Basic information
- Name: Catholic Medical Association (CMA)
- Location: United States
- Description: Far-right Catholic medical group; opposes abortion, contraception, marriage equality, and gender-affirming care; known for anti-gay and anti-trans activities, endorsement of conversion practices, anti-LGBTQ expert witnesses, and involvement in anti-trans policy development
- Membership: Approximately 2,500 doctors and healthcare providers (per Dickerson declaration, 2021-11-04) and 154 local guilds and student chapters (list of guilds, list of student chapters)
- Website: cathmed.org
Leadership
Selected works
- The Linacre Quarterly (journal of the Catholic Medical Association)
- The Pulse of Catholic Medicine (magazine)
2000
2001
- May: “Homosexuality and Hope: The Statement of the Catholic Medical Association” in The Linacre Quarterly
2003
- April: Update to “Homosexuality and Hope”
- February 18: CMA files amicus brief in Lawrence v. Texas with Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA) and Texas Physicians Resource Council, supporting Texas’ statute criminalizing gay sex:
- “The issue under rational-basis review is not whether Texas should be concerned about opposite-sex sodomy, but whether it is reasonable to believe that same-sex sodomy is a distinct public health problem. It clearly is.”
2008
- Updated edition of “Homosexuality & Hope” (selection)
- Expanded selection from 2008 “Homosexuality & Hope”
- August: “A Catholic Guide to Ethical Clinical Research” by CMA and the National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC)
2013
- Spring: Spring 2013 newsletter
- “CMA member Richard Fitzgibbons, M.D. was quoted in a Free Republic article in January 2013, regarding educational and activist efforts to promote transgenderism and sex reassignment surgery for children. He points out the connection between Gender Identity Disorder and the development of same-sex attraction later in life. Dr. Fitzgibbons is a principal contributor to CMA’s study Homosexuality and Hope.”
2015
- August 19: CMA “Statement on Emergency Contraception in Cases of Rape” opposing any use of Plan B to prevent pregnancy after sexual assault:
- “To administer these contraceptives is to choose evil to achieve a good end. … So if conception does result from a rape, the truly compassionate response is to walk with the woman through the resultant pregnancy, supporting her in the physical and emotional challenges that she faces. In such a difficult situation, her traumatic circumstances may turn into a life-giving and healing experience if she is enfolded in love and care. Authentic health care is only health care if it adheres to these principles.“
2016
- July 13: Catholic Medical Association Opposes Pubertal Suppression in Minors for “Gender-Choosing” Purposes
- August 12: CMA cosigns comment against Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed sexual orientation and gender identity nondiscrimination rule (with United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, National Catholic Bioethics Center, Family Research Council, Thomas More Society, National Association of Evangelicals and others)
2017
- February 18: President of CMA cosigns letter to Archbishop of St. Louis, Robert J. Carlson, against gender-affirming care (with American College of Pediatricians, Christian Medical & Dental Associations, and American Association of Physicians and Surgeons)
- March 29: CMA and others join Religious Sisters of Mercy v. Azar (“Amended Verified Complaint for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief”, ECF no. 44) against section 1557 requirement to provide and cover abortion and gender-affirming care
- May: CMA’s president cosigns letter “ACPeds, AAPS, CMDA and CMA Support Minors’ Right to Therapy”
2019
- “The Holy Alliance”; chapter “Gender Dysphoria in Children” at pp. 43-47
- August 13: Cosigned comment with NCBC to Department of Health and Human Services against section 1557 nondiscrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity
2020
- February-March: “Uncovering Treatable Causes of Same-Sex Attraction and Childhood Gender Dysphoria” by Laura A. Haynes (member of CMA, CMDA and IFTCC)
- June 22: Catholic Medical Association Concerned After SCOTUS Redefines the Meaning of Sex as “Sexual Orientation” and “Gender Identity”
- “‘SCOTUS has re-defined sex as being the same as sexual orientation and gender identity. This is a lie and a dangerous one at that because doctors will increasingly be sued and forced to harm patients by cooperating with their mental illness,’ said CMA’s Dr. Michelle Cretella.”
2021
- August 26: Catholic Medical Association Joins Alliance Defending Freedom in Lawsuit Challenging Biden Transgender Mandate
- November 4: Declaration of CMA executive director Mario Dickerson (ECF no. 15-2) in American College of Pediatricians et al. v. Becerra et al.
- “69. The gender identity mandate requires CMA members to engage in various practices to which our members objection on medical and ethical grounds, including the following: … m. Saying in their professional opinions that these gender intervention procedures are the standard of care, are safe, are beneficial, are not experimental, or should otherwise be recommended;”
2022
- Undated: CMA launches the “outreach” Novus Medicus
- January 25: Comment to CMS against sexual orientation and gender identity nondiscrimination requirement for health insurance plans
- September 7: Comment to HHS against section 1557 SOGI nondiscrimination rule (with USCCB, NCBC, Catholic University of America and others)
- November 1: CMA Issues Joint Letter to AMA, AAP, CHA Regarding ‘Gender Affirming’ Medicine
- November 18: CMA is a plaintiff in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA (ECF no. 1) (with American College of Pediatricians, Christian Medical & Dental Associations, American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Coptic Medical Association of North America)
2023
- September 8: Position paper “The Ideology of Gender Harms Children”
- September 9: “CMA Releases Position Paper on Gender Ideology and Its Harm to Children” in CMA’s magazine The Pulse of Catholic Medicine
- September 9: Presentation by Patrick Hunter, “Update on Transgender Medicine” at CMA’s 92nd Annual Educational Conference
- September 18: “Understanding CMA’s Position Against Current Treatment for Children with Gender Dysphoria”
- October 3: “American College of Pediatricians Launches New Resource Website”
- “One of CMA’s closest collegial relationships is with the American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds).”
Significant local guilds and student chapters
- St. Louis Guild, St. Louis, Missouri
- Orlando Catholic Medical Association, Orlando, Florida
- St. Gianna Guild of North Central Florida, Gainesville, Florida
- Florida Catholic Medical Association
- CMA student guild at University of Central Florida College of Medicine
- Faculty advisors: Dr. Colleen Moran-Bano, Dr. Patrick Hunter
Orlando Diocese, “CMA students make a difference in NFP education and more” (2019-07-25):
While the world strives to go green, millions of women are still polluting their bodies with contraceptive chemicals. Catholic medical students at the University of Central Florida (UCF) hope to change that with education and awareness.
The Catholic Medical Association’s student chapter at UCF began with three medical students just three years ago. Kaitlyn Hite, Jais Emmanuel and Michael Mankbadi would gather to support each other in the faith. After participating in Mass at Nemours Children Hospital, a mutual friend connected them to the Catholic Medical Association Orlando Guild. Enter Dr. Peter Morrow, who was president that year. The introduction was a God moment. Morrow and friend, Dr. Patrick Hunter, had both been praying for the opportunity to establish a student guild at the university. In fact, the entire CMA Orlando guild was praying. About the same time, Dr. Colleen Moran-Banos, a professor at UCF medical school, also reached out to Morrow.
Notable members
- Michelle Cretella
- Paul Hruz
- Patrick Hunter
- Patrack Lappert
- Quentin Van Meter
- Joseph Zanga
Additional resources
- List of amicus briefs provided by CMA