About

“We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life.”

- POPE FRANCIS

Racism within any context is an affront to the core values of Catholic social teaching, which acknowledges the inherent dignity of each person, calls for the furthering of the common good and seeks justice through solidarity. Catholic health care recognizes the profound effect racism has on the health and well-being of individuals and communities and is committed to addressing the systemic causes of health disparities among underserved and vulnerable populations. As such, we are committed to working with partners who share these convictions to implement wide-sweeping change and eliminate the racial inequities in our marginalized communities.

Achieving health equity requires us to listen meaningfully and engage effectively by involving in the decision-making process those most affected by health care challenges, disparities and inequities in order to develop and implement systemic changes. As health leaders in communities across the country we are in a unique position to bring about the change that justice demands. We must be actively anti-racist, lead through accountability, develop authentic community engagement built on trust and demonstrate measurable impact in the communities we are called to serve.

We Commit to Immediate Action to Achieve COVID-19 Health
Equity By:

• Engaging our communities of color and community leaders to identify and address community health needs and disparities where the impact of COVID-19 is most devastating;
  
• Ensuring that testing for COVID-19 is available and accessible in minority communities;
  
• Providing health care in our local communities for vulnerable populations experiencing racial/ethnic, gender or socioeconomic related health disparities. We will leverage all resources including telehealth capabilities to provide access and available care;
  
• Ensuring that new treatments are distributed and used equitably as they become available; and
  
• Prioritizing proven and effective vaccinations for those individuals and families at higher risk — elder populations and communities of color, including Native American communities.