Boston The Board of Directors of Massachusetts Citizens for Life has expressed serious concern about a proviso in the sale of the Caritas Christi Health Care system by the Archdiocese of Boston. The Board urges the Archdiocese to remove this proviso or to work with the buyers to appoint an independent committee consisting of experts in the fields of medical ethics and health care financing, who have proven adherence to the Caritas commitment to life, to fully vet any decision to end compliance with the Ethical and Religious Directives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The Steward Health Care System, a subsidiary of Cerberus Capital Management, will be running the hospitals. Steward has agreed to abide by the ERDs, thus continuing the pro-life commitment of the hospitals. If, however, Steward decides that compliance with the ERDs would jeopardize the welfare of its patients, employees, or the community it serves, it can pay the Archdiocese twenty-five million dollars to end compliance.
The MCFL Board reasons that this escape clause provides inadequate protection to pro-life physicians and patients and threatens the existence of pro-life hospitals in Massachusetts. It could result in the Caritas hospitals providing abortion and rationing care, thus ending the systems commitment to pro-life principles.
According to Anne Fox, President of the organization, Massachusetts Citizens for Life has always been grateful for the hospitals in the Caritas Christi Health Care system. While MCFL is a non-sectarian organization, having hospitals where patients can go to receive ethical medical care has been very important whether it be a woman with a problem pregnancy or a person who needs food and hydration administered artificially. Pro-life medical professionals have been able to practice in good conscience. We feel every effort must be made to ensure continuation of these ethical standards
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Massachusetts Citizens for Life was incorporated in 1973 and is the Commonwealth's largest pro-life organization. MCFL is an affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee.
Mass Citizens for Life, Schrafft Center 529 Main St., Charlestown, MA 02129-1100.
www.masscitizensforlife.org 
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