Bioethics, Health Care, and Catholic Teaching
An Educational Formation Program for Health Care Professionals, Catechists, Educators, and Clergy
Seminars
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Dates of the Seminars
Seminar I: Building an Ethical Foundation
September 25-26, 2009
Seminar II: Human Sexuality & the Beginning of Life
November 6-7, 2009
Seminar III: Life, Death, & Social Concerns
February 5-6, 2010
Seminar IV: Bioethics & the Magisterium of the Catholic Church
April 9-10, 2010
Times for Each Seminar
Friday 7:00PM - 9:00PM
Saturday 8:30AM - 4:30PM
* Seminar IV will end on Saturday at 2:00PM
Where do the seminars take place?
All seminars will take place in the Education Center Bldg. on the 5th Floor Center for Children & Families
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital
333 N. Santa Rosa Street
San Antonio, Texas 78207
Seminar I: Building an Ethical Foundation
September 25-26, 2009
Welcoming and Introduction to Converging Roads
Director of Converging Roads
Director of the San Antonio Institute for Catholic Culture
Friday, 7:00PM
Mr. Don Beeler, FACHE
President/CEO, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Care
Mr. Don Beeler will provide an introduction and overview of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Care.
“Bioethics, Health Care, and Catholic Teaching”
Distinguished Speaker Presentation
By Most Reverend José H. Gomez, S.T.D. Archbishop of San Antonio, Texas
Friday, 7:30PM – 8:00PM
Archbishop Gomez 's presentation will highlight the intersection of bioethics, health care, and Catholic teaching in a way that is applicable to health care professionals, catechists, educators, and clergy.
“How do We Make Ethical Decisions? An Introduction to Philosophical Ethics”
Presented by Rev. Arnold Ibarra, Ph.D.
Friday, 8:15PM – 9:00PM
Saturday, 8:30AM – 10:45AM
Instruction on philosophical ethics will cover an analysis of human acts and will, as well as principles of decision-making, such as double effect, cooperation in evil, and informed consent. It will also consider the dignity of the human person and the sacredness of human life. The presentation will end its discussion on notions of justice, natural law, and positive law and the difference between philosophical ethics and moral theology.
“Conscience in Health Care: Working Together to Protect Our Rights and Build the Catholic Health Care Ministry”
Distinguished Speaker Presentation
By Dr. John F. Brehany, Ph.D., S.T.L.
Executive Director and Ethicist, Catholic Medical Association
Saturday, 11:15AM – 12:00PM
Dr. John Brehany is an Ethicist and Executive Director for the Catholic Medical Association in the United States and Canada. He will speak about the mission of the Catholic Medical Association and look to the future of health care in the United States, paying special attention to recent legislative developments regarding conscience rights for health care workers.
“Making Sense of General Bioethics”
Presented by Rev. Jaime E. Robledo, S.T.L.
Saturday, 1:00PM – 4:30PM
Instruction on general bioethics will discuss notions of bioethics and historical developments of the discipline. It will include the epistemological status of bioethics, models of bioethics, and bioethics from the perspective of ontological personalism.
SEMINAR II - Human Sexuality & the Beginning of Life
November 6-7, 2009
Selected Topics in Bioethics and Related Health Care Issues
What is the Pastoral Problem we are Encountering with Human Sexuality?”
Distinguished Speaker Presentation
By Dr. Martha Marie Garza, M.D.
Friday, 7:05PM – 7:35PM
Dr. Martha Garza will present on the pastoral problem regarding human sexuality in the United States. What are the issues that we are currently facing in our society and culture? What issues can we expect to see in the near future?
“The Institute of Marriage: The Goods of Marriage and Humanae Vitae”
Presented by Mr. Arland K. Nichols, M.Div.
Friday, 7:40PM – 8:20PM
“The Marital Relationship: Relationship of Love and Responsibility”
Presented by Mr. Christopher J. Stravitsch, M.A., LMFT-A
Friday, 8:25PM – 9:00PM
White Mass
Presided over by Archbishop José H. Gomez, S.T.D.
Saturday, 8:30AM
Location: San Fernando Cathedral
“Contraception and Sterilization as Anti-Love and Anti-Life”
Presented by Mr. Arland K. Nichols, M.Div.
Saturday, 10:15AM – 11:00AM
“Artificial Reproductive Technologies: A Silent and Clean Holocaust?”
Presented by Mr. Arland K. Nichols, M.Div.
Saturday, 11:00AM – 12:00PM
“A Clinicians Look at Prenatal Diagnosis”
Presented by Dr. Bill Mueller, M.D.
Saturday, 1:00 – 1:45PM
“Stem Cells and the Prospects of Regenerative Medicine”
Presented by Mr. Arland K. Nichols, M.Div.
