Florida Catholic | Florida Bishops’ Priorities Include Natural Death, Catholic Charities, Prayer

Florida bishops’ priorities include natural death, Catholic Charities, prayer

DENISE O’TOOLE KELLY | FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF

Published: 06.17.08

ORLANDO | With a policy statement on stem-cell research topping the agenda for the U.S. bishops’ spring meeting here, another issue related to respecting life in the health care arena received less media coverage.

At the request of its Committee on Doctrine, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops agreed to update its teaching on medically assisted nutrition and hydration. When asked to identify a topic on the agenda for the June 12-15 meeting that merited attention, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito of the Palm Beach Diocese cited the revision of the group’s “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.” The underlying concept – that providing nutrition and hydration through technology such as feeding tubes and IVs is not an extraordinary measure – will be strengthened with references to Vatican writings released after the directives originally were written.

Other Florida bishops pointed to a decision to honor Catholic Charities on its 100th anniversary in 2010 and the opportunity for the nation’s bishops to bond spiritually as key elements of the meeting.

Regarding the health care directives, the bishops agreed it was necessary to note that they are consistent with statements on medically assisted nutrition and hydration made by Pope John Paul II in a March 2004 speech and in an August 2007 document issued by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Committee on Doctrine said citing these “authoritative documents” and “incorporating some of their language and distinctions” was useful “particularly since the recent clarifications by the Holy See have rendered untenable certain positions that have been defended by some Catholic ethicists.”

Bishop Frank J. Dewane said the bishops’ decision to declare Sept. 26, 2010 as National Catholic Charities Sunday deserved attention because of the large number of the faithful in his Venice Diocese and throughout Florida who are involved in Catholic Charities.

“This episcopal conference has set aside a day that’s going to be devoted to Catholic Charities,” he said. “It’s a celebration of not just Catholic Charities but what those men and women do to make Catholic Charities the force that it is, the success that it is, to help those in need.”

Bishop Thomas Wenski said he would like people to know that a substantial part of the five-day meeting was devoted to reflection and prayer – that their bishops enjoy each other’s company and affirm each other spiritually.

“The bishops come to a meeting, but they also come to pray,” Bishop Wenski said.

In other Florida-related notes from the meeting:

• The bishops approved a plan for assessing dioceses to cover the costs of the USCCB for 2009. The total of all assessments remains $10.04 million, the same as 2008. Assessments for each Florida diocese also remain unchanged as follows – Miami, $73,000; Orlando, $82,000; Palm Beach, $63,000; Pensacola-Tallahassee, $33,000; St. Augustine, $45,000; St. Petersburg, $88,000; and Venice, $57,000.

• The bishops formed task forces to begin addressing five priorities as part of a strategic planning process. Florida bishops serving on the task forces are Bishop Wenski, who is serving on the Task Force on Cultural Diversity in the Church, and Miami Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Estevez, who is serving on the Task Force on the Life and Dignity of the Human Person. The other task forces are Faith Formation and Sacramental Practice, Strengthening Marriage and Priestly and Religious Vocations.

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Florida bishops’ priorities include natural death, Catholic Charities, prayer

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