"These are very difficult issues..."

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Nov 17, 2004

The indomitable Maria Elena Kennedy asks some tough follow-up questions about so-called "induced labor" procedures in Catholic hospitals. In reply, she gets smoke.

When this reporter pressed [Dan] Boyle [communications director for Providence Saint Joseph in Burbank] on whether or not late term abortions were performed at Providence hospitals in the San Fernando Valley, he said, "I did check with our corporate headquarters, and I'm very limited in what I can say." According to Boyle, "this procedure is done rarely; it's a private procedure. If this procedure is necessary, we conduct an ethical review to make sure we are in compliance with the [USCCB's] Ethical and Religious Directives."

Boyle seemed uncomfortable with the questioning. When this reporter again asked him if the procedure was performed at Providence hospitals, he replied. "these are very difficult issues. I am very limited in what I can say." When asked if the hospital was in compliance with the federal Born Alive Infants Protection Act, which requires medical personnel to render assistance to babies who survive an abortion, Boyle replied that the hospital follows the Ethical and Religious Directives.

So ask yourselves, were it the case that no late-term abortions are performed at the Providence hospitals, would their communications director be limited in what he could say? Where there's smoke ...

Tip to Patrick Madrid.