CHA = Catholic Health Asininity

Today's Pewsitter was quite informativie about more lunacy emanating from the so-called "Catholic" Health Association.  Recall that a few days ago, the Obama Hell Bill was ruled unconstitutional.  The main focus was the individual mandate provision, but because the bill lacks a severability clause, the whole thing was thrown out - as it should have been!  However, six medical groups filed an amicus curie brief to preserve the Obama Hell bill.  Amongst these was - you guessed it! - the Catholic Health Association.  Sister Carol Keehan must be worried that if the Obama Hell Bill goes in the trash, her Pen of Perfidy will run out of ink!  Pewsitter asks a good question, though.  Since the USCCB did not support the House's vote to repeal the mess, what might have been their collective opinion of CHA's stance on the suit?

In related news, many learned last week that Catholic Healthcare West, a subsidiary of the CHA, is funding a network that includes Planned Parenthood.  We all will recall that a few months ago, Bishop Olmsted of Phoenix rapped the knuckles of CHW by stripping one of their hospitals of its status as "Catholic" for authorizing an abortion within its premises.  Sadly, I'm not surprised.

Bishop Olmsted Strips St Joseph's Hospital Of Catholic Status

Today was the deadline for St Joseph's Hospital to indicate to Bishop Thomas Olmsted its promise to comply with Catholic moral teaching.  It obstinately refused.  Accordingly, Bishop Olmstead wielded his rightful authority and stripped St Joseph's Hospital of its status as a Catholic institution.  Please read His Excelleny's formal statement in the Arizona Catholic.

It goes without saying that Bishop Olmsted has shown courage that's all too rare amongst bishops today.  Moreover, as Catholic Culture points out, he raises the bar for those other bishops where Catholic Healthcare West has its tentacles.  Refer to the American Life League's report on that network.

Catholic Healthcare West Promotes Abortions

Apparently the abortion at St Joseph Hospital in Phoenix is rather par for the course with Catholic Healthcare West.  Its interest piqued by Bishop Olmstead's rebuke of CHW, the American Life League launched its own investigation of Catholic Healthcare West.  Within two days, they discovered much incriminating evidence to suggest that CHW no longer deserves the "Catholic" designation itself.  Read the report now.  Spread the word.

God bless Bishop Olmstead as his deadline for CHW approaches tomorrow.