Diocese of Phoenix Clarifies Status of Mercy Gilbert Medical Center as a Catholic Hospital

[Elizium23]

Diocese of Phoenix Clarifies Status of Mercy Gilbert Medical Center as a Catholic Hospital

PHOENIX (Oct. 20, 2012) — The Diocese of Phoenix issued the following statement today regarding Mercy Gilbert Medical Center:

Contrary to reports in the media, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center has not been stripped of its Catholic status. The hospital is in the process of renewing its status and ensuring its compliance with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. This renewal process was necessary following the corporate reorganization of its parent company in January.

Diocese of Phoenix Statement on the Current Status of Mercy Gilbert Medical Center — a Dignity Health Hospital

In response to the following false story:

Bishop strips Mercy Gilbert Medical Center of Catholic status

 

[Dale_M]

This press release, from Thursday October the 18th, seems to be the source of the confusion

On January 23, 2012, the parent company of Mercy Gilbert Hospital was reorganized from being a Catholic corporation (Catholic Healthcare West) to being a secular one (Dignity Health). In light of this change, Mercy Gilbert was asked by Bishop Olmsted to renew their official recognition as a Catholic institution in the Diocese of Phoenix.

While discussion has been ongoing, to this point Mercy Gilbert has not yet fulfilled the criteria for this renewal. Thus, Bishop Olmsted has a duty to the Catholic faithful to inform them that he cannot state with moral certitude that Mercy Gilbert Hospital provides Catholic health care which is in full conformity with the teaching of the Church. It is, however, his hope that Mercy Gilbert will successfully complete the renewal process, at which time Bishop Olmsted will grant his recognition of their Catholic identity.

diocesephoenix.org/news.php?newsmonth=201210&story=863743707

The wording seems to be more than a warning that it might lose its Catholic status, and may have lost it already. However, today’s press release clarifies that the hospital has not had its status revoked… just that it hasn’t been renewed.

 

[gus]

This is my closest Catholic hospital.
I drive by it to pick up my grandson from pre-K
He used to call it his hospital with the plus sign on top.
Mathematically gifted but theologically challenged.
I was under the imppession that when the group running it no longer considered itself Catholic it was no longer Catholic.
This has been a bitter pill to swollow.
Particularly when visable about a mile away is the huge new LDS temple with the golden statue of Moroni on top of the steeple.
Hopefully we can again call this a Catholic Hospital