Somehow I think if the following scenario were for real, the malefactor would be looking for another job, consequences come what may. Why is it that when it comes to the graver sin of abortion complicity becomes obscure and actions fade into mere words?
Catholic Hospital keeps psychologist, R. U. Comfortable, on staff, who, in his private practice, counsels patients with Christian moral hang-ups to look into Islam and keep a few concubines on the side.
“No, we would never tolerate him giving such advice while working in our psych unit, but it would be against federal law if we fired him for what he advocates in private,” said Father Justin Foraday from Happytown diocese’s Office of Perennial Catechesis.
A concerned Catholic had brought the problem to the attention of the local diocese, and when nothing happened, he posted a comment about it on the local paper’s opinion page. Further inquiries from a Catholic News site elicited a clearer response from Father Foraday:
“A canonical investigation into the relationship between a local psychiatrist and the Catholic Medical Center in Happytown was commissioned in 2008,” the statement informed. “The results of that investigation were that Catholic Medical Center is in full compliance with the ‘Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Services’ of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).”
“No medical personnel use Catholic Medical Center facilities for the purposes of promoting polygamy. Catholic Medical Center employs no medical personnel engaged in such propaganda,” the statement added.
However, the diocese said that medical professionals who “engage in such counseling in their private practice” have been known “to be credentialed and (to) have privileges to practice psychiatry” at the hospital “but never relative to immoral advice or related therapies.”
The diocese said that according to the USCCB’s Ethical and Religious Directives and according to U.S. anti-discrimination law, no hospital has control over a medical professional’s private practice.
“To sanction a medical professional over a matter of private practice outside the hospital would be regarded as discriminatory and could be prosecuted under the law,” the Diocese of Happytown commented, explaining that it is engaged in “ongoing conversation” about the reported extracurricular therapeutic idiosyncrasies of Doctor Comfortable.
In his opinion piece our “concerned Catholic” claimed that Doctor Comfortable had to have a private practice because he felt he wasn’t making enough at the Catholic hospital. Concerning the possible discrimination lawsuit “concerned Catholic” said: “Let him sue. It’s about time Catholic institutions stood up and took a hit for a good cause instead of getting sued for sexual abuse.”
Let’s hope that the Medical Center’s “ongoing conversation” within house produces an unapologetic pink slip. And let’s pray that Doctor Comfortable’s private practice shuts down for good.
