What does it mean to stay faithful, even when the cost is great?
At MyCatholicDoctor, we witness firsthand the quiet courage of Catholic clinicians who refuse to compromise their faith — even when it costs them dearly. These are modern stories of White Martyrdom: the suffering and sacrifice endured not through violence or bloodshed, but through the loss of reputation, employment, or peace of mind, all for love of Christ.
One of those stories belongs to Megan Kreft.
Megan Kreft, a Catholic physician assistant from Oregon, entered healthcare to serve others with compassion and integrity — staying true to Catholic moral teaching. During her medical training, her convictions were largely tolerated. However, after she began practicing at a Catholic health system in Portland, that changed.
Megan was asked to provide services that directly contradicted her faith and conscience, including: prescriptions for contraceptives and referrals for abortion and sterilizations. When she declined, she was dismissed from her job despite her professional excellence and compassion for her patients. Even the Catholic identity and mission of her workplace were not enough to protect her.
In imitation of Christ — who accepted the cross rather than abandon the truth — Megan chose to remain faithful even when the cost was high.
Her story is just one example of the quiet, often unseen, persecution Catholic clinicians face in today’s healthcare system.
But Megan’s story didn’t end there. After the shock and heartache of losing her job, she reached out to MyCatholicDoctor. I still remember taking that call five years ago — hearing the frustration in her voice, her fear that she might never find a place where she could practice both her faith and medicine together. I will never forget that conversation. It was truly my privilege — one of the greatest honors of this work — to tell her that she was welcome here. Today, she’s a valued part of our growing family of clinicians.
At MyCatholicDoctor Foundation, we are building a network where clinicians are free to practice excellent medicine rooted in Catholic teaching — where no one has to choose between their career and their conscience.
We ask for your prayers — for Megan, for all Catholic clinicians under pressure to compromise their faith, and for our mission to support them. If you feel called, your generosity can help ensure that faithful medical care remains available to all who seek it.
