Building bridges: collaboration in a time of crisis

Since health care is an integral component of the Church's mission, the whole Church should be involved in health care ministry. In the past, Catholic facilities flourished while operating basically on their own, but now competition and limited resources threaten their commitment to mission and service. To ensure that Catholic health facilities survive this crisis, the Church must tap its creative potential and pool its human resources. Collaboration among all members of the Church, rather than competition, is essential. Many facilities have already united into new systems and formed joint ventures. Religious, laity, and bishops play important roles in this collaboration. Sponsoring religious institutes provide long-term direction for Catholic institutions and ensure their mission effectiveness. Each institute has its own charism, but these charisms share common elements that provide the basis for institutes' working together. Laypersons must continue to assume positions of leadership in administration and governance, and lay-religious collaboration is necessary to integrate the business and mission aspects of health care. Bishops must foster apostolic works, exercise moral leadership by facilitating the provision of high-quality health care, and provide information on community needs. The report of the CHA Task Force on Health Care of the Poor offers a realistic plan of action that includes greater cooperation among health care providers, Church agencies, and government. Creative solutions are feasible. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, for example, Catholic facilities have formed joint ventures and have worked with parishes to serve the poor. The task is enormous, but we have the collective strength to see Catholic health care through this time of change.