NEWS

Bishop Pius Moon Chang-woo and representatives of several Catholic organizations in South Korea formally opposed proposed revisions to the Maternal and Child Health Act. The amendments would allow broader access to abortion pills, revise language to neutralize abortion, and include abortion services under national health insurance. The Catholic leaders argued the changes would devalue fetal life and marginalize the balance between a woman’s rights and the fetus’s right to life; they pledged to revitalize a national pro-life movement to uphold ethical standards and support pregnant women through Catholic health networks

By: UCA Report

Dr. Carolyn Manhart, an internal medicine physician in Omaha, reflects on how her Catholic faith deeply shapes her medical vocation. Her early experiences caring for the ill and a transformative encounter during her formation, reading Humanae Vitae and training at the Pope Paul VI Institute, helped her embrace the Church’s ethical teachings. As a practicing physician, she integrates faith into her care by fostering dignity and spiritual reflection among elderly patients.

By: Charlie Camosy

The Catholic Health Association (CHA) has introduced an online Ministry Identity Assessment platform that assists Catholic health systems in evaluating their adherence to the seven core commitments of Catholic health care. This tool enables facilities to assess their policies, practices, and community partnerships, guiding them through a comprehensive self-assessment process.

By: Julie Mind

The Catholic Health Association (CHA) has introduced an online Ministry Identity Assessment platform that assists Catholic health systems in evaluating their adherence to the seven core commitments of Catholic health care. This tool enables facilities to assess their policies, practices, and community partnerships, guiding them through a comprehensive self-assessment process.

By: Lisa Eisenhauer

Three more children from Gaza arrived in Italy on a military transport plane on August 13 and were admitted to the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesù pediatric hospital in Rome. A six-month-old baby boy (post-amputation), a 13-year-old brain-injured boy, and a two-year-old girl with celiac disease and malnutrition now join 17 other Gaza children treated there since October 2023. Their arrival was facilitated through coordinated efforts involving the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land and governments across the region.

By: Cindy Wooden

The upcoming merger between St. Mary's General Hospital and Grand River Hospital in Kitchener will result in a new, secular hospital. This marks a departure from St. Mary's long-standing Catholic affiliation. The new governance structure will feature a secular board of directors. Community reactions are mixed, with some expressing concerns over the loss of Catholic values, while others view the change as a positive step towards broader inclusivity. The new hospital is slated to open in 2026, aiming to provide expanded services and meet the growing healthcare demands of the region.

By: Record Staff

The Delta Hospice Society, which provides secular, palliative care, is planning to establish a MAiD-free “sanctuary hospice” in Alberta after facing resistance from the B.C. government. With funding secured and potential properties visited, the Society seeks Alberta's protection from being compelled to offer euthanasia, something they oppose based on their commitment to traditional palliative care principles. Their original facility in B.C. was seized in 2021 when they refused to allow MAiD, as the Society didn’t qualify for faith-based exemptions.

By: Terry O’Neil

Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey, the state’s only independent Catholic health system, received a $75 million gift from the Douglas M. Noble Family Foundation. The largest donation ever to a U.S. Catholic health institution, the funds will support expansion in specialized care, workforce development, medical education, and mission-based innovation.

By: Madalaine Elhabbal

A Brisbane couple felt 'abandoned' when Mater Hospital, a Catholic-run system, refused to provide a medically indicated pregnancy termination despite serious fetal abnormalities. Though abortion is legal in Queensland up to 22 weeks, Mater’s longstanding policy prohibits terminations except to save the mother’s life, prompting the couple to seek care elsewhere at significant emotional and financial cost.

By: Emma Pollard

CHA has relaunched its Faithfully Forward initiative to address workforce shortages in ethics, mission, and pastoral care by partnering with Catholic universities to promote these roles among students. The effort builds on earlier research identifying barriers like limited internships and low pay, aiming to influence curricula and expand formation opportunities.

By: Julie Minda

Anscombe Bioethics Centre in Oxford, the UK’s oldest Catholic bioethics research institute, has closed due to financial strain imposed by its trustee (Catholic Trust for England and Wales). The decision sparked widespread concern among scholars, who described it as a “tragedy.” The centre had played a prominent role in public bioethical debates and policy engagement for nearly 50 years.

By: Simon Caldwell

A government‑mandated MAiD unit has begun operating on the campus of St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, a Catholic‑run facility sponsored by Providence Health Care. Despite the hospital’s policy of not providing MAiD, British Columbia’s health authority established and operates the unit on adjacent hospital land connected by a corridor, while Providence continues to transfer patients seeking MAiD to that space rather than offering it internally.

By: Terry O’Neill

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights has launched investigations under the Church Amendments into healthcare providers who claim religious exemptions for refusing to provide gender-affirming care. The investigations mark the first time HHS has explicitly stated that the Church Amendments cover refusal of gender-affirming services and that misgendering patients may be included under these protections.

