Franciscans and Healthcare: What is the Future?

Preface

1 PREFACE Care for the sick and suffering has been an integral part of the Franciscan tradition since the beginning of Francis’s conversion. Francis bowed low to kiss the leper and discovered the sweetness of God hidden in the leper’s disfigured flesh. Among third order penitents in the Middle Ages, care for the sick expressed their desire for union with God, who was revealed in the crucified Christ. Tending to the sick was not only a corporal work of mercy for Franciscans. It was also a way of life that manifested their inner spirit of compassionate love in imitation of the crucified Christ. Dominic Monti states: “For all Franciscans, our attitude and behavior towards those who are sick forms an essential part of our call to Gospel conversion.” The desire to follow Christ and to grow in compassionate love led Franciscans over the centuries to develop institutions of health care. Hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices of various types were built to care for the sick and provide relief for the suffering and the dying. While religious women, in particular, succeeded in building large healthcare facilities, such institutions were built upon hard work, dedication, and sacrifice made possible by large numbers of women entering religious life. Indeed, the growth of religious communities in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was intertwined with the success of Catholic institutions. There is no doubt that the establishment of hospitals, in particular, contributed to the growth of the Catholic Church in America, as Franciscans strove to minister to all people. While Franciscans today continue to maintain large healthcare systems, the future of these systems is in question. With the decrease in numbers entering religious life and the shift from corporate to individual ministries, together with the complexities of health care regulations and HMOs, the question of how long these systems can prevail is critical. With this in mind, we here at the Franciscan Center of the Washington Theological Union thought it appropriate to take some time to gather the experts and discuss the role of contemporary Franciscans in the ministry of healthcare. We gathered to ask the question: Is there a future for Franciscans and 2 PREFACE health care? If so, what will it be? To answer these questions we brought together physicians, CEOs, hospital administrators, and ethicists, all of whom are Franciscan, in order to discuss the commitment of Franciscans to the sick and suffering today. The talks were designed with a view both to spirituality and to maintaining Franciscan identity, especially in institutions administered by lay men and women. The foundation for these discussions is provided by a fascinating historical overview of Franciscan ministry to the sick from the Middle Ages to the present time. The symposium on Franciscans and health care was held at the Washington Theological Union from May 28-30, 1999. The papers that follow comprise presentations on various topics and responses to those presentations. Since they are unique in content and perspective, flowing from the minds and hearts of Franciscans who are committed to the tradition and to the ministry of the sick, we felt it important to make these valuable papers available to the general public. We extend a heartfelt thank you to all those who helped make this event possible, especially Kathleen Moffatt, O.S.F. We also thank Elise Saggau, O.S.F. and the staff at the Franciscan Institute for their gracious collaboration on this publication. At a time when Franciscan institutions are facing critical decisions, it is worthwhile to remember the tradition that brought them to where they are, the values of the tradition that make them what they are, and the spirituality of the tradition that identifies who they are. Knowing the foundation on which one stands can better prepare one for the unknown future. The only way to really predict the future, of course, is to create it. We believe the contributions made here are a step in this direction. Ilia Delio, O.S.F. Director of the Franciscan Center Washington Theological Union ...