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| July 27, 1999 Conference Proceedings Show Urgent Need to Prepare Laity for Advancing the Religious Mission of Catholic Health Care Institutions Washington, D.C. Newly published conference proceedings document growing anxiety among Catholic religious that laity are not sufficiently prepared to protect and advance the religious mission of hospitals and health care intuitions. In a series of talks delivered before FADICA earlier this year, religious leaders in the Catholic health care sector called for much greater investment in developing lay managers and board members to carry on the distinctive religious mission of Catholic health institutions. "Most of our managers today . . . have minimal education in Catholic ethical frameworks, charged Daughter of Charity Sister Carol Keehan DC, President of the Washington DC based Providence Hospital. "If you look at the amount of money we spend for the education and formation of young sisters, we are grossly under spending on our education and development of lay leadership, she added. Sr. Keehan and ten other health care leaders served as presenters during a national symposium sponsored by FADICA and entitled: Catholic Health Care Leadership in a New Era. The symposium brought together Catholic health care experts and foundation trustees to look into major transitions impacting church-sponsored health delivery. "Can lay people find the resources to sustain the heroic example of religious over generations? "asked Creighton University's Charles J. Dougherty. "I believe the only honest answer is that we do not know. " The proceedings contain presentations by physicians, religious superiors, scholars and health foundation directors. They outline new organizational models for Catholic health care and possible areas for collaboration among health care foundations. Panelists and speakers include: Georgetown University professor Carol Taylor CSFN, Fordham University Professor Msgr. Charles J. Fahey, Lorretto Health Systems Vice President Kathryn H. Ruscitto, Yale Medical Professor Thomas P. Duffy MD, Daughter of Charity Joan Kuester DC, and Sister of Charity Maryanna Coyle SC, among others. Proceedings may be purchased through this web site at $14.95 per copy. Return to List of News Releases | Back to Top |