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Some ex-steward hospitals are abandoning their catholic roots. Here’s what it means.
Several former Steward Health Care hospitals are breaking from their Catholic roots following a bankruptcy sale. The Boston Archdiocese, which had controlled the hospitals until Steward's 2010 acquisition, is now demanding these hospitals change their names and return religious artifacts like crosses and statues, as the new owners choose not to maintain Catholic practices. This shift means the hospitals are now free to offer services such as elective abortions, birth control, and in vitro fertilization, which were previously prohibited under Catholic doctrine. The changes reflect a significant departure from the hospitals' Catholic identity.
By: Nik DeCosta-Klipa
Nursing and midwifery college a beacon of hope for South Sudan
Since its founding in 2009, The Catholic Health Training Institute (CHTI) has trained 324 healthcare professionals, specializing in nursing and midwifery. The institute fosters unity by admitting students from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds across the country. It offers both professional training and holistic development, integrating environmental education and organic farming practices. Supported by Solidarity with South Sudan, CHTI has earned a reputation as the best nursing and midwifery college in the country. CHTI’s mission extends beyond education, aiming to inspire a united South Sudan through dignity, equity, and unity.
By: Scholasticah Nganda
The very best of our Mission is on display in Catholic aged care facilities
Catholic Health Australia's advocacy is deeply rooted in the mission and experiences of Catholic services across Australia. One example of this mission is St. Paul’s Hostel in Melbourne, which has served the Arabic-speaking community for nearly 30 years. CHA also visited the Little Sisters of the Poor St Joseph’s Home, where the sisters prioritize the marginalized, offering care regardless of financial status or background. CHA also saw firsthand the transformative work at VMCH Corpus Christi in Greenvale, where men facing homelessness and addiction find dignity and care in their later years. These visits exemplify the exceptional care and dedication that Catholic aged care facilities provide across the country, reflecting the core values of the Church’s mission.
By: Brigid Meney
Catholic providers among top inclusive employers
Catholic hospitals are disputing a report by the conservative group Do No Harm, which claims that 28 Catholic health systems provided gender-affirming surgeries to minors between 2019 and 2023. The report, based on anonymous billing data, has been criticized for its flawed methodology, including the use of non-specific treatment codes and a lack of patient age and sex information. Experts argue the database is scientifically unreliable, as it includes treatments unrelated to gender transition, such as nose jobs and birth control. Catholic health leaders have raised concerns that the report could lead to harmful policies for transgender individuals. Do No Harms findings coincide with growing political attention on transgender issues and potential revisions to the U.S. Catholic health system's ethical directives, which may limit gender-affirming care. Despite these criticisms, some bishops have endorsed the report, calling for a special meeting to address the issue.
By: Catholic Health Australia, medianet.
Ascension St. Vincent's 8th annual 'Medical Mission at Home' offers free medical services for those in need
Ascension St. Vincent's hosted its 8th annual "Medical Mission at Home" on November 16 at St. Monica Catholic Church, offering free medical services, food, and coats to over 400 people. The event provided essential services like flu vaccines, dental screenings, pharmacy assistance, physical therapy, and blood sugar testing. Volunteers and staff aimed to support those facing barriers such as transportation, financial strain, and language difficulties. Dr. Alan Bercovitz emphasized the mission of caring for vulnerable individuals and ensuring that healthcare is accessible, with follow-up support available after the event. The initiative, held just before the holidays, highlighted the importance of community care and solidarity across all religious backgrounds.
By: Logan Gay
Nicaraguan dictatorship bans priests from anointing the sick in hospitals
The Nicaraguan government, under President Ortega, has banned priests from administering the anointing of the sick in public hospitals, marking a new chapter in the regime's persecution of Catholics. Lawyers and exiled Nicaraguan activists, have been speaking out against these measures, documenting the growing repression. Priests are reportedly under surveillance, with some facing threats and forced exile, including one priest who fled after receiving death threats. Over 250 persecuted Catholics, including bishops and seminarians, now live in exile, some finding refuge in Rome. The NGO "Nicaragua Never Again" reports that the regime has shut down over 1,200 religious entities, calling it the worst repression of the Catholic Church in the country’s history.
By: Rome Reports
Sister Philip Marie Wanted to Live. But a Catholic Senior Center Killed Her
Sister Philip Marie Burle, a Catholic nun living in a Missouri senior care facility, was denied the care she wanted and was instead subjected to the withdrawal of food and water and heavy sedation against her wishes. The piece presents her death as evidence that vulnerable patients can be steered toward death by caregivers even in institutions that identify as Catholic. It also uses her case to argue that some Catholic healthcare facilities have abandoned their religious mission and become complicit in broader end-of-life practices the author views as morally wrong.
By: Bobby Schindler
New Zealand's leader formally apologizes to survivors of abuse in state and church care
New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon issued a formal apology for the abuse, neglect, and torture endured by around 200,000 children and vulnerable adults in state, foster, and faith-based care institutions over seven decades. A major inquiry revealed that many of those in care, especially Māori, suffered unimaginable harm in church-run facilities, alongside state-run institutions. He apologized for both past and present governments' failures. The inquiry’s recommendations included calling for apologies from church leaders, including Pope Francis, and endorsing the creation of offices to prosecute abusers. Survivors emphasized that meaningful healing would require not only apologies but concrete actions to prevent future abuse, including reforms in faith-based care.
By: Charlotte Graham-Mclay
Catholic Medical Association Exposes Fight Against Normalizing Assisted Suicide
The American Medical Association (AMA) is set to discuss two resolutions regarding assisted suicide at an upcoming interim meeting. One resolution proposes to stop "criminalizing" doctors, patients, and families involved in assisted suicides, replacing the term "assisted suicide" with "Medical Aid In Dying" (MAID). The other resolution proposes the AMA take a neutral stance on assisted suicide.
