Catholic Medical Quarterly Volume 66(4) November 2016
In this issue
In this issue we publish four short reports on the conference by young doctors and nurses who were at the conference. More of our young members were unable to come as they were with the Pope in Krakow at world youth day.
In his encyclical Amoris Laetitiae, and throughout this year of Mercy, Pope Francis has called us to be pastoral and merciful towards those who struggle. The Church too, has set out how she must be merciful to all who struggle and who have struggled with difficult marriages and families etc.
Finally
St Theresa of Calcutta's canonisation reminded us all of one great saint's
practical mercy.
The call to mercy and compassion rings especially loudly for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers. Part of the mercy and compassion must include the ability to inspire and draw people towards the wonderful vision of human life that the Church expresses so beautifully. The loving vision of Humane Vitae set out briefly above is but one of the things which we need to explain and inspire people with. The fundamental realities of what is right, wrong, permissible and not permissible do not change. Nor does the need to express and inspire that message both mercifully and compassionately. St Theresa of Calcutta uniquely embodied that caring compassion to which we all should aspire as health-care workers.
There is much to do. We must carry forward a great legacy from the Year of Mercy.