Theologians in Catholic Healthcare Ministries: Breaking Beyond the Bond with Ethics

Abstract

Catholic health care in the US relies upon and benefits from the contributions of theology. Historically, ethics served as the default locus where theology and medicine intersected in Catholic healthcare ministries (CHMs). The first part of this essay reviews historical markers indicating how theologians aligned with ethics in their service to CHMs in the US. The second part of the essay spotlights areas beyond ethics where CHMs need theological expertise. I argue that theologians in CHM must move beyond the historical paradigm of problem-analysis-answer created by its pairing with ethics. Rather, the role of the theologian serves as a bearer of the broader Catholic tradition across multiple areas of a healthcare ministry.