The need for another chiropractic association?

Today it is common and necessary to communicate through established networks. In the US there are over 60 million Catholics, 12.5 million in Canada representing 44% of the population, and worldwide over one billion.

There is estimated over 15,000 Catholic chiropractors in our profession, that had no public platform to which chiropractic could speak to the over 40,000 healthcare facilities sponsored by the Catholic Church concerning chiropractic care, to local or international Catholic Charities, or to other Catholic association of professionals.

Until this association there has not been a formal Church recognition of our profession concerning pastoral care, which was available to other healthcare providers. Since the first organizational meeting in 1997 this association has established a foundation to all members either passive or active autonomous participation. We then developed the first step  with our Church and will now receive pastoral care as  professionals from our Church.

Call to Holiness Through Service: Catholic Healthcare is Worldwide

The Catholic Church is one of the largest networked deliverers of healthcare. The Catholic Church is a worldwide delivery of healthcare and trendsetter in healthcare ethics. It has over 100,000 social service facilities, which includes 40,000 hospitals and clinics across the globe. In the US alone the institutional members of The Catholic Health Association-USA have over 55 systems directing over 1300 facilities, with 66 HMO's and affiliated managed care networks within an integrated delivery system.

It has well known universities and colleges, which rank among the highest in quality of education. Until now we have not had a platform from which to dialogue with these facilities to offer chiropractic care, or a place to share in the mission and ministry of our church. How can chiropractic become a part of the new trend in a community-based continuum of care model unless we understand the mission, which is also ours by faith?

A first! - A Chiropractic Presence in Catholic Healthcare

The CHA-USA has opened its membership to individuals in healthcare ministry. Dr. Shields-Wright was the first sponsored in 1998 because of her leadership in developing this new organization, and was the first chiropractor to be a member. All others are encouraged to join.

Cooperation with other Catholic professional associations

Today there are many Catholic professional 'associations of the faithful.' For example: accountants, lawyers, medical physicians, nurses, psychiatrists, pharmacists, and others. Until now there was none for chiropractors. As an 'association of the faithful', we will be able to network for mutual support.

A first! - The AFCC began a dialogue with the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations -FIAMC to develop a 'modality of cooperation' and is affiliated with them. Chiropractic was represented at their World Congress in September '98. In the US several chiropractors are already associate members of local guilds, but not of the international organization.  As of 2001 we are affiliates of FIAMC.

Pastoral Care

Established by Pope John Paul II the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care to Health Care Workers offers an invitation all healthcare workers. Through its conferences and scholarly journal it supplies information on the Church's directives and pastoral care. Chiropractors are healthcare workers who have not yet taken up this invitation. Never before have we, as one voice, spoken to the Church until now.

Within our own unique experience, we are a profession built upon diversity. Catholic chiropractors have a dual history in healthcare, from one of deep philosophical and traditional roots in chiropractic coupled with a unique meaningful history of a faith tradition in the area of healthcare, as a ministry. In the Year of the Jubilee the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers  supported chiropractors to this new role, which is our 'call to holiness' as the laity.

A first! -Dr. Shields-Wright attended, along with 300 international religious, political and health leaders, the Vatican's 12th International Conference on Church and Health in the World held in Rome, November '97. All Catholic chiropractors are invited to the future conferences. Please consider attending the yearly conference.

A first! - Ten DC's from 7 countries attend the Jubilee Celebration World Day of the Sick.

Campus Ministry

Until now there has not been, as there are in secular universities for students of healthcare, Catholic campus ministries open to chiropractic students. The AFCC has encouraged and supported student members and chaplains in the colleges.

Charity & Volunteerism

Chiropractors are known for their generous support of service. Many offer free care to the poor directly in their offices or provide service in interfaith sites. Since each diocese has a Catholic Charities office and 94% of all dioceses in the US have hospitals and clinics, we need to have a unified voice for us to share our gifts and tell our stories of our profession within the Church.  Join a committee.

