The Economy of Life and the Catholic Identity of Catholic Hospitals in an Age of Secularization*
First of all, I express my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Richard Klapchar and his daughter, Dr. Kimberly Klapchar, for the invitation to address critical questions regarding the ethos or moral norm that directs our care of human life, especially through the practice of medicine. I compliment most highly the organizers of this evening’s conference which has an international inspiration, thanks to the friendship of Dr. Klapchar with Mr. Giovanni Battista Bellomo, a highly talented student of law and jurisprudence at the Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. The competence and commitment of young adults like Dr. Kimberly Klapchar and Giovanni Battista Bellomo is a great source of hope for the full restoration of the respect for human life in our culture. I salute the many pro-life leaders and workers who are present. I commend you and assure you of my unfailing solidarity with you. Let us all take courage from the truth that, in the end, life will be victorious. I want to address the fundamental ethos that informs sound health care in terms of economy in the original sense of the term, namely, the best use of our goods in service of those who have grown weak because of advanced years or special needs or serious illness. To make my reflection concrete, I address the question in terms of the Catholic identity of Catholic healthcare institutions which, in principal, should exemplify the ethos informing a sound care of the infirm.