Doctors Without Borders Analysis

Good morning council members of Mary Mother of God Parish, Miss Mattiaci and class. I would like to nominate an outstanding individual that I believe would be worthy of the propagation of the Faith award whom has promulgated his Catholic values. He has demonstrated respect for all of God's creations by initiating many aid programs around the world and through his quest for justice. I nominate James Orbinski who has been actively involved in Doctors Without Borders through both providing medical assistance and leading the organization. He has responded to his calling to help people and through action spread Catholic teachings.

James Orbinski was born in England in 1960 and immigrated to Canada with his siblings and parents when he

was seven years old. Orbinski grew up in a devout Irish Catholic family and considered becoming a priest, but went to University instead. From a young age he had a strong belief in God. As a child, he saw a television program about the Holocaust with images of people lying dead in Auschwitz. The program frightened him so much so that he had nightmares about Nazis. James remained committed to the Catholic vision regardless of society values. James is committed to his Catholic faith and looks to it for guidance in everyday actions by using it to help make decisions. As Orbinski became older, he knew he wanted to help relieve the suffering of others. He earned a psychology degree from Trent University. He had a strong calling from God for medical school and entered McMaster University as a medical student and became immediately enthralled with the study of immunology. James faith influenced him to help others by joining Doctors Without Borders and becoming involved in half a dozen major conflict zones. James had a calling from God for is vocation to join MSF. James strong faith influenced to love others as God loves us which lead him to his humanitarian journey. James commits to several key principles of Catholic Social Teaching which include participation and solidarity. James demonstrates participation by believing it is unfair for people to be excluded from getting health care due to economic status and joined MSF to treat people. James demonstrates solidarity by loving his neighbours by joining MSF to give healthcare to those whom are injured. Orbinski’s humanitarian journey began in earnest at age 27, when he obtained a fellowship to research pediatric HIV/AIDS in Rwanda. For a year, he worked at hospitals and clinics and witnessed extreme poverty, malnutrition and the prevalence of diseases such as polio, which left many paralyzed and would have been easily treated with the Canadian medical system.

James follows the teaching authority of the Bishops and the Pope by making decisions that the catechism support. In passage 2196 and 2288 of the Catechisms it talks reminds us how precious human life is and must love each other like God loves us. James demonstrates this by opening a hospital in Kigali during the Rwandan genocide through MSF that was often a target for gunfire. He provided healthcare to the sick and injured even though it put his life at risk. James accepts responsibility for others by providing medical assistance to those whom have been harmed or are suffering as a result of others. James Orbinski faith applies in secular society in the modern day world because his actions reflect his belief that everyone should be provided medical care regardless of their beliefs and ethnicity. This relates to modern day world because in Canada we believe everyone should have access to free health care. During the Rwandan genocide he was faced with many difficult situations and had to makes moral decision by acting with an informed conscience rather than emotion. James demonstrated this on one of the last days of the Rwandan Genocide. James had to amputate the leg of a fourteen year old boy was the victim of a land mine without assistance from other

doctors and with minimal medical instruments. James did not let his emotion hinder him from performing the operation but acted knowing that if he did not perform the surgery the boy would die. The boy's leg was gone but he lived because of James action. He was later elected as president of Doctors without Borders and lead the humanitarian organization from 1998 to 2001. Later on, James experiences the human vocation of responsibility and is influenced to help those in need by coming face to face with those injured. James faith influenced him to join the medical staff searching and providing care for survivors of 9/11 when he happened to be driving into New York.

James continually strives for justice, he does research on AIDS, helped out in the Rwandan Genocide and became the President of doctors without borders. James is able to identify the injustice that poor countries do no have minimal access to health care and try to help it. He also demonstrates teaching from Sermon on the Mount concerning anger. Jesus believes that not only should we resist vengeance on others, but respond to the evil with good. James recognizes vengeance on others is not the answer and responds to the Rwandan Genocide with goodness by providing medical assistance to the injured.

Charles Taylor believes the world shaped by language and you must recognize the community into which you were born, by whom you were raised to determine whom you are. He also believes being apart of something it is essential, not only to your self identity, but to your moral self. James got involved in with Doctors without borders to save and preserve life that has been harmed. James demonstrates living in community through his Catholic upbringing where is community was the Catholic Church and his family. He also demonstrates community through his involvement in Doctors without Borders. James parents influenced him by encouraging him to strengthen his faith and following God teachings.

Kant believes that principle called maxims can determine our duty to act. In order to follow the principles, our own personal desires must often be overlooked. All duty must be done with good will. James contributes to Doctors without Borders because of his goodwill, not to receive something in return. James reasons for providing medical assistance to those injured in countries in conflict is purely selfless.
Aristotle ethics aim to discover what is good for us as human beings which permits us to reach our potential or whom we are intended to be.

We become who we are destined to be by learning responsibility and being an active citizen. James demonstrates this by being an active member of the Doctors without Borders community and the Catholic community. His involvement in MSF allowed James Orbinski to be whom he is destined to be. He was elected as president of Doctors without Borders and lead the humanitarian organisation from 1998 to 2001.

James bears responsibility for the other and rejects narcissism. He does this by making decisions to corrects others wrong, not for his on self interest. His involvement in MSF allows him to provide medical assistance to those whom have suffered because of others misguided ways. James does not point figures and blame others but tries to fix the situation to the best of his ability.

James Orbinski demonstrates natural law through his understanding of we must do and what we must avoid. This is made evident by becoming a humanitarian practitioner and a leading scholar in global health. James recognizes that he must save human lives or alleviate suffering of others and avoid actions that harm others. He believes in humanitarianism, in citizenship and in actively engaging and shaping the world in which we live, so that it is more humane, fair and

just.

James Orbinski strives to be a great Catholic role model by following the Catholic teachings and loving others the way God loves us. I nominate James Orbinski because of his numerous selfless actions in an attempt to better this world. James Orbinski is a well deserving candidate of the Propagation of the Fatih award.