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Religious directives at Catholic hospitals complicate emergency care for pregnant women
This PBS NewsHour segment investigates how Catholic hospitals' adherence to religious directives can impede emergency care for pregnant women. It features the case of Anna Nusslock, who, at 15 weeks pregnant, experienced a premature rupture of membranes. Despite the life-threatening nature of her condition, Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, California, declined to perform an abortion due to Catholic ethical guidelines. Nusslock was eventually transferred to another facility for care. The report highlights the tension between religious healthcare policies and medical standards, especially in rural areas where alternative options are limited.
By: Sarah Varney and Rachel Wellford
Aiming to limit damages, Catholic hospital argues a fetus isn’t the same as a ‘person’
Catholic Health Initiatives-Iowa (CHI) is defending itself in a medical malpractice lawsuit by arguing that the loss of an unborn child does not constitute the death of a "person" under Iowa law, thereby limiting potential noneconomic damages. The lawsuit stems from the stillbirth of a 35-week-old fetus, Eloise, after CHI allegedly failed to diagnose and treat preeclampsia in the mother, Miranda Anderson. CHI contends that the state's malpractice cap on noneconomic damages applies, as the loss of a fetus is not recognized as "loss or impairment of mind or body." This position contrasts with Catholic ethical guidelines, which affirm the sanctity of life from conception. CHI has since withdrawn this argument, reaffirming its commitment to the belief that life begins at conception.
By: Clark Kauffman
Planned Parenthood shutters only facility in Manhattan after decades of pro-life prayers
Planned Parenthood of New York has announced plans to sell its only Manhattan facility, located at 26 Bleecker Street in the SoHo neighbourhood. The organization cites financial difficulties and the building's outdated infrastructure as reasons for the closure. This facility had been the focus of decades-long pro-life prayer vigils and peaceful protests. Pro-life advocates view the closure as a significant victory, attributing it to the power of persistent prayer and advocacy.
By: Madelaine Elhabbal
Catholic Healthcare System Partners with Pro-abortion Clinic
Following its merger with Catholic Health Initiatives in 2021, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health has implemented significant changes, including the closure of its only birth center in Seattle and revisions to employee insurance that will no longer cover abortions and vasectomies. These decisions have narrowed reproductive health options and sparked concerns among staff and the community, emphasizing the restrictive nature of religious healthcare directives. The merger has led to a reduction in services traditionally available in secular institutions, affecting access to care and aligning more closely with Catholic ethical guidelines, despite legal protections for such services in Washington state. The move reflects a broader trend of healthcare consolidation impacting service availability and choice, particularly in areas like reproductive and maternity care.
By: Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell
St. Joseph hospital seeks dismissal of abortion lawsuit, cites religious freedom
Providence St. Joseph Hospital is contesting a lawsuit by the California Attorney General, which claims the hospital denied necessary abortion services, violating state law. The hospital argues its religious beliefs, protected under the First Amendment, justify its actions. The lawsuit centers on an incident where a woman was denied an abortion despite medical advice, leading to severe health risks. The hospital maintains that its Catholic identity and adherence to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services dictate its healthcare practices, even when they involve denying abortions that medical professionals deem necessary for patient health.
By: Thadeus Greenson
Eureka hospital agrees to provide emergency abortions following lawsuit by state
The article is a follow up on the Lawsuit against St. Joseph Hospital. The lawsuit claims that in February, the hospital directed a hemorrhaging patient, whose pregnancy was nonviable, to another facility 12 miles away rather than providing immediate care. Following the lawsuit, the hospital agreed to comply with California’s Emergency Services Law, which mandates that hospitals offer emergency abortion services if the patient’s health is at serious risk. Attorney General Rob Bonta criticized the hospital’s actions as inconsistent with California’s abortion protections, comparing the policy to restrictive laws in conservative states. The hospital’s agreement to comply does not end the lawsuit, as it does not admit guilt.
By: Clara Harter
Harris Rejects Religious Exemptions for Abortion
V.P. Kamala Harris expressed her opposition to religious exemptions for abortion if she were elected president. She emphasized her commitment to codifying Roe v. Wade into law, underscoring the importance of protecting a woman's fundamental right to make decisions about her own body. The issue of abortion is a cornerstone of Harris's presidential campaign, particularly as she aims to mobilize female voters in the Democratic Party who support the right to abortion.
By: David Zimmermann
Coalition of faith groups side with nuns in religious freedom case before Supreme Court
In the case of Diocese of Albany v. Harris, a group of nuns and religious associations in New York are contesting a state law that requires them to provide abortion coverage in their employee health plans. The plaintiffs argue that this mandate violates their religious beliefs and have taken their fight to the Supreme Court. They have garnered support from a diverse coalition of religious groups across various faiths, including Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Catholic, and other Christian denominations.
The case has attracted significant attention, with twenty states and various religious and legal organizations submitting friend-of-the-court briefs in support of the plaintiffs. These briefs argue that forcing religious organizations to provide abortion coverage infringes on religious freedoms, particularly for minority faiths in a pluralistic society.
