Photo: Cavan Images/Getty Images
Hospitals and provider groups, including the American Hospital Association and America s Essential Hospitals, are requesting that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services distribute billions of dollars that remain in a $178 billion COVID-19 relief fund meant for providers.
In a letter sent to HHS on Monday, the groups lobbied Secretary Xavier Becerra to release about $24 billion that remain in the COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund, and to extend the date by which it must be used. At this point, hospitals and other providers have a deadline of June 30 to use the funds.
Rather than using that deadline, the groups suggest using the length of the public health emergency as the measuring stick, and imply that the work of treating COVID-19 patients is ongoing despite the increase in vaccinated adults.
Members of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate of Guadalupe tend to a COVID-19 patient in the sisters health service. (Courtesy of the International Union of Superiors General)
In the face of a global health pandemic that is worsening in some countries, it is up to the universal church and Catholic sisters to continue and intensify efforts to get people vaccinated, says a sister heading the health task force for the Vatican COVID-19 Commission.
During an April 27 webinar sponsored by the Rome-based International Union of Superiors General (UISG), Sr. Carol Keehan of the Daughters of Charity said the health task force believes those who daily serve people who live in poverty and who have their trust are the best hope for safe and fair distribution of vaccines as well as the best tool for convincing people of the safety and importance of taking the vaccines.
, is a weekly feature from GSR staff writers that rounds up news from or about women religious that you may otherwise have missed.
The April 20 conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd prompted numerous statements from U.S. religious communities and conferences, saying justice was served, but the conviction should lead to renewed efforts to combat systematic racism.
In their statements, all of the groups looked beyond the immediate verdict and toward the challenging task ahead.
An April 23 joint statement issued by the National Black Sisters Conference and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious said the two bodies are recommitting themselves to working for real and sustained systemic change in the struggle to end institutional racism in every aspect of our society.
Catholic leaders see Chauvin verdict as a call for more action thebostonpilot.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thebostonpilot.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Catholic leaders see Chauvin verdict as a call for more action Say Their Names cemetery in Minneapolis is seen April 20, 2021, the day jurors issued their verdict convicting former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. (CNS photo/Octavio Jones, Reuters)
By Carol Zimmermann • Catholic News Service • Posted April 21, 2021
WASHINGTON (CNS) Although Catholic leaders across the country called the April 20 jury verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial a moment of justice, they also stressed there is still a lot of work to do to move toward healing.
Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of Minneapolis and St. Paul called the verdict which found the former Minneapolis police officer guilty on all counts for his role in the death of George Floyd last spring “a sobering moment for our community.”