Trinity Health, one of the largest Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation, joined the Smokefree Movies effort to push for the R-rating and other Smokefree Movies policy goals. Seven hundred and fifty grassroots advocates from at least thirty-two Trinity Health organizations in thirteen states sent 4,703 emails to executives at the top five major movie studios and the Motion Picture Association of America in the week leading up to the Oscars, February 26, 2017. The ministries included:
- Holy Cross Hospital, Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Lourdes Health System, Camden & St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton, NJ
- Loyola University Medical Center & Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, IL
- Mercy Cares & Live Well ITC (Mercy Medical Center), Springfield, MA
- Mercy Health Center, Dubuque; Mercy Medical Center, North Iowa & Mercy Medical Center, New Hampton, IA
- Mount Carmel Health System, Columbus, OH
- Saint Agnes Medical Center & Saint Agnes Home & Hospice, Fresno CA
- Saint Francis Healthcare, Wilmington, DE
- St. Francis Hospital, Hartford; St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury & Johnson Memorial Medical Center, Stafford Springs, CT
- St. Joseph's Health, Syracuse & Saint Peter’s Health Partners, Albany, NY
- St. Mary Medical Center, Langhorne, Mercy Health System and Mercy Bariatric Center, Philadelphia & Pittsburgh Mercy, PA
- St. Mary Mercy, Livonia; St. Joseph Mercy, Livingston; St. Joseph Mercy Oakland; St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor; and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System & Muskegon Health Project, MI
- St. Mary's Health Care System, Athens, GA
- Trinity Health, Livonia, MI & Trinity Health New England
Thanks to Trinity Health’s leadership, other groups joined in the Oscar-week social media effort:
- Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
- Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)
- Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investments
- Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center (IPJC)
- EPMG Patient Safety
- Action Smoking & Health, Washington DC
- As You Sow
- Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR)
- Cerro Gordo Health Dept., North Central, IA
We anticipate this effort to spread. Trinity Health remains enthusiastic about collaborating with others to increase public and professional understanding of the toxicity of smoking in youth-rated movies. To learn more about Trinity Health’s efforts, please contact Cathy Rowan, Director of Socially Responsible Investing at Trinity Health, or check out its Take Action campaign.
You can also access materials additional resources for action on the Smoke Free Movies website here.