By: Madalaine Elhabbal
Silent prayer outside of abortion clinic is a form of reproductive coercion
In Britain, legislation was passed to stop activism in the vicinity of abortion clinics. Specifically, the legislation targets Catholics who pray outside of abortion clinics. In response, anti-abortion protesters allege that the new legislation will violate their human rights. The article explains that there’s a variety of activities outside abortion clinics, and the activity changes frequently. Sometimes, there are silent prayers, engagement with patients, holding banners and candles or distributing pamphlets. The justification of the new legislation is to prevent women from being coerced to continue their pregnancy.
By: Pam Lowe, Sarah-Jane Page
Can I get a vasectomy? Here's what the Catholic church teaches
A vasectomy is a form of sterilization, and vasectomy procedures have increased since the overturning of Roe v Wade. Reasons for vasectomies include not wanting children, not wanting to pass on a genetic disease or because pregnancy could pose a risk for their partner. According to Catholic beliefs, sterilization is immoral because it takes away from the Catholic purpose of intercourse, which is to procreate or promote the union between man and wife. However, the Church believes that when there are serious issues regarding having more children, the couple should resort to natural family planning, where the couple tracks the women’s fertility cycle.
By: Kate Quiñones
Italy's abortion divisions sharpen under Melonis leadership
The article discusses the challenges women face in Italy, a predominantly Catholic country, when seeking an abortion. It highlights the experience of an Italian singer, who described how a gynecologist aggressively questioned her decision to have an abortion and falsely claimed she was further along in her pregnancy, despite her insistence that it was not possible due to her long-distance relationship. The woman felt judged by healthcare workers, and when she experienced intense pain before the procedure, her suffering was ignored.
By: Alvise Armellini, Claudia Cristoferi, Yesim Dikmen
How Dobbs accelerated Europe's abortion culture
According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, European countries, including France and Spain, are expanding abortion access. Along with expanding abortion rights, it appears that the right to abortion is limiting physicians’ ability to refuse to administer it on the grounds of conscientious objection. The Church’s reaction to the recent developments regarding abortion is that it is a cultural regression.
By: Solène Tadié
Missouri abortion ban wasn’t about lawmakers imposing religious beliefs, judge says
Several religious groups filed a case against Missouri enforcing its abortion law because it was said to violate the constitution. They are particularly referring to a section that references God and the right to life. Even though the language appears to be religious, the judge says that belief that life starts at conception isn’t inherently religious. Missouri’s abortion law is that unless there is a medical emergency it is a crime to perform an abortion, with repercussions to women who have these procedures done as well.
By: AP News
A chilling effect of Louisiana's abortion law
Abortion pills, mifepristone and misoprostol have been recently classified as dangerous substances in Louisina in the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v Wade. The justification for banning abortion pills was their potential to be used to nonconsensually induce an abortion when disguised in food or drink. Nevertheless, Apart from terminating a pregnancy, these drugs have other uses, however the new classification will render access more diffcult regardless of the reason for its use.
By: Lora Kelly
‘Our lord and saviour': Saskatoon doctor allegedly tried to talk patient out of abortion for religious reasons
A Saskatoon doctor, Davids, faces scrutiny for allegedly making uncomfortable religious comments to a patient, leading to charges by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan on February 13. The complaint highlights a distressing interaction during a medical consultation, where Davids made remarks about the patient's deceased relatives caring for her baby in heaven and urged her to believe in 'our lord and saviour.'
By: Rory MacLean
The Powerful Constraints on Medical Care in Catholic Hospitals Across America
The article highlights a case involving a pregnant woman whose water broke prematurely, presenting a situation where her fetus had little chance of survival. Despite the woman's wishes to end the pregnancy, she was unable to receive intervention due to the hospital's adherence to Catholic directives that prohibit procedures like abortion. It highlights instances where patients are turned away from necessary care due to religious constraints, particularly in Catholic hospitals. Despite medical recommendations, patients may face delays or denials in receiving appropriate care, posing risks to their health.
By: Rachana Pradhan, Hannah Recht
Forcing all Canadian hospitals to offer MAID would be a toxic dose of intolerance
Focuses on a recent case in which a patient at St. Paul’s was denied MAiD, prompting the BC Health Minister to address the need for Catholic Health Care in BC to provide MAiD in their facilities. The article discusses eliminating faith-based healthcare institutions as a problem and is in support of its continuance. It highlights the good that Catholic institutions have done from the author's perspective. "If our civil society and legal order denies faith-based health-care facilities the freedom to pass on giving lethal injections based on the conscientious view that MAID is killing, we will have bought into not just a fundamental misunderstanding of how Canada is meant to function, but a dangerous one."
By: Brian Bird
Abortion accessibility in Canada: The Catholic hospital conflict
The overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States sparked debate about abortion in Canada, including whether Catholic hospitals retain the right to impede access to abortion. The article details the story of a woman who went to St. Joseph’s Hospital, the only hospital in her city, to get an abortion in 2013. The now mother-of-two said she was referred to another hospital in Regina, which is 200 kilometres away and an approximate two-hour drive.
By: Rhythm Sachdeva