As a profession-wide association we hope our members will dialogue with established Catholic organizations on the international level, such as Caritas or Medicus Mundi, who are Non Government Organizations of WHO. Also the Catholic Church has hundreds of established religious orders throughout the world and thousands of lay associations.

Resources for Members

Our main communication is this website. With 10% of the first world population on the Internet there could be over 7.5 million Catholics in the English speaking part of  North America with whom we could communicate. In addition to the basics, Links to and from other Catholic sites and  The Catholic Chiropractor Online Newsletter

Pastoral Care Issues

Links to many Catholic healthcare ministry and chiropractic sites are there to support the individual.

Ethical Models

Today more than ever we are led to question how do we come to understand ourselves as a fully integrated professionals within our faith. What are the healthcare directives related to chiropractic care?  Come help us explore

Research on Faith and Health

What is unique about today's emerging scientific and healthcare communities is the integration of faith and science. There is new research coming out of Harvard on Spirituality and Healing. The Templeton Foundation has given grants to medical schools to teach a holistic paradigm of the religio-psycho-socio-biological model of care. We need to partake of that research not only for our patients, but also for ourselves to become fully integrative. Come be a part.

Spirituality - Pilgrimages & Retreats

Help us sponsor them.

Organizational Structure

The foundational structure of the organization needs to grown in comprehensive way. Now we have an Executive Committee, Board of Advisors, need more Representative and Membership. The Constitution and Bylaws are grounded in a theological rationale from Church doctrine and Tradition, as well as an ideal of collaborative participation and autonomy rooted in the ethics of our profession.

The Initial Leadership and Advisors

Karen Shields Wright, MS, DC, founder and the first president  NYCC '80. May of '98 she completed her studies in spirituality taking theology, philosophy and ministry courses in the Graduate School of Religion at Fordham University, NYC which formed the basis for this organization..

P. Thomas Davis, MUP, DC, the first vice-president, was a clinical researcher at Northwestern College of Chiropractic, and contributor writer to the WHO text Occupational Health and Chiropractic and author of a text on technique. Joanne Santiago, BS, DC, treasurer, is a graduate and trustee of New York Chiropractic College. James Fox, DC, secretary, is a private practitioner and graduate of Life Chiropractic College. Please see our list of members for other board members.

The Advisory Board is a multi-discipline board consisting of ecclesial advisors, noted scholars, and professionals who will help guide the AFCC. The ecclesial advisors have been Edward Cardinal Egan, JCD, DD, Archbishop of New York, who served as the Pope's advisor and Msgr. Francis Wissell, DD, who is serving as our Chaplain. We also have a canon lawyer and will seek others.

Scholars associated with the AFCC are Rev. German Martinez, STD, a theologian from Spain, educated in Rome, and now a professor and noted author; Rev. Robert Roth, SJ, PhD, an American philosopher, and formerly dean of Fordham College and head of the Philosophy Department. Additional scholars include a pastoral counselor from India and a church historian. More will be added in the future.

Since the AFCC is a non-partisan group we have professional advisors who represent different areas in the chiropractic profession. We plan to work collaboratively with all established Chiropractic organizations since our membership will come from ever sector of the profession.

Year Long Research & Church Support

From 1997-1998 we diligently researching scholarly materials, meeting with Church officials, and dialoging with Catholic associations, chiropractic leaders, and practicing chiropractors. We are now a core of dedicated supporters and members. With the prayers and the support from our Church, we feel confident this new association will benefit the individual practitioner, as well as the profession at large.

Since January 1997 when the decision was made to form this association much has happened. April 1997 was the first organizational meeting, by May we were review by Bishop Egan and his canon lawyer, June the first introduction with the Church at the Vatican, July we introduced this project to the leaders of the profession, August was the first board meeting, and September State incorporation. The fall of '97 brought many new international and national contacts, publication of the first newsletter, the first student chapters, and networking for members who would volunteer for leadership positions, and the first phase of the membership drive.

Many other events have occurred and will continue. See our newsletters