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Catholic hospitals were founded to help the poor. Now they pay executives millions and charge some of the highest prices around
The article discusses the financial practices of Catholic health systems in the U.S., highlighting tensions between their founding missions of charity and community service and their current business models. Many Catholic hospitals, originally established to provide affordable care, now face criticism for prioritizing profit over accessibility. Some systems charge high prices, spend less on community benefits than the value of their tax exemptions, and employ aggressive tactics to collect unpaid bills, which include liens and wage garnishment. Despite their religious principles, these hospitals often enforce restrictive medical policies but fall short on social responsibility standards, including care for vulnerable populations. The influence of mergers and acquisitions has allowed Catholic health systems to consolidate market power, leading to higher healthcare costs without significantly improving quality of care.
By: Rachana Pradhan
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
Premier Smith reveals plans to take some Alberta hospitals away from AHS
A previous secular hospital in Alberta, under Alberta Health Services (AHS), has been transferred to a private healthcare provider. The premier of Alberta said that the decision to transfer operations was made because AHS has 106 facilities, which makes it difficult for them to run everything. The hospital operates under Covenant Health, which has a reputation for never shutting down rural hospitals. Friends of Medicare, a healthcare advocacy group, finds the premier’s comments controversial because there is no evidence to support Covenant Health’s superior track record.
By: Lauryn Heintz
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
Vatican wrong to open door to euthanasia says LCP whistleblower
A former hospital doctor in Malta who is now an archdiocese speaks out about the Pontifical Academy of Life’s statement that in some situations, euthanasia is acceptable. He strongly disagrees with depriving patients of food and nutrients, particularly the elderly. Moreover, he says that the motivation is to reduce costs. He hosted a lecture on LCP, Liverpool Care Pathway, which delivers euthanasia, and explained how it abuses its power over patients. His lecture prompted families to come forward with their experiences of abuse under LCP. As a result, the government requested an inquiry, and as a result of the inquiry, the LCP was abolished.
By: Simon Caldwell
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
Last church-run health system in Alabama looses Catholic identity
After the ownership changes to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Alabama will lose its last church-led healthcare system, St Vincent. Bishop Raica hopes that the new ownership will still try to preserve St Vincent’s mission to care for patients experiencing poverty and promote their spiritual well-being. In response, UAB has stated that while they are a secular hospital, they will advocate that the hospital is open to all and committed to serving all people.
By: John Lavenburg
Help for those accompanying Catholics facing end of life decisions
Australian Catholic Bishops have released the Companion Guide to better inform patients and their loved ones about euthanasia. The document was made after consulting Church leaders and health workers. Catholic Health Australia believes that more funding and attention should be placed in palliative care. The justification is that without adequate palliative care options, patients may seek euthanasia because of the lack of alternatives.
By: ACBC, CHA
N.S regulatory group, some Christian doctors clash over medical assitance in dying
A group of Christian doctors object to the conscientious objection policy, where healthcare workers who refuse to provide medical service on religious grounds must refer the patient to a facility that administers those services. These doctors face potential disciplinary action for not following the referral protocol in conscientious objection. Many physicians object to referring patients to MAiD services because they believe euthanasia does not reflect what is in “the best interest of the patient”.
By: Vernon Ramesar
St Vincent could be breaking up with health insurer nib. Here's what's going on
The discovery of unmarked graves at former residential school sites has led to questions about why Catholic institutions continue to be publicly funded in Canada. Catholic schools and hospitals receive funding because Canada’s constitution protects them. The article explains the tension between provincial healthcare policy and Catholic hospitals’ obligation to follow the Health Ethics Guide from the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada. In addition to the constitution, it would be hard to defund Catholic hospitals because of legal and ethical implications under Canada’s Universal Medical Act.
By: Penny Timms
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
Family sues over hospital's religious exemption for euthanasia
A patient who requested MAID in a catholic hospital was transferred to another location because the Catholic hospital refused to provide MAiD to the patient. The patient's family is suing British Columbia for violating their daughter’s rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The organization Dying with Dignity was named in the lawsuit, and they released a survey reporting that most British Columbians are in favour of MAiD. Data also showed that the majority support religious healthcare institutions' refusal to administer MAiD.
By: The B.C. Catholic
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
Euthanasia's forgotten casuality pallitative care
The article is written from the perspective that MAiD contradicts Catholic values. Euthenasia redefines palliative care, as killing the patient is viewed as different from caring for them. Moreover, accessibility to palliative care must be improved before offering MAiD. The author is especially concerned about the lack of palliative care for children.
By: Catholic Register
Father of Calgary woman starving herself abandons court fight against her MAiD approval
"A woman received approval for MAiD, however her family is fighting this decision because they don’t think she should qualify for MAiD. A judge ordered that her access to MAiD be placed on hold until, the appeal decision is made. During the interim period, she began to starve herself, which led her case to be expedited to June 24th. However, the family has currently dropped the appeal for their daughter’s MAiD approval.”
By: CBC
Pope Francis again uses slur for gay priests in Vatican: Italian media
A month ago, the pope used an offensive word to describe gay priests in the Vatican, and he has since used the slur in a meeting with bishops. He apologized for his statements and said that he did not intend to be offensive. In the meeting, he expresses that the LGBTQ+ community is welcomed to the church but he has reservations about them becoming seminarians.
By: Guiseppe Fonte
Local hospitals raising flags for pride month
In light of their upcoming merger, St Mary’s and Grand River hospital are raising pride flags for the pride month. The CEO of Grand River says the purpose of raising the pride flag is to promote inclusivity and demonstrate the shared values between the hospitals. Particularly, they want to express that the LGBTQ+ community is welcomed into these hospital spaces. These hospitals will also participate in pride events in Victoria park.
By: City 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
Disabled Canadians are traumatized after being offered euthanasia multiple times.
Roger Foley struggles with health conditions and feels that Canadian healthcare has been neglecting his needs. He describes experiences of support workers neglecting their jobs and agencies refusing to take responsibility for inadequate care. Instead, healthcare professionals have responded to his condition and struggle with suicidal thoughts by suggesting MAiD.
By: Lee Harding
Abuse allegations at Quebec orphanage : Health authority, religious order agree to $65 settlement
At a catholic orphanage, a lawsuit represented abuse victims from 1925 to 1996. Victims are seeking the lawsuit because they want to be compensated for their trauma at this institution. The class action is against the religious order and will go to trial in September. There are 600 victims to date, but the class action lawsuit representative expects more victims to come forward.
By: Rachel Watts