FOR COMMON GOOD

Earlier this month, from Oct. 20 through 22, 2005, members of the Catholic Medical Association came to Portland for their 74th annual conference. Dr. Thomas M. Pitre, president-elect of the CMA and a Cathedral parishioner, served as conference chair. His wife, Dr. Lynne Bissonette-Pitre, served as program chair. I am grateful to them for hosting this important gathering at the conclusion of our observance here in western Oregon of the Year of the Eucharist.

The topic of this year's conference was "The Biological and Spiritual Development of the Child." Participants were provided with an in-depth exploration of the science and theology of the human person as a relational being. The keynote address was to have been delivered by His Eminence, Francis Cardinal George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago, but he was unable to attend. This was, of course, a disappointment to his many friends here in Portland, particularly to the conference organizers.

The conference began two days after the feast of St. Luke, patron saint of physicians. Here in the archdiocese we have had the custom of celebrating our Annual White Mass on the weekend close to the feast of St. Luke with all health care workers of this archdiocese at the cathedral.

Because of the conference, organizers included this year's White Mass as part of the conference agenda. Cardinal George had been invited to preside and preach at the Mass on Saturday, Oct. 22. He sent Bishop Basil Meeking, his friend and research theologian, to preside and preach in his place. We are always happy to welcome Bishop Meeking back to the archdiocese. He served for four years as chaplain of our Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon in Beaverton. Many of us wish he would return and stay!

We all know that our most precious assets are our children. Conference participants were advised how to nurture optimally and maximize the child's biological and spiritual development and to know that these two forms of development interrelate and are inseparable. The consequences of poor developmental experiences in early childhood can be serious when it comes to the child's developing nervous system and relational potential. Conference participants examined the cultural forces that have created barriers to the natural process of mind/brain and relational development.

Each year CMA members examine important issues that confront Catholic health care providers. As a Catholic community, we want to be supportive of these professionals among us in the health care profession. More than 40 years ago Blessed Pope John XXIII listed health care among those basic rights which flow from the sanctity and dignity of human life, a cause for which we pray and labor each year during the month of October.

We American bishops have regularly called for a "comprehensive health care system that will insure a basic level of health care for all Americans." Our late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, also addressed the need for health care when he focused on the availability and affordability of health care for workers.

Your bishops have established certain "criteria for reform" in the on-going debate over health care insurance. These are the criteria that we apply to policy proposals for health care reform:

Priority concern for the poor -- whether it gives priority to the health care needs of the poor, insuring quality health care for them too.

Universal access to comprehensive benefits -- whether the universal access to comprehensive benefits is actually sufficient to maintain and promote good health.

Pursuing the common good and preserving pluralism -- whether there is actually involvement of all sectors, including the religious and voluntary sectors, in all aspects of health care, ensuring respect for the ethical and religious values of the consumers and providers.

Just two years ago one out of every six people in our country was uninsured, more than 8 million of whom were children. Insurance premiums increased an average of 10.9 percent in 2001, 12.9 percent in 2002, 13.9 percent in 2003 and 11.2 percent in 2004. Back in 2003, 73.2 percent of all the uninsured were members of working families.

Here in Oregon we do have some particular concerns about the future of health care among our people. First and foremost seems to be the fact that there is less coverage of workers. Larger co-pays, deductibles and caps are expected from the insured. More employers are dropping health insurance. This crisis is fueled in part by the under-funding of public health care programs, especially Medicare and Medicaid.

There is a need to be relentless in our pursuit of universal coverage to finally address the plight of the uninsured. This is a great challenge because of the cost and infrastructure changes.

The lack of balance among providers (especially non-profits) in providing charity care and access for Medicaid patients is also a concern. Religious communities here in the Northwest have been heroic in their sponsorship of health care ministry. As their numbers dwindle, that future becomes problematic.

We bishops remain focused on the importance of health care for all. We have stated that, in this, the wealthiest of nations, "it is unacceptable that so many people do not have access to affordable health care." The visit of the members of the Catholic Medical Association and the feast of St. Luke this month remind us of the challenges before us.

I encourage all of you to advocate for improvements in the health care system. If and when you can, contact our elected officials and share with them our church's teaching on health care and the principles and priorities we espouse. With more than 8 million children without health care insurance, neither their biological nor spiritual development can be assured. St. Luke, pray for us.