Catholic Medical Association

North American medical organization

Catholic Medical AssociationAbbreviation| CMA

|

Formation| 1932; 93 years ago (1932)
Founded at| New York City, New York, US[1]
Legal status| 501(c)(3) organization[2]
Headquarters| Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, US[1]

Region

* United States
* Canada

Official language

| English

President

| Michael S. Parker[3]

Executive director

| Mario R. Dickerson[3]

Publication

| The Linacre Quarterly
Affiliations| Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine[4]
International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations[5]
Revenue| US$1.6 million[2] (2019)
Expenses| US$1.6 million[2] (2019)
Website| cathmed.org

Formerly called

| National Federation of Catholic Physicians Guilds

The Catholic Medical Association (CMA) is an organization of Catholic physicians, dentists, and health care professionals. This article refers to the organisation operating in the United States and Canada. As of 2004,[update] it had about 900 members.[6] Until 1997, it was known as the National Federation of Catholic Physicians Guilds.[1] The Catholic Medical Association is also the name of an older sister organisation based in the United Kingdom, and which has existed (under various names) since 1911.

## Description

[edit]

18th-century icon of Luke the Evangelist, patron saint of physicians

The organization studies and holds conferences on topics that relate to 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.[7] 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, 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. It eventually became the Catholic Medical Association. It publishes a journal of medical ethics, The Linacre Quarterly.[8]

The organization continues to comment on current policies of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.[9][10] The organization opposes euthanasia.[citation needed] The use of human cloning experiments is also opposed by the organization.[11][verification needed] The organization is a supporter of the "Rules of Conscience" in medical practice.[12][failed verification] The Catholic Medical Association also sponsors specific studies, for example, on the prevention of sexual abuse of children.[13] It takes the position that homosexuality is not "inborn" and is a condition that is both preventable and treatable.[14][15][16] They also oppose "gender ideology" and gender-affirming care, citing research from conservative and anti-trans groups such the American College of Pediatricians, Independent Women's Forum and the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine.[17]

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[18] On some legal and ethical issues, the organization cooperates with other Christian organizations such as the Christian Medical Association.[19] Along with the Christian Medical & Dental Associations, American College of Pediatricians, and American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Catholic Medical Association is represented in the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine.[4]

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.[20][21][22]

## See also

[edit]

* Christian Medical and Dental Associations
* Mass in the Catholic Church § White Mass

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "History". Catholic Medical Association. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
2. ^ a b c Schwencke, Ken; Tigas, Mike; Wei, Sisi; Glassford, Alec; Suozzo, Andrea; Roberts, Brandon (May 9, 2013). "Catholic Medical Association". Nonprofit Explorer. ProPublica. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
3. ^ a b "Board of Directors". Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: Catholic Medical Association. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
4. ^ a b Millea, Tim (August 28, 2023). "CMA Applauds Court of Appeals Opinion in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA". Catholic Medical Association. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
5. ^ Lynch, W. A.; Hayes, P. J. (2003). "Catholic Medical Association". New Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 3 (2nd ed.). Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale. p. 285\. ISBN 978-0-7876-4007-1. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
6. ^ Carey, Ann (October 12, 2004). "Catholic Medical Association Urges Sweeping Health Care Reforms". Catholic News Service. Washington: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Archived from the original on June 8, 2007. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
7. ^ "Catholic Medical Association Links Medicine and Spirituality". Catholic News Service. Washington: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. November 3, 2005. Archived from the original on February 5, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
8. ^ Interview in Priests for Life
9. ^ "Catholic Medical Association Faults HHS for 'Bad Logic,' 'Bad Medicine'". EWTN News. February 10, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
10. ^ "Catholic Medical Association Evaluates Health Care Reform Proposals". Catholic News Agency. EWTN. September 24, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
11. ^ Häyry, Matti (October 2003). "Philosophical Arguments for and Against Human Reproductive Cloning". Bioethics. 17 (5–6): 447–460\. doi:10.1111/1467-8519.00360. ISSN 1467-8519. PMID 14959708.5–6&rft.pages=447-460&rft.date=2003-10&rft.issn=1467-8519&rft_id=info:pmid/14959708&rft_id=info:doi/10.1111/1467-8519.00360&rft.aulast=Häyry&rft.aufirst=Matti&rft_id=https://philpapers.org/rec/HAYPAF&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Catholic+Medical+Association" class="Z3988">
12. ^ Godlee, Fiona (2009). "Rules of Conscience". The BMJ. 338 (7704): b1972. doi:10.1136/bmj.b1972. ISSN 1756-1833. JSTOR 25671550. S2CID 56524296.
13. ^ Finkelhor, David (September 2007). "Prevention of Sexual Abuse Through Educational Programs Directed Toward Children". Pediatrics. 120 (3): 640–645\. doi:10.1542/peds.2007-0754. PMID 17766537. S2CID 26431717.
14. ^ Keefe, J. (2003). "Homosexuality". New Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 7 (2nd ed.). Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale. p. 67\. ISBN 978-0-7876-4011-8.
15. ^ Homosexuality and Hope: Questions and Answers About Same-Sex Attraction (PDF). Catholic Medical Association.
16. ^ Same Sex Marriage (PDF). Catholic Medical Association. November 20, 2013. (Non-PDF landing page).
17. ^ "The Ideology of Gender Harms Children". Catholic Medical Association. September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
18. ^ "Doctors Establish Denver Affiliate of Catholic Medical Association". Catholic News Agency. EWTN. October 17, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
19. ^ O'Brien, Nancy Frazier (February 27, 2009). "Physicians Take Legal, Educational Steps to Defend Conscience Rights". Catholic News Service. Washington: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Archived from the original on August 22, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
20. ^ University of Maryland Archived 2009-02-21 at the Wayback Machine
21. ^ University of Wisconsin Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine
22. ^ "University of Texas". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* Yale LUX

Portals:

* Canada
* Catholicism
* Medicine
* United States