Curing and Healing: Vital Elements of Catholic Health Care
by Eric Manuel Torres
In this research, the significance of curing and healing will be explored with an emphasis on how both are vital to Catholic health care. This essay aims to show that only by embracing both components can health care professionals truly care for the whole person. Moreover, Christian health care professionals ought to follow Christ’s example in order to serve in His mission of caring holistically for those that are ill. As Luke’s account of the Haemorrhoissa (Lk 8:42-48) not only provides a vignette distinguishing between curing and healing, but also an excellent example of how Christ attended to both elements, this essay will interpret this story in order to gain insight into the indispensability of both to whole person Catholic health care. Further, examples extracted from palliative care, an area of health care where curing and healing can be clearly distinguished, will be used to illustrate these elements in practical terms.
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TESTIMONIALS
“In Eric Manuel Torres’ book, Curing and Healing, there is a good discussion of this difference which, on the whole, turns on the difference between curing an ailment and healing the whole person, a difference very ably illustrated at the end of the book. Thus, implicitly, there is a growing possibility that genuine Catholic Healthcare offers a uniquely, ethically sound approach to many of life’s difficult health crises. Furthermore, the encompassing vision of the person which inspires and informs the vocation of Catholic Healthcare, draws as it does on ancient and modern wisdom, whether of Christ or His Church, philosophy and medicine, and so is ever ready to explore and to answer the question of meaning and, if necessary, the need for reconciliation before death. As Torres himself says so well: ‘finding meaning in illness is as core to healing as the skeletal system is to our bodies’ (p. 20).” – Francis Etheredge, Catholic married layman, father of 11, 3 of whom are in heaven and an author of 17 books on Amazon: https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/francisetheredge/.
“This book demonstrates a highly developed understanding of the identity and mission of Catholic Healthcare.” – Dr. Frances Baker, RSM, STD, Senior Lecturer in Moral Theology and Systematic Theology at Catholic Theological College/University of Divinity (Australia)
“Torres has written a readable and cogently argued research essay. His conclusion that “healing…is multidimensional, and may include the physical yet not always” is sound. So is his general understanding of Catholic theology, especially of implications of the Incarnation, as applied to health care delivery.” – Rev. Dr. Bernard Teo, C.Ss.R., STD., Lecturer in Moral Theology at Yarra Theological Union/University of Divinity (Australia) and Te Kupenga – Catholic Theological College (New Zealand)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eric Manuel Torres is a Catholic moral theologian and bioethicist with a background in health care. Based in Melbourne, Australia, he has recently completed a doctorate (PhD) from Catholic Theological College/University of Divinity. He holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences and a Master of Orthoptics from La Trobe University, a Master of Nursing Science from the University of Melbourne, a Graduate Diploma of Theology and a Master of Theological Studies from Catholic Theological College/University of Divinity, and a Graduate Certificate of Specialist Inclusive Education from Deakin University. He also holds a Certificate III in Business Administration. Moreover, Dr. Torres has published a number of articles appearing in several scholarly publications including Homiletic and Pastoral Review and the Journal of Religion and Health.OTHER CATHOLIC PRACTICAL THEOLOGY BOOKS
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