L'Osservatore Romano, the official newspaper of the Vatican, recently carried a brief story from New Delhi, India about a priest from Kerala who donated one of his kidneys to "a complete stranger." The "stranger" was in fact a Hindu man and father of two children. The only other option the man had was to pay a million rupees (about $21,000) to buy a kidney through illegal means. The priest, who has an administrative position in a health care agency, recognized how his giving of a part of his body for the sake of another person gave him the opportunity to share in the ministry of Jesus Christ, who gave his body for the sake of all.
As this country debates health insurance reform, this story is a reminder of just how some important aspects of our current health care system are still based upon the unselfish acts of strangers, such as signing up for organ and tissue donation. Without those unselfish acts, our system might quickly degenerate into one of severe rationing and the buying and selling of body parts for profit. Therefore, your registration as an organ and tissue donor helps maintain a level of justice in our current health care system.
If you haven't already done so, please consider becoming an organ and tissue donor. Locally, you can do this when you renew your driver's license, or you can register online at www.donatelifetoday.com. One further step you can take to help those with cancer by registering as a bone marrow donor. For more information on this, go to www.marrow.org.
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.
