Catholic hospitals seen as focus of next key Church conflict
December 31, 2010
Conflicts between Catholic hospital administrators and local bishops-- like the conflict between Bishop Thomas Olmsted and St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix-- are likely to be the next major battleground within the American Church, writes Anne Hendershott in the Wall Street Journal. The subhead tells the story: "Administrators shop for theologians to support practices that conflict with church teachings."
This battle is overdue, Hendershott argues: "For too long, the authority of bishops has been limited to issuing mere opinions. This is especially true at Catholic colleges and universities, where bishops have little affect on the culture and curriculum."
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Posted by: Minnesota Mary -
Jan. 01, 2011 8:29 PM ET USA
Yes, the bishops are culpable for their neglect of properly catechizing Catholic people. They are reaping what they have sown.
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Posted by: Obregon -
Jan. 01, 2011 1:16 AM ET USA
Would it be reasonable to blame the bishops for this situation since they undermined the Church by ignoring John Paul's Ex Corde Ecclesia and by ignoring the growing cancer in our hospitals that dream to be just like their secular conterparts? I never thought I would see the day when episcopal authority would be seen as "intrusive" in so-called Catholic institutions.
