humility and judgment of others.
I am not saying that a person cannot be corrected. But “who you are” or “who you define yourself to be” in that correction is far more important – regardless of whether you correct or not, or whether you express the truth or not.
St. Ignatius did not make compromises.
Either the Society needs to disaffiliate itself from GUMC, or the Jesuits need to claim in the common square their secular stand in the world. One cannot have it both ways; however, the Society, and most particular Georgetown University, being who they are, naturally, wants it both ways. The Society wants to claim in the public arena, with Medstar, that “Our mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on community outreach and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis — which means "care of the whole person” so as to maximize profit, and hire lawyers who will orchestrate the death of an immigrant who has no health insurance, for the purposes of cost savings. The Society will continue in this arrangement as it is enormously profitable for the University.
So let us be clear about the facts:
PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH MEDSTAR HEALTH—AS FOLLOWS:
On June 30, 2000, Georgetown University Medical Center and MedStar Health, Inc., finalized a clinical partnership agreement that had been in development for more than a year. Under the terms of the agreement, MedStar Health owns, operates, and has financial responsibility for Georgetown University's clinical enterprise, which includes a hospital, a faculty practice group, and a network of community physician practices. The various units of the clinical enterprise are now referred to collectively as Georgetown University Hospital (GUH), one of seven hospitals in MedStar's D.C./Maryland system. Georgetown University continues to own, operate, and have financial responsibility for the education and research enterprises, which include the School of Medicine, the School of
Nursing and Health Studies, master’s and PhD programs in the Graduate School, and the medical research enterprise which primarily takes place in the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization. These units continue to be known collectively as Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC).
AND, Georgetown University Medical Center is a $251 million biomedical research and educational organization that is home to more than 60 percent of the university’s sponsored research funding each year. Patient care is provided at Georgetown University Hospital and satellite locations with Georgetown’s clinical partner, MedStar Health – the largest nonprofit health care provider in the mid-Atlantic region. Georgetown University Medical Center is the largest and most prominent Catholic medical center in the country.
Evil is clear. So let us be clear about the facts:
PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH MEDSTAR HEALTH—AS FOLLOWS:
On June 30, 2000, Georgetown University Medical Center and MedStar Health, Inc., finalized a clinical partnership agreement that had been in development for more than a year. Under the terms of the agreement, MedStar Health owns, operates, and has financial responsibility for Georgetown University's clinical enterprise, which includes a hospital, a faculty practice group, and a network of community physician practices. The various units of the clinical enterprise are now referred to collectively as Georgetown University Hospital (GUH), one of seven hospitals in MedStar's D.C./Maryland system. Georgetown University continues to own, operate, and have financial responsibility for the education and research enterprises, which include the School of Medicine, the School of
Nursing and Health Studies, master’s and PhD programs in the Graduate School, and the medical research enterprise which primarily takes place in the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization. These units continue to be known collectively as Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC).
AND, Georgetown University Medical Center is a $251 million biomedical research and educational organization that is home to more than 60 percent of the university’s sponsored research funding each year. Patient care is provided at Georgetown University Hospital and satellite locations with Georgetown’s clinical partner, MedStar Health – the largest nonprofit health care provider in the mid-Atlantic region. Georgetown University Medical Center is THE LARGEST AND MOST PROMINENT CATHOLIC MEDICAL CENTER IN THE COUNTRY.
Lest these relationships prove prove confusing. No matter. Evil is clear. Its defining properties? "A liar and a murderer from the beginning"....
Georgetown University Hospital, operated by MedStar Health, and Georgetown University Medical Center function under THE ETHICAL AND RELIGIOUS DIRECTIVES FOR CATHOLIC HEALTH SERVICES. Would you believe? The Catholic Church doesn't permit "assisted suicide" or starvation. Go to the DIRECTIVES BELOW **PART FIVE**
http://www.usccb.org/meetings/2009Fall/docs/ERDs_5th_ed_091118_FINAL.pdf
Facts, and the Truth, are my friends...
Sorry Tony,
there are two neighbors in this exchange: Maria, and the Jesuits, whom Maria cordially dislikes, and about whom Maria disseminates very unflattering inaccuracies.
One does not "love one's neighbors" by seeing one be wronged, and the other do the wronging, but rather by setting the wrong right, or trying to. And when one is dealing with habitual offenders, sooner or later one becomes indelicate. Jesus, too, lost his cool on some occasions.
Maria: I have already explained to you that the Jesuits do NOT control GU, or the GUMC. If GU has to choose between being a world class institution and the Jesuits, the choice is all too clear.
If the Jesuits complain, in all likelihood the disconnecting will go on, there and at other hospitals, and the Jesuits will no longer be (as) welcome at GUH.
Futhermore GUMC, which talks about its "Catholic" orientation, is not GUH, which is run by a for-profit company, as that's the only way for the GUMC to have a hospital.
Does your quote about GUH being founded as a Catholic hospital clearly state that this is still unequivocally the case? If so, you would have grounds for complaint.
And the people who have a clear and indisputable obligation to this woman are a) her family, in the US and overseas and b) the Rwandan community in the US.