Dr. Tim Millea from the Catholic Medical Association opposes these resolutions, expressing concern about the younger generation's perspective and advocating for care over ending lives unnaturally. The AMA's decisions hold significant sway in legislation at state and federal levels.
By: Madalaine Elhabbal
Ascension nurses call on U.S. bishops to hold Catholic hospital chain accountable to church directives
Nurses from Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital in Baltimore are rallying on November 12, 2024, outside a U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting to urge the bishops to hold Ascension accountable to Catholic healthcare directives. They accuse Ascension, of failing to uphold its mission to serve vulnerable populations and respect employees. Nurses cite unsafe staffing, workplace violence, and profit-driven decisions that undermine care for marginalized patients. Ascension has also faced criticism for cutting services, particularly in low-income, predominantly Black and Latin communities, and selling hospitals in poorer areas.
By: National Nurses Organizing Committee, National Nurses United
Catholic hospitals criticize report alleging they provide surgeries for trans youth
Catholic hospitals are disputing a report by the conservative group Do No Harm, which claims that 28 Catholic health systems provided gender-affirming surgeries to minors between 2019 and 2023. The report, based on anonymous billing data, has been criticized for its flawed methodology, including the use of non-specific treatment codes and a lack of patient age and sex information. Despite these criticisms, some bishops have endorsed the report, calling for a special meeting to address the issue.
By: Katie Collins Scott, NCR
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
As nuns disappear, many catholic hospitals look more like mega - corporations
Over 600 Catholic hospitals in the U.S. no longer have nuns in chief executive roles, a shift from when these institutions, were led by nuns. Sister Irene Kraus, a former CEO, emphasized financial viability with her motto "no margin, no mission". However, this focus on margins has transformed many of these hospitals into large corporations that operate for-profit subsidiaries and pay high executive salaries, diverging from charitable roots. Sister Mary Jean Ryan, one of the last nuns to lead a hospital system, reflects on her career from nursing to becoming CEO of SSM Health, a $10 billion revenue-generating giant with extensive operations, including a for-profit pharmacy benefit manager. Despite these business undertakings, Catholic hospitals maintain certain religious observances and commitments to care irrespective of a patient’s financial status.
By: Samantha LIss
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
Bishop Daly: USCCB Meeting Needed to Address Transgender Treatments in Catholic Hospitals
Bishop Daly, the bishop of Spokane, believes that Church leaders should openly confront and address this issue of Catholic Hospitals providing transgeder treatments. He advocates for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to hold a formal meeting to discuss the role of Catholic hospitals in offering procedures related to gender transitions, such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries that alter biological sex characteristics. The bishop also expresses concern about external pressures from secular society and government regulations that may compel Catholic hospitals to perform these procedures.
By: Matthew McDonald
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
Report: Nearly 150 Catholic Hospitals Provided Transgender Surgeries or Drugs to Children
A report by Do No Harm claims that nearly 150 Catholic hospitals in the U.S. provided hormone therapy or gender-transition surgeries to minors between 2019 and 2023, despite Church teachings prohibiting such procedures. The data indicates that over 520 minors received these treatments, with 152 surgeries performed at 33 hospitals. Providence, a Catholic health network, conducted half of these surgeries across its facilities in five states. The Catholic Health Association (CHA) criticized the report's methodology, stating it lacks context and stigmatizes LGBTQ communities, while Do No Harm defended its findings as accurately highlighting child safety concerns. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) reaffirms that gender-transition interventions contradict Catholic teachings on human dignity and urges Catholic healthcare to prioritize supportive psychotherapy.
By: Tyler Arnold
California sues Catholic hospital for denying emergency abortion to women having a miscarriage
California has filed a lawsuit against Providence St. Joseph Hospital for denying an emergency abortion to Anna Nusslock, who was miscarrying and at risk for serious complications. Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that the hospital's refusal violated state laws mandating emergency abortion care. Nusslock, 15 weeks pregnant and facing imminent health risks after her water broke, was initially denied treatment due to hospital policy. She was sent to another hospital with only a bucket and towels provided for the journey, in case she began to hemorrhage en route. The state seeks an injunction to ensure the hospital complies with laws providing necessary emergency care.
By: Carlos Castañeda
Beirut hospitals discreetly treat Hezbollah's wounded
In Beirut, the Catholic Hôtel-Dieu de France hospital is discreetly treating Hezbollah members who were severely injured in explosions on September 17 and 18, attributed to Israel. Despite Hezbollah’s religious and political affiliations, the Catholic hospital, deeply rooted in Lebanon’s history, has opened its doors to treat the wounded, reflecting a broader unity in Lebanon. Local citizens, transcending religious divides, rushed to donate blood, and medical teams worked tirelessly to manage the overwhelming influx. This inter-religious support underscores the hospital’s mission of care amid heightened conflict, as subsequent Israeli strikes further escalate regional tensions.
By: Jenny Lafond
“God's blessing to the people”: Catholic Archbishop in Cameroon Says New Hospital will Reduce Suffering.
The newly inaugurated St. Blaise Catholic Hospital in Bamenda, Cameroon, aims to provide essential healthcare to residents who previously traveled long distances for treatment. During the September 18 opening, Archbishop Andrew Fuanya Nkea emphasized that the facility, equipped with specialists will reduce transportation costs for locals. The six-floor hospital includes an outpatient department, diagnostic labs, and imaging facilities, along with a 120-bed capacity. Archbishop Nkea described the hospital as a "blessing" and part of the Catholic Church's commitment to serve both body and spirit, continuing the healing mission of Jesus Christ. Initial services will be accessible, with free consultations for the first six months and a 20% discount on bed fees.
By: Jude Atemanke