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Kentucky Gov. may force Catholic hospital to commit sterilizations, abortion
BY THADDEUS BAKLINSKI
Thu Aug 11, 2011 14:42 ESTComments (0)Tags: Abortion, Catholic Hospitals, Governor, Kentucky
LOUISVILLE, Ky., August 11, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A potential showdown looms between Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and Catholic leaders over a proposed merger of a local Catholic health system with a public hospital. Beshear says the new entity, which would be controlled by Catholic stakeholders, must have a “public mission” and so offer procedures such as sterilization and abortion.
The proposal would see a merger between Lexington-based St. Joseph Health System, which is owned by the Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives, and the University of Louisville Hospital, along with Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare. Catholic Health Initiatives would own 70 percent of the new company, appoint a majority of board members, and follow the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Service.”
Beshear met Wednesday with state officials and representatives of the three health care organizations planning the controversial merger. “We had a good meeting,” Beshear told the Louisville Courier-Journal. “We public officials have concerns about the public mission of U of L Hospital. … Overall, what we want to make sure of is the public mission of U of L Hospital remains the same.”
Beshear added that approval by the Federal Trade Commission, as well as by his own office, were prerequisites to any decision on the merger.
However, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville pointed out that he and Bishop Ronald Gainer of Lexington must also give approval for the new entity to be officially called a Catholic institution.
lifesitenews.com/news/kentucky-gov-may-force-catholic-hospital-to-commit-sterilizations-abortion
BY THADDEUS BAKLINSKI
Thu Aug 11, 2011 14:42 ESTComments (0)Tags: Abortion, Catholic Hospitals, Governor, Kentucky
LOUISVILLE, Ky., August 11, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A potential showdown looms between Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and Catholic leaders over a proposed merger of a local Catholic health system with a public hospital. Beshear says the new entity, which would be controlled by Catholic stakeholders, must have a “public mission” and so offer procedures such as sterilization and abortion.
The proposal would see a merger between Lexington-based St. Joseph Health System, which is owned by the Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives, and the University of Louisville Hospital, along with Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare. Catholic Health Initiatives would own 70 percent of the new company, appoint a majority of board members, and follow the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Service.”
Beshear met Wednesday with state officials and representatives of the three health care organizations planning the controversial merger. “We had a good meeting,” Beshear told the Louisville Courier-Journal. “We public officials have concerns about the public mission of U of L Hospital. … Overall, what we want to make sure of is the public mission of U of L Hospital remains the same.”
Beshear added that approval by the Federal Trade Commission, as well as by his own office, were prerequisites to any decision on the merger.
However, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville pointed out that he and Bishop Ronald Gainer of Lexington must also give approval for the new entity to be officially called a Catholic institution.
lifesitenews.com/news/kentucky-gov-may-force-catholic-hospital-to-commit-sterilizations-abortion