Feb 5, 2021 8:00am Catholic health systems around the U.S.—including giants like CommonSpirit and Ascension—made a pledge to fight racism and inequity. (Getty/sudok1) Catholic health systems around the U.S.—including giants like CommonSpirit and Ascension—committed to address systemic racism by taking concrete steps to reduce health disparities, it was announced Thursday. More than 20 health system members of the Catholic Health Association (CHA) joined the Confronting Racism by Achieving Health Equity commitment so far, officials said. Those health systems employ nearly half a million people across 46 states and the District of Columbia and care for almost 4 million patients annually, officials said.