People who do NOT have an obligation to this woman are the US taxpayer and the Jesuit order. One could argue that the GUH or GUMC might I repeat might have an obligation to her if, and only if, her entire family, in Rwanda and the US, and the Rwandans here in the US cannot take care of her. There is no evidence for this.
That you choose to chastise the Jesuits for not intervening in a case where the family is playing chicken with the hospital over their mother's life - how disgusting - proves to me, that you have an unhealthy fixation with the Society. Shame on you.
I know from people very near and dear to me, that the Society has gone out of its way to help people to whom it had no obligation at all who were in dire medical straits.
Patrons of hospitals
* Camillus of Lellis
* Elizabeth of Hungary
* Erhard of Regensburg
* John of God
* Jude Thaddeus
* Vincent de Paul
For Rachel Nyirahabiyambere
Most merciful Jesus, lover of souls, I pray you by the agony of your most sacred heart, and by the sorrows of your Immaculate mother, to wash in your most Precious Blood the sinners of the world who are now in their agony, and who will die today.
Heart of Jesus, once in agony, have mercy on the dying.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul. Assist me in my last agony, and grant that I may breath forth my soul in peace with you. Amen.
Mr. Anonymous:
I was born at Georgetown University Hospital. My father attended Georgetown Prep, Georgetown University undergrad and GU law. My Uncle attended GU under grad and the School of Foreign Service. I went to Georgetown Visitation. All of my brothers went to Georgetown Prep. One of my brothers went to Fairfield. Jesuits read Dr. Seuss to me. They went on vacation with us and said Mass in our living room at the beach . They married us. They buried us. I have LOVED the Jesuits and it BREAKS MY HEART to see what has become of them. Don't you get it???
People have become deaf, dumb and blind to sin. We now live a world so corrupted by PRIDE RICHES AMBITION that no one can think or see straight.
You said: "If GU has to choose between being a world class institution and the Jesuits, the choice is all too clear".
I think you need to re-read your statement.
See, the thing with being Catholic is that is not some sort of trick moral calculus wherein a good deed here cancels our murder, support for abortion, homosexuality, and sexual abuse of children, over there. It doesn't work that way.
If you took the time to read the Directives at the link I posted, you would see that the hospital, though in a partnership w/ Medstar, remains morally, and in practice, bound to THE ETHICAL AND RELIGIOUS DIRECTIVES FOR CATHOLIC HEALTH SERVICES.
I am sorry, Joseph, this story was just one more than I could absorb. Mea Culpa.
Dear Anon,
It is not true that Maria dislikes the Jesuits.
"....the Jesuits, whom Maria cordially dislikes.."
Maria deeply cares about the Society of Jesus. She has written in many places of her deep love and admiration for many Jesuits whom she has had in her life. By her baptism and faith she has the right to discuss these issues as she seems fit. Maria in the comments section has quoted credible and authentic sources to defend her position.
Let us not forget about Rachel and her family. Let us not forget about the genocide and famine in Rwanda from which Rachel and her family escaped from.
Let us wait for some new information and or statements from somebody to help clarify some of the particulars of this case.
Some notes in regards to the Jesuit Mission in Rwanda.
There are 35 Jesuits working in Rwanda, two of whom work with JRS in Byumba refugee camp. As of 2005 the novitiate had 19 novices. The country has three Jesuit residencies:
* Centre Christus Spirutal Center in Kigali
* A Study house for students in Butare
* The Novitiate in Cyangugu
http://www.jesam-infos.org/en/rwb.php
JMJ
Joe
God Bless you Joe.
Whoever wrote the prayer--It was a beautiful reminder that I need to take this in prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows in Kibeho. We can only imagine the horror from which the family fled...
Whover listed the Saints--Thank you for reminding me to plead for their intercession.
In my grief, I can forget...
Our Lady of Kibeho seems to speaking to us. This link tells the story of the apparitions in Rwanda prior to the geoncide. Always her message is the same, and so timely, as we enter into Lent: penance, prayer and conversion.
www.michaeljournal.org/kibeho.htm -
Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows
The Virgin Mary, who believed in the word of the Lord, did not lose her
faith in God when she saw her Son rejected, abused and crucified. Rather she
remained beside Jesus, suffering and praying, until the end. And she saw the
radiant dawn of His Resurrection. Let us learn from her to witness to our
faith with a life of humble service, ready to personally pay the price of
staying faithful to the Gospel of love and truth, certain that nothing that
we do will be lost.
— Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus - September 13, 2009
Mater Dolorosa, hear us, and look after Rachel in her suffering as only you can...
Maria has an unhealthy fixation on the Jesuits. She blogs about them constantly--almost as a kind of web stalker.
Maria very much wants them to be a certain kind of religious order and then condemns them as "unCatholic" when they fail to meet her--and other conservative, self-appointed zealots--criteria.
Maria,
I was an undergrad at GU, and all too vividly remember the tensions that you lament. It's easy to get caught up in them, but what does it accomplish?
