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Posted on 06/12/2009 10:39:57 AM PDT by presidio9
Caritas Christi Health Care, which operates six hospitals in Massachusetts, will neither perform abortions nor make referrals to other health care providers for patients seeking abortions, Cardinal Sean O'Malley said.
O'Malley issued the statement after Catholic and anti-abortion activists criticized the decision by Caritas Christi, which is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, to enter into a partnership with a secular health care company.
The joint venture with Celtic Group, Inc. would allow Caritas Christi to participate in the state's health care connector program, created under the landmark 2006 health care law to help residents sign up for lower-cost insurance plans.
Activists say the connector insurance plans offered by the joint venture, known as Celticare Health Plan, will make abortion referrals.
They point to a Celticare Web site they said provides links to family planning and reproductive service providers, including Planned Parenthood, which offer abortion services. They say that's a clear violation of Catholic principles, which prohibit abortion.
C. J. Doyle, executive director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, called the web site listings "final and conclusive proof that Caritas Christi will be a participant in state subsidized abortions."
"The question of Caritas Christi's involvement in practices which violate fundamental Catholic moral teaching has now been answered repeatedly and definitively," Doyle said in a written statement.
O'Malley defended the hospitals saying "it has always been clear to me that Caritas Christi has been consistently faithful in its commitment to comply with Catholic moral teaching."
"Under no circumstances will Caritas either perform procedures prohibited by the Catholic Bishops' Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services or refer any patient to other providers who perform or procure such procedures,"
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
Thanks, I've been paying attention, smart ass. Of course, the title of the thread isn't "No Abortions at Catholic hospitals, Except in the life of the mother", now is it.
In the future, before you lay a little sanctimony on someone, perhaps you can think what it means to be a Catholic yourself, that is if you are Catholic and you've been paying attention.
Hooray for Cardinal Sean O’Malley!
http://www.collinsreport.net/2009/03/02/obamas-friday-order-to-catholic-hospitals-shut-up-commit-abortions-or-i%e2%80%99ll-shut-you-down/
Collinsreport.net talked about this months ago and predicted the showdown that is coming.
Trust but verify.
Sounds good, but they’re just words at this point.
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