CATHOLIC AGENCIES MAKE STATEMENT ON THE NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM

Recently the Bureau of Health and Hospitals of the National Catholic Welfare Conference, the National Conference of Catholic Charities and the Catholic Hospital Association issued a statement entitled "A Voluntary Approach to a National Health Program," under the auspices of the Most Reverend Karl J. Alter, Bishop of Toledo, Episcopal Chairman, Bureau of Health and Hospitals, Social Action Department of the National Catholic Welfare Conference, and Chairman of the Administrative Board of the Catholic Hospital Association of the United States and Canada. In his introduction to the statement, Bishop Alter points out that the agencies concerned "recognize the existence of social responsibility but at the same time they reject the concept of an exclusive state responsibility for the health and well-being of the American people." Bishop Alter says:

They reaffirm their conviction that a partnership between the state and voluntary associations provides the better solution and is more consistent with