an interesting health-care connection
By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Dec 23, 2010
Were you surprised when the Catholic Health Association (CHA) came to the aid of Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), rather than Bishop Thomas Olmsted, in the dispute over ethical standards at St. Joseph’s Hospital? You shouldn’t have been.
The CHA has a track record for disagreements with Catholic bishops, most notably on the issue of Obamacare. But in this case there’s another important factor. Lloyd Dean, the president of Catholic Healthcare West, is also a member of the board, and of the 8-member executive committee, of the CHA.
Thus the man who helps set the standards for CHW—standards which Bishop Olmsted found conspicuously wanting—is helping to set the standards for the CHA. So it’s not surprising that the CHA is perfectly satisfied with the CHW, even if the bishop isn’t.
Phil Lawler has been a Catholic journalist for more than 30 years. He has edited several Catholic magazines and written eight books. Founder of Catholic World News, he is the news director and lead analyst at CatholicCulture.org. See full bio.
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