Jesuit university’s medical school establishes campus at hospital censured by bishop

August 22, 2012

The medical school at Creighton University, a Jesuit institution in Omaha, has established a second campus at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. Bishop Thomas Olmsted stripped the hospital of its Catholic status in 2010 for its refusal to adhere to Catholic ethical directives; an abortion took place there in 2009.

“We knew of the bishop's decision before we sent the first students there,” said Rowen Zetterman, dean of the medical school, who added that he was “confident we can maintain the Catholic and Jesuit values” of the university.

“To ensure clarity on the issue, I wish to affirm to all of the faithful that St. Joseph's Hospital is not a Catholic institution,” Bishop Olmsted said following Creighton’s decision. “St. Joseph's Hospital does not faithfully adhere to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. Catholics, and all people of good will, are advised that they cannot be guaranteed authentic Catholic health care at St. Joseph's Hospital.”

In 2010, the Committee on Doctrine of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a 24-page critique of a book on sexuality by two Creighton University theology professors.

 

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Further information:

• Catholic medical school affiliates with hospital censured by bishop (CNS)
• Bishop Olmsted issues statement of clarification in light of new medical school at St. Joseph's Hospital (Diocese of Phoenix)
• Bishop strips Phoenix hospital of 'Catholic' designation (CWN, 12/21/10)
• US bishops’ committee warns against Creighton theologians’ book on sexuality (CWN, 9/23/10)