Catholic Medical Quarterly Volume 74(3) Aug 2024
From the CMA
Monthly Newsletter - May 2024
Dear CMA Member,
I hope you are having a fruitful Easter Season as
we now look to the Ascension and Pentecost.
We have a number of
notifications and upcoming activities:
1. CMA Annual Retreat at Worth Abbey Friday May 31st to
Sunday June 2nd
Canon John O'Leary, rector of Allen Hall
seminary and our chaplain will lead the retreat along with Fr Michael
Jarmulowicz who was formerly a consultant histopathologist and is a past
president of the CMA.
2. Conference for Healthcare Students and Young Professionals,
November 9th, London
We have assembled a host of inspirational
speak- ers for the day which will cover a range of topics from pro-life
activity to spiritual considerations related to the vocation to
healthcare. Please do attend if you're in the 18-40-ish age group - this
will be a great opportunity to meet and network with other Catholic
healthcare students and professionals. Details will be circulated early in
the summer.
3. Help and Advice for Healthcare Students and Professionals
We will soon be setting up a point of contact on the CMA website where
members can confidentially access help and advice on ethical and spiritual
matters. Details will be circulated once set-up is complete.
4. Proposed Short Course on Healthcare Ethics at St
Mary's University,Twickenham
We continue to have discussions
with the academic staff at St Mary's who are currently developing a short
course in healthcare ethics which should appeal to students, nurses,
doctors and other professionals. It will consist of twelve sessions and
cover the basic theology, philosophy and law relevant to the ethical
challenges which inevitably arise in healthcare today. There will also be
input from clinicians who can share their insight regarding practical
approaches to ethical dilemmas.
It is hoped that the course will be up and running in 2025. We will update members on how things progress and final details as they become available.
5. Pastoral Message on Assisted Suicide - Archbishop John
Wilson of Southwark
Archbishop Wilson issued a very helpful
state- ment concerning assisted suicide in March. We have published it in
this journal.
CMA members are encouraged to write to their MPs on
matters related to the sanctity of human life especially in view of the
current moves to- wards legalisation of assisted dying and decrimi-
nalisation of abortion.
6. Pastoral Reflection on Gender by the Bishops of
England & Wales "Intricately Woven by the Lord"
This is a very
useful statement by the Bishops (especially for those working in
healthcare). Visit
https://www.cbcew.org.uk/pastoral-reflection-intricately-woven-by-the-lord/
to view in full
God bless
Dr Mike Delany President CMA
UK