Archbishop Kurtz on Ethical & Religious Directives (ERDs)

Archbishop Kurtz

Archbishop Kurtz, of the Archdiocse of Louisville, recently wrote an article and spoke about the importance of upholding and defending ERDs by Catholic hospitals::

Our Catholic moral and social teaching, as reflected in the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, is informed by a concern about the dignity of the person and the common good. We do not believe, for example, that the destruction of the child in the womb serves mothers, children, or families, and we do not see this as a legitimate healthcare service. Does it truly serve the common good to require us or any healthcare provider to violate important issues of conscience or principle in order to provide for the health of persons within our community?

You can add to that line of thinking contraception and sterilization as well. As he states, these are not legitimate healthcare services. 

If Providence wants to be a Catholic hospital they must stand for Catholic moral virtue, that includes the ERDs and the Catechism. Otherwise, they are simply prostituting the faith for some ulterior motive. We must pray that Archbishop Schwietz will be as courageous and strong as Bishop Olmsted and Archbishop Kurtz. It means something to say that you are Catholic. In today's world where so many Catholics "pick and choose" what they believe, we are in dire need of truth and clarity.

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