11/20/98

UTNE READER ASSIGNMENT TITLE OF ARTICLE CHOSEN: IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SUBMITTED BY : TONY T. SARAGO

SUMMARY: The article is about how the Roman Catholic Church is now affiliated with five of the ten largest health care systems in the United States. The Catholic doctrine opposes such things as : abortion, tubal ligations, vasectomies, contraception and other sexually orientated health care. The hospitals and clinics have the legal right to refuse these services and in many cases refuse to refer their patients to another health care provider for assistance. Many people feel that it is wrong to refuse these services. These people may not share the same beliefs as the Catholic Church and are being turned away with little or no options for alternate health care. Only 27% of surveyed women recognized the fact that being part of a Catholic hospital system could limit their health care choices. Some hospital personnel are defying the policies of their workplace to try to help others. this is becoming a hurdle to the health care patients and practitioners.

MY REACTION TO THIS ARTICLE: I was born and raised strong Catholic. I frequented church more by the time my youth was over than many people do in a lifetime. Even though this is the denomination of my choice, I feel that no church should be able to limit or refuse services based upon ideals or morals. The state or federal government should mandate that human rights are being violated in the refusal of health services. I disagree with the Catholic Church on their stand. I cant stand when people try to impose their opinions on someone else. This includes but is not limited to: animal rights activists, people pushing abortion issues, protesters of meaningless things and the lady who stands outside of the gas station nearly collapsing because the store sells Playboy magazine. As citizens of this country we deserve to have a choice of health care. The services elected by the individual should not be limited by others moral values.

-- Anonymous, December 15, 1998