Catholic Health Care Provider's Bid To Participate In State Health Program Criticized By Abortion Opponents

Massachusetts antiabortion-rights and Roman Catholic groups are criticizing a proposal by Caritas Christi Health Care's proposal for a joint insurance venture with a non-religious health organization that would cover abortion and "confidential family planning services," the Boston Globe reports. Caritas is an affiliate of the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. According to the Globe, Caritas' proposal is part of its bid to enter the state's subsidized health program, Commonwealth Care. The proposal first drew scrutiny from antiabortion-rights groups last week when the state Connector Authority -- which oversees the subsidized insurance program -- was reviewing bids from insurance companies. A member of the Connector Authority said that she was concerned that low-income women would not receive full services under the Caritas venture because the network does not provide abortion services. Later that day, Caritas issued a statement that said it "will contract with providers, both in and out of the Caritas network, to ensure access to all services required by the authority, including confidential family planning services."

Caritas said in a statement this week that it has not made a final decision about the proposed partnership with St. Louis-based Centene and that any contracts with health care providers would be negotiated by Centene, not the archdiocese. Caritas said that its hospitals will not provide abortion services and will "at all times and in all cases" follow Catholic moral teachings and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' ethical guidelines for Catholic hospitals. The statement continued, "Applying for participation in the (state program) is a complex public policy process. We will carefully investigate all aspects of this proposed relationship in order to insure that Caritas Christi's participation will be in accord with Catholic teaching."

The guidelines from the USCCB state that Catholic health care organizations "are not permitted to engage in immediate material cooperation in actions that are intrinsically immoral, such as abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide and direct sterilization." The directives also state that organizations should consult the diocesan bishop or his health care liaison in making sensitive decisions, the Globe reports. C.J. Doyle, executive director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, said the proposed venture "appears to be an appalling betrayal of Catholic principles and a grave scandal." Anne Fox, president of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, said it "looks to me as though ... an entity has to give up certain of its basic principles, and that just doesn't hang right." She added that Massachusetts Citizens for Life's executive committee will address the issue at a meeting on Wednesday. State regulators are scheduled to vote on March 12 on whether to accept the proposal (Lazar, Boston Globe, 3/4).

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