Beware! St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is NOT Catholic!

The following information is shared so that you may make informed decisions when you select organizations to which to donate.  I encourage each of you to think very carefully about all the issues presented and whether as faithful Catholics you can support this institution in the future.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was founded by Danny Thomas in 1962. It is one of the world’s leading research hospitals for childhood cancers and diseases.  It provides cutting-edge treatments with no cost to families and shares research findings with other hospitals and organizations.  No child is denied treatment based on race, religion, or ability to pay. 

Danny Thomas’s story is a good one and will pull at the heart strings of anyone, especially Catholics.  Danny, a Catholic, was a struggling actor who called upon his patron saint, St. Jude Thaddeus, to rescue him in his time of need.  Shortly thereafter, Danny went on to become a famous actor in his day appearing on film, radio, and television.  He built Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital to honor St. Jude to whom he’d promised “to build a shrine” if he ever became successful.

That’s where the Catholic association ends.  This may come as a huge shock, it certainly did to me, but St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is NOT affiliated with the Catholic church in any way, shape, or form.  I repeat, it is neither a Catholic hospital nor affiliated with any religious organization.  It says so right on their website! https://www.stjude.org/about-st-jude/faq/is-this-a-catholic-hospital-can-you-say-a-novena-for-me.html

The issue becomes even more interesting when one looks at the personal life of Danny Thomas.  He may have proclaimed himself Catholic initially, but he went on to become a high-ranking Freemason.   A Catholic who participates in the Masonic organization is essentially ex-communicated from the Church.  The only way to bring oneself back into communion is to publicly renounce the organization and cut all ties to it.  There is no evidence he did this.  Also, for those who have no knowledge of the Freemasons, they despise Catholics.  I won’t mince words here, whether Danny Thomas knowingly or unknowingly did this, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH) has been used to lure unsuspecting Christians into thinking that their donations were going to a religious-based organization.  Being the trusting people we are, we may never even have thought to check it out.  I certainly didn’t until now.  The Evil One spews lies, deceit, and twists things.  If this wasn’t the Evil One’s work, I’m not sure what is.

There is no denying that SJCRH has done some incredibly miraculous work in pediatric cancer research.   You may make the argument about all the miracles and cures that have come out of the organization.  From a Greater Good ideology, perhaps that is correct.  From a moral standpoint and looking at the deception involved in name of the organization, it is cause for pause.  In addition, SJCRH publicly promotes alphabet soup diversity with children, as evidenced most recently by the organization’s participation in parades and other events in the Memphis area.   It doesn’t end there.   SJCRH has been a active advocate of birth control, supports Planned Parenthood, and has even played a small role in embryonic stem cell research.     

I was particularly upset by these findings.  I donated to SJCRH in my early adulthood, before living the Catholic faith really mattered to me.  At the time I remember feeling “all grown up” because I had a job and extra money to put toward something “good”.  Part of me was just a little happy that it had St. Jude in the name.  Never in a million years did I think to check up on the organization.  While we can’t go back and change the past, it is my duty to share with you that SJCRH is not Catholic by any stretch of the imagination and it’s truly disturbing the ties it has to evil.  It is ultimately your choice how to spend and/or donate your money.  I’m positive that there are better Catholic options out there to help children.  I hope to obtain a list to share with you soon.   When we know better, we make better choices.  Stand firm in your faith!

Pax Christi!  -sf