Posted on 12/21/2010 12:30:48 PM PST by marshmallow
Regarding St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, it is the oldest hospital in the Phx area having been founded in, I believe, 1895 or so by the Sisters of Mercy. It's greatest moment was my birth!
I believe this case has brought to a head problems that Bishop Olmsted has been having with St. Joe's and it's parent company "CHW" (If I heard right and understand correctly, just as "Kentucky Fried Chicken" legally changed it's name to "KFC" to get the word "fried" out of it's name, "Catholic HealthCare West" is officially change to "CHW". Makes sense, not all the hospitals that are part of CHW are Catholic).
The bishop had wanted to obtain three conditions from St. Joe's over the past year or so (time that I'm aware of at least) with acknowledgment of the mistake of this case being one -i.e. a direct abortion being performed. Also, the bishop wanted oversight for his team of theologians to ensure Catholic teachings/principles were being followed throughout the hospital, and education requirements of above consideration for medical staff (i.e. physicians). I noticed this article failed to mention these facts. There were other concerns of the bishop such as sterilizations, in vitro fertilization, etc. that contradict clear and continuous Catholic teaching and morals. The hospital has been dragging it's feet on all these for at least over a year now.
Showdown has finally ended. The good Bishop Olmsted has apparently decided that as chief shepherd of the Diocese of Phoenix he can no longer set forth St. Joseph's Hospital before the public as a Catholic Institution.
It didn’t seem like it just happened but things had been ongoing.
Basically, Bishop Olmsted - a very good and orthodox bishop - needs the ability as Ordinary of the See of Phoenix to verify and guide the Christian nature of Institutes that operate under the Catholic title for his See. It's his sacred duty and responsibility as bishop. St. Joe's and/or CHW's administration (operates out of San Francisco, I think) apparently doesn't want to give him that.
St. Joe's has the ability to appeal to the Holy See in Rome and reported a "feeler" that they might do so. But the papers are reporting that they don't plan on doing so "at this time". I'm putting my money on the fact that Bishop Olmsted has thoroughly investigated and vetted the whole affair and came to the correct conclusion that would be upheld by Rome. I think CHW realizes this.
In any case we're just reading what's been happening now without all the details.
at 12 weeks, the kid has soft bones, so you can’t really deliver him intact. At 18 weeks or later, you can. At 22 weeks, he has a chance to live if delivered at a major tertiary hospital (not the hospital in Phoenix, which is a secondary hospital).
The entire fiasco could have been prevented by a simple transfer to the nearest University hospital in Phoenix. They could also give other experimental options to mom. And if she decided to abort anyway, they could have done so without forcing Catholic nurses to help with the procedure.
Most women would chose abortion, but not all....
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