Catholic doctors form guild; first White Mass celebrated in archdiocese

By John Gleason

Catholic medical professionals celebrated two firsts in the Denver Archdiocese last week.
On Oct. 15, the first official meeting of the Denver chapter of the Catholic Medical Association was held at the John Paul II Center in south Denver. Three days later, Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., celebrated the first White Mass ever held here.

The establishment of the local guild, which was announced by the archbishop during the Oct. 18 White Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, has been in the organizational stage for several months and is the result of many people’s work, according to Dr. Robert Domaleski, the newly elected president. 

“We’ve been having informal meetings since February,” the doctor told the Denver Catholic Register.  “In that time we’ve had discussions and lectures on many topics; everything from Catholic healthcare and how it could be impacted by the state Legislature to in-vitro fertilization.  But of course one of our main concerns of getting the charter was to provide support for Catholic health care providers.”

Domaleski said that in the secular medical workplace, the Catholic health care provider faces many challenges—embryonic stem cell research, sterilization and abortion are all hot button issues and Catholics need support to practice medicine in accordance with Church teaching.

The purpose of the Catholic Medical Association, explained Domaleski, is to uphold the principles of Catholic faith and morality and to understand, develop and apply Christ’s principles of faith and morality to modern medical science and practice.  Membership consists of physicians, dentists, nurses, medical students and other health care professionals as well as clergy, religious and seminarians.

“On a daily basis, many in our industry are faced with incidents that are sinful,” Domaleski said.  “This organization not only will help all Catholic health care providers’ spiritually, but at a practical level will help with knowledge of what their rights are as well.”

At the meeting, guest speaker Bishop Robert C. Morlino of the Diocese of Madison, Wis., addressed the overflow crowd on the topic, “Natural Law and Responsible Citizenship.”  Prior to his talk, Bishop Morlino told the Register that natural law tells us human life is sacred. He emphasized that health care professionals are in a position to proclaim the truth of the Gospel for their patients and others in their profession.

“People talk about many things to their physicians,” Bishop Morlino said.  “My doctor can instruct me in a way that no one else can.  Physicians heal not only with medical science and technology but with the truth; there is no mind/body split.  The mind of a patient needs truth just like a heart needs medication to keep blood pressure down.”

The White Mass was held on the feast of St. Luke, patron of physicians. Concelebrating with the archbishop were Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley, archdiocesan liaison to the Catholic medical community, and Father Steven Voss, chaplain of the local Catholic Medical Association, who also served as the homilist. 

Father Voss told the Register that physical and mental health go hand-in-hand.

“This dove-tails with what Bishop Morlino told the CMA meeting,” Father Voss said.  “It applies to not just doctors or nurses, but to anyone who works in the industry.  And for us, simply put, it’s important to support them in their ministry.”