By Val and Deacon Gary Streff
Special to the Herald
In the past, many hospitals, nursing homes and hospices were operated by religious faith communities. These institutions were often guided by the charisms of their religious orders that aligned themselves with Catholic social teaching, the magisterium and Scripture.
Catholic moral teachings directed the policies and structure of the organization.
In the islands we have St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii, founded by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities who follow the charism of St. Francis of Assisi. Another faith-based hospital in the state, Adventist Health Castle in Kailua, is operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
As time progressed and religious communities became smaller, laypeople took on bigger roles and designed policies secular in nature, focusing on the professional role of the staff, the institution’s organization as a business and advancements in technology. While these providers are highly competent, external pressures such as the rising cost of healthcare, budget cuts and sustainability efforts can easily shift an institution away from Christian moral values to bureaucratic efficiency.
Therefore, it is important for Christian moral values to be integrated in the healthcare system among the staff and also taught to the wider community — churches, schools and other public organizations. Someday we may become a healthcare proxy, decision-maker or power of attorney for a sick family member and a moral decision will have to be made. Many people rely on experts in the medical profession to make the decisions, but they must also be empowered to make moral decisions in collaboration with medical experts and the personal beliefs, values and goals of the patient.
Being educated in the resources available to priests, deacons, seminarians and others empowers a proxy to collaborate with professionals in suggesting best options for the patient. Other resources that are important include the Vatican letters and instructions “Samaritanus Bonus,” “Dignitas Personae” and “Donum Vitae,” as well as the “New Charter for Health Care Workers” and the “Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.” All of these resources equip an individual to join in decision-making based on the medical advice from professionals combined with the patient’s personal beliefs, values and goals.
We endorse the “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services” (seventh edition) promulgated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. This booklet was formed in consultation with medical professionals and church leaders, and judged accordingly to reflect the church’s moral teachings.
Its goal is twofold — to uphold the dignity of the human person and to provide guidance on moral issues that face Catholic healthcare. It is important that we follow the charism of Jesus who tended to the physical, mental and spiritual healing of those who are ill or dying.
The seventh edition was revised last November due to new issues that have arisen. Prohibition of gender medication, the expansion of palliative care, opposing the end of nutritional support for individuals to prematurely end their lives, and the immorality of embryo cryopreservation are just a few of the updated topics in the latest edition.
To access the document, contact the Respect Life Ministry or download the booklet from usccb.org and search “Ethical and Religious Directives-seventh edition.”
This past May, Father Mark Gantley, the judicial vicar for the diocese; Eva Andrade, president and CEO of Hawaii Family Forum; and Hope Young, advance planning director for Kokua Mau, gave a presentation on “Preparing a Catholic Advanced Health Directive.” The event sought to help attendees better understand healthcare programs and what they should know when faced with ethical and moral decisions for a loved one or for themselves. To find out more, contact Andrade at eandrade@rcchawaii.org.
Other people who can speak on preparing for the future are:
- Deacon Raul Perez, who helps to train upcoming deacon chaplains. He can speak on “The Role of the Sacraments and Preparing for the Journey”; contact him at raperez@rcchawaii.org.
- Utufa’asili Jacinta McDermott, chaplain coordinator for palliative care at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children. Utu can be reached at (808) 371-3540 or utufaasili.mcdermott@phmhawaii.org.
The Respect Life Ministry will continue to present these workshops throughout the year. Please join us when a flyer appears in your church bulletin or contact the Respect Life Ministry c/o Deacon Gary Streff at gstreff@rcchawaii.org. We will be glad to share this information at your parishes.
Deacon Gary and Val Streff are co-directors of the diocesan Respect Life Office.