Executive Summary
CATHOLIC HEALTH MINISTRY IN
CANADA
Pastoral Letter
by the Permanent Council
of the Canadian Conference
of Catholic Bishops
From the early days of this
country, countless women and men have devoted their entire lives to caring for
the sick and they left a powerful legacy of Catholic health ministry. All
Catholics must now preserve, build upon, and keep in trust this legacy for
future generations.
Unlike perhaps in the past,
caring for the sick can no longer simply be the work of a dedicated few
individuals; it must now become the concern and preoccupation of every
Christian and the entire Christian community.
First, the health care
ministry of the Church is rooted in and modeled after the person and
compassionate healing ministry of Jesus Christ, the “Divine Healer.”
Second, like Jesus, the
healing ministry of the Church is aimed at the health and well-being of the whole
person: physical, spiritual, mental, emotional and even social.
Third, the ministry of
health and healing is an unmistakable sign that the Reign of God is close at
hand, present in the very midst of our wounded and vulnerable humanity.
Fourth, the healing ministry
keeps every Christian in close touch with the deep mystery of suffering. In the
presence of this mystery, every Christian is invited to become a sharer in the
redemptive suffering of Christ.
Fifth, there is a spiritual
affinity between prayer and healing. Praying for those who are sick or suffering
goes to the very heart of the healing ministry and thus to the heart of every
Christian.
Sixth, yet another essential
feature of the healing and caring ministry of the Church is a deep and
uncompromising respect for human life – from its very conception to its natural
death – and an equally deep reverence for the dignity of every person.
Seventh, the Church’s
ministry of healing goes beyond the health care of individuals as such; it
extends to the physical and social environment in which people live and work.
This means that every Christian is called upon to be an advocate of justice and
to help redress those unjust social structures that cause suffering to the
disadvantaged groups in society.
Eighth, compassionate
generosity is also an important dimension of the Church’s far-reaching ministry
of healing. Christians are expected to give generously whenever people in
distant lands suffer some unspeakable natural disaster, a tragic pandemic
infection, or a severe human deprivation. Charity begins at home, but it must
never stop there!
Today’s
new challenges for Catholic health care services
During the past few decades,
significant changes have taken place that have direct bearing on the future
delivery of Catholic health care services and programs.
Canadian Catholics face the
increasing departure of women religious from the sponsorship and operation of
hospitals. As well, issues of sustainability, identity, leadership, financial
constraints, government health care reforms, and the demand for increased accountability
all present new challenges.
Catholic professional
care-givers can and must make a difference in these changing times. Their
voice, their presence, their excellence and faith-driven leadership are all
crucial at this critical juncture.
Over the years, the
responsibility for Catholic health care services has increasingly shifted to
the laity. Lay leadership in health care must be diligently recruited, fostered
and strengthened. The laity at large must become better informed about the new
challenges facing Catholic health care. And those already engaged in the health
care profession must be given greater support, pastoral assistance and
faith-based leadership programs. Only when lay Catholics are so empowered can
they hope to preserve and carry on the sacred legacy they have received from
the past.
Catholic health care, today
as in the past, derives from a faith conviction in the healing ministry and
compassion of Jesus. Only when this faith conviction is sufficiently reflected
upon, is deeply lived, and is granted sufficient public exposure, will the
identity and mission of Catholic health care truly make a difference in the
general scheme of things.
…in close partnership with
others
Catholic health care does not function alone or in isolation. It seeks to
collaborate closely with other faith-based institutions where the Church shares
common values and goals. United with fellow Christians and believers from other
faith groups, Catholics can make a distinct, positive contribution to our
country’s public health care system. In partnership with others, they can bring
about meaningful policy changes at the local, provincial and national levels.
11 February 2005