Catholic Charities USA Code of Ethics: CEO/Management Team

Responsibilities

Presenters: Ed Orzechowski and Sr. Mary Louise Wessell

Code of Conduct for the Webinar/Conference Call

1. Please place your phone on Mute2. Do not place this session on Hold3. To make a comment or raise a question,

please use your hand held receiver/do not use speaker phone.

CEO/Management Team

The CEO / Executive Team / All Managers have crucial roles in promoting the ethical climate at Catholic Charities agencies.

The third standard in the Code calls our attention to the leadership role of management as exemplary moral agents.

In this presentation, we will highlight our own approach to teaching ethics at Catholic Charities of Washington as well as key ethical issues we all face in provision of services at Catholic Charities across the United States.

Questions

A few questions for reflection:

1. How do you view yourself as a “moral agent?” 2. Can you recall situations in your agency where a staff member may have experienced “moral distress?” 3. How can agency leaders promote recognition of “common morality” at the same time that they promote clarity on the part of all staff regarding Catholic Charities’ mission, it’s foundations in scripture and tradition, and specific ethical standards for service provision in the revised Code of Ethics? 4. What guidance does the revised Catholic Charities USA Code of Ethics provide for us in these times of decreasing revenue and looming budget cuts?

Introduction

Moral AgencyThe capacity to act under the guidance of concepts of right and wrong. There must be alternatives to choose from. We must know that alternatives exist, and

what they are.  (Moral knowledge) The freedom to make choices. 

(Moral judgment)

Moral Agency in the context of law, values, principles and codes of conduct. Church teachings. Common Good and Rights of the

Individual. Code of Ethics. Natural law.  Civil law.

Jesus’s use of Moral Agency Instructive example for us all. Principle that guided His choices:

“He that sent me is with me; the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please Him”

Clear committed direction. Never waivered.

“The Catholic Charities USA Code is based on a fundamental ethical assumption that each member organization is a moral agent. . . . . . .”

Catholic Charities USA Code of Ethics, revised 2007

                                                                                   

Components of Moral Agency

a. Moral Sensibilityb. Moral Responsivenessc. Moral Characterd. Moral Valuinge. Moral Reasoningf. Moral Discernmentg. Moral Accountabilityh. Moral Advocacy and Leadership

Ethical Decision Making Worksheet

Adapted from Sr. Ann Patrick Conrad DSW. and Sr. Mary Vincentia Joseph, DSW.

Step 1:Identify the Setting, Situation and Dilemma

Identify the Setting, Situation in which the ethical dilemma is embedded.

Clearly identify the conflict/dilemma in ethical terms; that is, in terms of the conflict of values, rights, or responsibilities in question (i.e. the rights of the individual vs. the rights of the organization?

Step 2: Describe facts and identify the issues/s.

What are the FACTS of the situation?

What ethical issues are present?

Step 3: Make a Value Judgment

What personal and professional values are involved?

Rank order the values in terms of their importance to the issue.

What personal values, biases, or preferences do you have in the situation that may interfere with or influence your making a well thought-out choice?

Step 4: Generate Options

List your possible options for action

What are the possible consequences of each option? Be Logical!

Step 5: Take and defend a position.

State your ethical position

Justify your position-the reasoning through which you arrived at your ethical decision/with justification from moral theology, tradition, Catholic Social Teaching, philosophical ethics, Catholic Charities USA Code of Ethics, professional codes, etc.

Common Morality is that set of norms that all morally serious persons share.  It includes:

Standards of action such as “Rescue persons in danger”, “Tell the truth”, “ Keep your promises”

Moral character traits (virtues) such as  integrity,  trustworthiness,

kindness, gratitude Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, September 2003

                                                                         Moral Distress

This occurs when a person believes the ethically appropriate course of action cannot be implemented because of institutional obstacles or conflict with others about values.

A few questions for reflection:

1. How do you view yourself as a “moral agent?” 2. Can you recall situations in your agency where a staff member may have experienced “moral distress?” 3. How can agency leaders promote recognition of “common morality” at the same time that they promote clarity on the part of all staff regarding Catholic Charities’ mission, it’s foundations in scripture and tradition, and specific ethical standards for service provision in the revised Code of Ethics? 4. What guidance does the revised Catholic Charities USA Code of Ethics provide for us in these times of decreasing revenue and looming budget cuts?

Conclusion

Building a culture of Moral Agency

Create awareness….Clarify responsibility

Transparency Objectivity Consciousness of our own filters

Thank you for your Participation!

Save the Dates for Future Webinars related to the Code of Ethics, held from 3-4pm Eastern Standard Time:

May 19thMay 19th --- Staff/Volunteers/Agency Relationships (Facilitator: Dr. Ken Flanagan)

August 20thAugust 20th --- Social Responsibility (Facilitator: Fr. Ragan Schriver)

For more information, please contact Bob Colbert at 703-236-6203.

CEU Credit

Participants can obtain CEU credit for their participation in the Code Webinar Series.

For more information, contact Bob Colbert at rcolbert@catholiccharitiesusa.org

Credit through --- The Catholic University of America’s National Catholic School of Social WorkFee: $15 per participant