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The Catholic Medical Association (CMA) is an organization of
The organization studies and holds conferences on topics that relate spirituality and health. For instance, the theme of the 74th annual meeting in 2005 was "The Biological and Spiritual Development of the Child", and was attended by physicians from 43 US states and Canada, as well as a number of theologians. Another example of the interleaving of religion and medicine that permeates the organization was the 2008 White Mass for healthcare professionals, held on the feast of
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
physician
A physician (American English), medical practitioner ( Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through t ...
s, dentist
A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a health care professional who specializes in dentistry (the diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity and other aspects of the craniofacial comp ...
s, and health care professional
A health professional, healthcare professional, or healthcare worker (sometimes abbreviated HCW) is a provider of health care treatment and advice based on formal training and experience. The field includes those who work as a nurse, physician (suc ...
s in the United States and Canada. it had about 900 members. Until 1997, it was known as the National Federation of Catholic Physicians Guilds.
Description
The organization studies and holds conferences on topics that relate spirituality and health. For instance, the theme of the 74th annual meeting in 2005 was "The Biological and Spiritual Development of the Child", and was attended by physicians from 43 US states and Canada, as well as a number of theologians. Another example of the interleaving of religion and medicine that permeates the organization was the 2008 White Mass for healthcare professionals, held on the feast of Saint Luke
Luke the Evangelist (Latin: '' Lucas''; grc, Λουκᾶς, '' Loukâs''; he, לוקאס, ''Lūqās''; arc, /ܠܘܩܐ לוקא, ''Lūqā’; Ge'ez: ሉቃስ'') is one of the Four Evangelists—the four traditionally ascribed authors of t ...
, the patron saint of physicians.
The organization started around 1932 as local guilds of physicians meeting in various dioceses and then became the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations, based in Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (Romulus and Remus, legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
...
. It eventually became the Catholic Medical Association. It publishes a journal of medical ethics, '' The Linacre Quarterly''.
The organization continues to comment on current policies of the United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the U.S. federal government created to protect the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is ...
. The organization opposes euthanasia
Euthanasia (from el, εὐθανασία 'good death': εὖ, ''eu'' 'well, good' + θάνατος, ''thanatos'' 'death') is the practice of intentionally ending life to eliminate pain and suffering.
Different countries have different eutha ...
. The use of human cloning experiments is also opposed by the organization. The organization is a supporter of the "Rules of Conscience" in medical practice. It takes the position that homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions" to peop ...
is not "inborn" and is a condition that is both preventable and treatable. The Catholic Medical Association also sponsors specific studies, for example, on the prevention of sexual abuse of children.
The organization has affiliates in various parts of the United States and is recognized and its policies are supported by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) and United States Catholic Conference (US ...
On some legal and ethical issues, the organization cooperates with other Christian organizations such as the Christian Medical Association.
The Catholic Medical Students Association is an association of medical students in the United States, operating in conjunction with the Catholic Medical Association and has some regional branches.
See also
* Christian Medical and Dental Associations *References
External links
* {{Portal bar, Canada, Catholicism, Medicine, United States Anti-abortion organizations in Canada Anti-abortion organizations in the United States Catholic Church in Canada Catholic Church in the United States Catholic lay organisations Medical and health organizations based in Pennsylvania Medical associations based in the United States Organizations established in 1932