I Think therefore, you are not

On July 23rd, 2021 Medical Student Austin Clark filed a lawsuit against President Neeli Bendapudi of the University of Louisville School of Medicine as well as 13 others in connection to the medical program. LifeNews gives an account of Mr. Clark’s reasoning for the legal filing, but more over what does this say of the current culture in our city and our expectations of how we would like our health professionals to be trained to care for the citizens of our community?

When you take the time to read through this article you will see how entrenched the culture of Death has become in educating our medical professionals. It has now become expected that students be trained in abortion techniques. Simply stated they are being trained how to kill people. At their “white coat” ceremony our future health providers pledge the Declaration of Geneva.¹   Their training and education is quite the contradiction, since they pledge respect for human life. Clearly, they are being taught a different definition of “respect” than what we as Pro-life Catholics use. That is why at the very inception of the Roe v. Wade argument it was so important for abortion activists to change the culture’s definition of life. How is it that we have allowed that to happen here in Louisville?

As Catholics in a supposedly Catholic dominated community you have to ask yourself are there or have there ever been any Pro-life Catholics in the medical school at the University of Louisville? Teachers? Students?  How is it that such a twisted version of health care can become just another elective or required course without any public objection?

Maybe it started years if not decades ago when there began a constant downplaying of abortion in Catholic circles. A constant criticizing of anyone making abortion a single issue.  A shaming of anyone who thought innocent life took precedence over the poor. Perhaps one day they will begin teaching students to have the same “respect” for the poor? Perhaps the same people concerned for choice will question just what kind of life do the poor really have? They might decide it would be more “respectful” to all to remove this burden to society. Quickly. Painlessly.

Have we come to live in a community where one has to add the adjective Pro-life as an identifier to describe just what type of Catholic we really are?!  How enlightening.

Now those filled with toxic-positivity, you know the ones who avoid conflict, will immediately say, “Church Teaching is clear and all Catholics know that abortion is wrong. Why, just yesterday Pope Francis said it was murder, so how can you be so gloom and doom?”.  All may know but not all believe or practice, a certain couple of political figures come to mind. But what is worse than what is being taught at this University is what is being failed to be taught and lived in the Catholic homes, schools and Churches of this city. And for that matter throughout the world.

1. AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:

I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE to dedicate my life to the service of humanity;

THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF MY PATIENT will be my first consideration;

I WILL RESPECT the autonomy and dignity of my patient;

I WILL MAINTAIN the utmost respect for human life;

I WILL NOT PERMIT considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;

I WILL RESPECT the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;

I WILL PRACTISE my profession with conscience and dignity and in accordance with good medical practice;

I WILL FOSTER the honour and noble traditions of the medical profession;

I WILL GIVE to my teachers, colleagues, and students the respect and gratitude that is their due;

I WILL SHARE my medical knowledge for the benefit of the patient and the advancement of healthcare;

I WILL ATTEND TO my own health, well-being, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard;

I WILL NOT USE my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;

I MAKE THESE PROMISES solemnly, freely, and upon my honour.