By: Kate Wells

In his reflection as outgoing CHA Board Chair, Impicciche emphasizes Catholic health care’s enduring mission amid systemic challenges like workforce shortages and policy shifts. He highlights the sector’s unity, its moral voice in public policy, and the need for innovative, community-rooted care grounded in dignity and compassion.

By: Joe Impicche

Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta, founded by the Sisters of Mercy, has entered a formal sponsorship agreement with the Archdiocese of Atlanta and Emory Healthcare to preserve its Catholic identity. The agreement ensures the hospital follows the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, maintains strong chaplaincy and community outreach, and remains committed to compassionate care. Hospital leaders emphasized that the new structure will uphold the legacy of integrating faith, science, and mercy, continuing the mission established over 145 years ago.

By: Amira Abuzeid

A new Medical Assistance in Dying facility has opened adjacent to St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, on land taken over by the provincial government. Connected via a corridor to the Catholic-run hospital, the clinic is staffed and operated by Vancouver Coastal Health rather than Providence Health Care, maintaining a strict separation. Providence clarifies that MAID is not performed within its Catholic facility, aligning with their religious directives.

By: Terry O’Neill

Catholic activists under CitizenGo Africa, led by Ann Kioko, are urging Sierra Leone’s legislators to reject the “Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Care Act 2024” insisting it would effectively legalize abortion. In a petition, they claim the bill permits abortion up to 14 weeks “for any reason” and even late-term terminations under ambiguous criteria like “mental health” or fetal abnormalities, with no safeguards. They warn the bill is driven by foreign donors—like the Gates Foundation, USAID, and UNFPA—who, they allege, are disguising abortion as care. CitizenGo argues the legislation lacks clarity and consent, labeling it “morally evil, dangerous, and a threat to our children and our future.”

By: Silas Isenjina

Ethicist Xavier Symons argues that allowing conscientious objection in Catholic healthcare respects providers’ dignity and helps prevent moral distress. Speaking during a CHA‑hosted webinar, Symons emphasized how conscience connects general moral principles with individual clinical decisions. He noted objections aren’t limited to abortion or euthanasia but may extend to other procedures deemed manifestly unethical. Symons asserts that enforcing a strict separation between personal and professional values is unrealistic and potentially harmful, and he advocates recognizing conscientious objection as morally commendable rather than a professional hindrance.

By: Lisa Eisenhauer

Key Catholic health leaders—including the Catholic Health Association, Ascension, Providence, Trinity Health, and SSM Health—publicly opposed the House’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” warning that its Medicaid reforms could strip over 10 million people of coverage. The reforms introduced work mandates, stricter documentation requirements, caps on provider tax funding, and limits on immigrant access. CHA President Sister Mary Haddad cautioned that these changes threaten vital safety-net services and would weaken hospitals and communities. Executives stressed how dependent their patient base is on Medicaid for access to care.

By: Taylor Arnold

The article reports on a legal battle between California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Providence, a major Catholic health system, over the hospital’s refusal to provide an emergency abortion for Anna Nusslock . The state alleges that Providence violated California's health and civil rights laws by denying stabilizing care to a patient facing pregnancy complications. Providence has attempted to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that its Catholic directives are constitutionally protected, but a judge has allowed the case to proceed. The outcome could have significant implications for how religious hospitals operate in California, particularly as they control a large portion of maternity care in rural areas.

By: Kristen Hwang

The article discusses how proposed Medicaid cuts in the United States could significantly impact Catholic healthcare providers. It explains that Catholic hospitals and clinics rely heavily on Medicaid funding to serve low-income and vulnerable populations. The cuts threaten to reduce access to essential healthcare services, particularly in underserved areas where Catholic institutions often play a crucial role. The piece also highlights concerns from healthcare leaders about the potential consequences for patient care and the sustainability of faith-based health services.

By: Kevin Clarke

A hospital in Georgia kept a brain-dead pregnant woman, Adriana Smith, on life support to preserve the life of her unborn baby, citing the state’s LIFE Act, which restricts abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected. Smith was declared brain dead after suffering brain clots while nine weeks pregnant. The hospital maintained life support for over 90 days until the baby was delivered prematurely via emergency C-section. The woman was then removed from life support.

By: Amira Abuzeid

The PETA action alert condemns Providence Alaska Medical Center’s sponsorship of the Iditarod sled dog race, labeling it inconsistent with Catholic values of compassion. It reports that during the 2025 race, a pregnant dog named Ventana collapsed and died after running over 300 miles, and more than 180 dogs were pulled from the event due to injuries, illness, or exhaustion. PETA criticizes Providence for supporting this event and urges the healthcare provider to end its financial ties with the race

By: PETA

Pro-life advocates in New South Wales, Australia, protested against the Abortion Law Reform Amendment (Health Care Access) Bill 2025, which requires healthcare workers with conscientious objections to abortion to refer patients to providers who will perform the procedure. The protest included clergy, bishops, and public figures such as Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney and former Prime Minister Tony Abbott. They argued that the bill undermines conscience protections and threatens religious freedom within healthcare.

By: Madalaine Elhabbal