Saturday, 1:45PM – 2:45PM
“Merging the Professional with the Ethical”
Distinguished Speaker Presentation
By Dr. Martha M. Garza, M.D.
Saturday, 3:00PM – 4:30PM
Dr. Martha Garza, M.D., who has a private practice in gynecologic endicrinology, infertility, and obstetrics/gynecology, will use case examples to explain how bioethical issues can be addressed in a professional setting. She will also share her experience of developing a private practice that honors the teachings of the Catholic faith.
SEMINAR III - Life, Death, & Social Concerns
February 5-6, 2010
Selected Topics in Bioethics and Related Health Care Issues
“The Ethical Challenges of Genomic and Genetic Research”
Distinguished Speaker Presentation
By Rev. Kevin T. FitzGerald, S.J., Ph.D., Ph.D.
Friday, 7:00PM – 9:00PM
Kevin T. FitzGerald, S.J., Ph.D., is the Dr. David Lauler Chair in Catholic Health Care Ethics at Georgetown University. A Catholic priest he received a Ph.D. in molecular genetics and a Ph.D. in bioethics from Georgetown University. Fr. FitzGerald will speak about the Human Genome Project, its discovery in itself, and present an overview of the latest genetic research. He will then discuss the ethical implications of genetic research and genetic medicine.
“Medical Interventions across the Lifespan”
Distinguished Speaker Presentation
By Rev. John A. Leies, S.M., S.T.D. - President Emeritus of St. Mary’s University
Saturday, 8:30AM – 10:00AM
Fr. John A. Leies is a Consultant for the National Catholic Bioethics Center, has been an advisor to other legal and ethical associations, and writes and lectures in the area of medico-moral problems. He has been invited to attend the biennial Catholic Bishops’ Workshop on Bioethics for the past 20 years. In his presentation, Fr. Leies will discuss bioethical issues related to medical interventions across the lifespan, including modification of the human body, sexual reassignment, organ transplantation, and experimentation and research on human subjects.
“True Compassion and Care at the End of Life”
Presented by Mr. Arland K. Nichols , M.Div.
Saturday, 10:30AM – 12:00PM
Saturday, 1:00PM – 2:30PM
Bioethical issues relevant to the end of life will be addressed. Topics include ordinary vs. extraordinary medical care, physician assisted suicide, euthanasia, the “Do not resuscitate” order, Advance Medical Directive and Durable Power of Attorney, and hospice.
“How can we Respond to Contemporary Social Concerns?”
Distinguished Speaker Presentation
By Mr. Andy Rivas, J.D. - Executive Director of the Texas Catholic Conference
Saturday, 3:00PM – 4:30PM
Andy Rivas, J.D., will explain the situation of health care in the United States today and then offer a bioethical analysis of that situation. In the second part of his presentation he will share statistics related to HIV/AIDS, drugs, the environment, etc. and then discuss our responsibility and the role of education in contributing to the solution.
SEMINAR IV - Bioethics and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church
April 9-10, 2010
“Christ as Physician, Bioethics, and the Magisterium”
Presented by Rev. Jaime E. Robledo, S.T.L.
Friday, 7:00PM – 9:00PM
Saturday, 8:30AM – 10:00AM
These presentations will begin by exploring Christ’s healing role as a physician and examining how He deals with issues that arise. It will then synthesize the other seminars by closely examining Magisterial documents, in English and Spanish, that are related to bioethics and what the documents state about each bioethical issue. It will include papal documents as well as those from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Pontifical Academy for Life, and the Pontifical Council for the Family. This segment will highlight the role of prayer in the life of ethics consultants as well as the implementation of Magisterial teaching at the pastoral level.
Research Presentations
Facilitated by Converging Roads Faculty
Saturday, 10:30AM – 12:00PM
Throughout the course of these seminars participants will have the opportunity to research in greater depth a bioethical issue of their choice. The participants who choose to do this will work more closely with one of the instructors who will offer guidance for resources and for synthesizing their thoughts. During Seminar IV an opportunity will be given for some of the participants to present their research to the others. These presentations will enhance the learning experience by offering thought-provoking presentations that intertwine case studies, medical interventions, and complex bioethical situations.
Panel Discussions
With Instructors and Distinguished Guests
Saturday, 12:00PM
Seminar IV will conclude the program with panel discussions during a nice lunch that will include most of the seminar instructors as well as other medical and ministerial professionals. In addition to addressing questions from the participants, the panelists would also like to explore some key questions: How can we communicate bioethical issues within varied cultural realities? What is the relationship between bioethics and the political and judicial systems? How might clergy and lay professionals educate others in bioethical issues? What is the future role of bioethics in the local community, the United States, and internationally?
Closing Remarks
Converging Roads Committee
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Blessing to Send Us Forth
Saturday, 2:00PM
* All times are subject to minor changes without notice