I hope you'll agree with me that if an institution that claims to be Catholic does not abide by Catholic teaching, that it is not, repeat not, up to its Catholic employees, who do not have overall supervisory positions, even if they are priests, to tell them to either do as they say, or change what they say, but a matter for the local bishop or archbishop and or his aides.
Whether we like it or not, the Jesuits are only on board at GU by the grace of others; but if GUH goes around telling people it is a Catholic institution, the local bishop has every right, and should even be expected, to see that they do as they say.
Have you gotten in touch with the Bishop?
Catholic teaching on this matter is clear, just as it is clear on the many abortions that occur at hospitals where Catholics, practicing and lukewarm, work. The Jesuits have made clear where they stand on the culture of life, and unless you condemn those Catholics who work at hospitals where abortions happen each and every day just as stridently, you reveal a prejudice and selective indignation.
@ March 8, 2011 6:22 AM
I appreciate your remarks. I have in fact prepared a letter for the Bishop. As the result of having read through THE ETHICAL AND RELIGIOUS DIRECTIVES FOR CATHOLIC HEALTH SERVICES, wherein it clearly states that the Bishop is the ultimate arbiter in theses situations. It is, however, important to note that the hospital
performs research using embryonic stem cells( See: GU to Continue Controversial Research
Use of Aborted Fetal Cells Prompts Probe at Catholic Institution by Argetsinger, Amy and Avram Goldstein (January 30, 2004).
This is a systemic and insitutuionalized violation of the dignity and sacredness of human life. I suspect that my letter will make little impact.
As for prejudice and selective indignation, I am called, as is all of the laity, in Bishop Wuerl's words to "speak up". Said the Bishop: "It is not enough to rely on the hieracrchy alone to address serious social and moral problems in our society. Everyone has to be involved and take an active role...The voice and the engagement of the laity will unlitmately determine the direction of our society".
@ March 7, 2011 11:16 PM"
A Jesuit webstalker? That seems a little extreme. There is no such thing as a conservative or liberal Catholic. We are faithful, or unfaithful. Being faithful will always involve a cost.
C'mon, posting comments on a blog isn't exactly putting oneself in danger.
No, no danger, but it does entail the continual barrage of insults from from people who haven't the courage to identify themselves.
Oh, okay Maria--my name is Ed.
Good for you, Ed.
Does the "cost" of "being faithful" include the damage to the reputations of the people you accuse of being Satan in disguise? What about the people who are strangers to you whom you attack in public as heretics and "dissenters"?
And if you "love the Jesuits," why do you go around various blogs writing "THEIR DAYS ARE NUMBERED!!"???
In theology class we discussed how there are many aspects of Catholicism that most Jesuit theologians do not discuss with most Church members. A common belief is that most Catholics need a simple message.
For example, should a Jesuit spend time pointing out that the Pope has killed some people for believing a particular thing, while at the same time killing others for not believing that same thing?
To be candid, I agree with the requirement for a simple message. The goal is not to destroy faith, but to build faith. The problem is that a “simple message” can lead to unrealistic expectations about things like the Magesterium. And it can lead to unrealistic expectations about our understanding of complex concepts such as “faith”. And it can lead to building a simplified “false” faith, based on oversimplified understanding, rather than a real faith.
Faith may exist in ways that are not consistent with the current Magesterium. There is a long history of Saints who did not act in ways consistent with a simple definition of faith. Humility. We risk offending God.
http://americamagazinecatholicmyeye.wordpress.com/2010/03/
P.S. more evidence of the powerful "cost" Maria Byrd is paying for her "faithful" Christianity.
P.P.S. wow
Thanks Anonymous for that link--I can't say I'm surprised but, wow, that is disturbing. The last sentence is seriously threatening (the kind of note police discover after a horrible crime has been committed).
Ed (formally "anonymous")
I should add that my comments about the need for humility weren't focused on Maria.
Someone mentioned that faithfulness involves a cost. I would have worded that somewhat differently: Lack of alignment with God's values involves a cost.
And the costs are quite real. If someone thinks that their comments on this blog are ignored by God or not worth severe punishment -- well, that just means that they don't understand the reasons for this existence and the importance of the lessons.
Tony, I am aware of your sentiments, thank you.
Maria, after my dealings with a pedophile circle in the Catholic Church, whose priest members threatened to kill the young men they had abused if they went public, and in whose vicinity a young male teen was found dead, I have decided that discretion is probably the better part of valor.
If we met in person, and I wasn't in a very crusty mood, I imagine our feistiness would sooner or later result in friendship.
I just read the story that the blogger linked. It made it clear that the woman was not at Georgetown Medical Center, but at a different facility dedicated to hospice care. Why does the story say she is at Georgetown Medical Center?
I am sorry if I am being naive. Maybe I am missing the point?
Hey closeted anon Jesuit tooth fairy wannabe ... we know the name of Ignatius of Loyola, stop playing heterosexual and tell the nice lady your name or you won't have Father Murphy bring you steaming milk with fudge nut cookies and read you a bedtime but pirate yarn.
Saint Pedro
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