Catholic World News

Ohio Catholic health-care agency restructuring deal after bishop declines to approve partnership

September 27, 2013

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Bishop Richard Lennon of Cleveland, Ohio, has refused to approve a partnership between a Catholic health-care system and a hospital chain that performs abortions and sterilizations. But the Catholic health-care system plans to pursue the partnership under a different corporate arrangement.

Catholic Health Partners had planned to take a stake in Summa Health System, a corporate that provides abortion, contraception, and sterilization. After studying the proposal, Bishop Lennon wrote to the leaders of Catholic Health Partners, noting the perception that the Catholic agency would be “supporting healthcare issues contrary to Catholic teachings.”

The Catholic agency then announced that it would not be “directly involved” in the partnership. Instead Catholic Health Partners plans to set up a subsidiary corporation which can make the investment. Since the subsidiary would not be an officially Catholic enterprise, officials said, the bishop’s approval would no longer be required.

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Posted by: John J Plick - Sep. 29, 2013 2:41 PM ET USA
"Shrewdness" in disobedience should not be given a "free-pass..." Is the sin greater or lesser if a child should try to out-fox their own parent? Or, can "the parent" exonerate themselves of the perpetrated evil merely because the child "white-washes" it making it socially acceptable? In the extreme case, Anninias and Sapphira attempted to deceive St. Peter, making a "partial offering" appear as the whole. But Peter and the Holy Spirit did not let it pass.
Posted by: chasann113163 - Sep. 28, 2013 7:47 AM ET USA
They have learned from this administration how to to make the truth "sound" good.
Posted by: hartwood01 - Sep. 27, 2013 9:04 PM ET USA
There's always a way to make friends with Mammon,and the bean-counters found a way.
Posted by: bkmajer3729 - Sep. 27, 2013 7:06 PM ET USA
The business move is actually done regularly in corporate America. The problem that is unanswered is why the Bishop is allowing them to retain "Catholic" in their title. I guess they are no longer CATHOLIC Health "Partners" if a wholly owned subsidiary (partner) provides / performs abortions and offers contraception.
Posted by: DrJazz - Sep. 27, 2013 5:13 PM ET USA
Not “directly involved,” but they'll happily share in the profits. Sounds a little like the Mafia.