I am delighted to welcome you to this Symposium, Catholic Health Care, Creating a Vision and Plan for the New Millennium. By your participation you are accepting responsibility for defining improved models for delivering authentic Catholic health care. I salute and thank you!
The successes to be realized as a result of this Symposium are due to the support of the following:

• The distinguished Symposium Steering Committee,
• The Catholic Medical Association,
• The One More Soul Trustees, Staff, and Benefactors, and
• The Holy Spirit.

I accept responsibility for whatever is inadequate.
The impetus for this Symposium comes from the observation that many health care providing physicians and institutions bearing the 'Catholic' label have not been 'all that they could be.' Of course, none of us are. It is my dream to see that no Catholic doctors and hospitals prescribe or dispense contraceptives, and none perform or facilitate sterilizations.
The Catholic Church and Catholic individuals and institutions have much to offer that will define that higher health care standard that is consistent with a Culture of Life. It is the ambitious goal of this Symposium to pull together those gems of wisdom from Catholic teaching and experience, and demonstrate how Catholic teaching and superior health care are absolutely consistent.
I know you join me in praying that God will bless each of us and our efforts.
Sincerely,