Science Reinforcing Mission. How Can Our Communities Move Ahead After Ferguson?

During Jesus' healing ministry, he addressed the diseases of his day, particularly the conditions that ostracized people, such as demon possession, paralysis, hemorrhage and blindness. This healing ministry is much of our focus in Catholic health care, as it should be. But Jesus addressed the deeper stories that surrounded the people he healed. He challenged his listeners to recognize the role they played in creating their own narrative of disease and their communities' norms in responding to illness. He did not shy away from separating the afflicted person's illness from moral failings or character weakness. He was clear about calling out institutional practices that marginalized people. In short, Jesus called out injustice when he saw it, and his healing was tied up in these social statements.