From USA Today, 12/21/10:

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‘In the decision to abort, the equal dignity of mother and her baby were not both upheld,’ Olmsted said at a news conference announcing the decision. ‘The mother had a disease that needed to be treated. But instead of treating the disease, St. Joseph’s medical staff and ethics committee decided that the healthy, 11-week-old baby should be directly killed…’

Unfortunately, subsequent communications with leadership at St. Joseph’s and (Catholic Healthcare West) have only eroded my confidence about their commitment to the church’s ethical and religious directives for healthcare,” Olmsted said. ‘They have not addressed in an adequate manner the scandal caused by the abortion.’

What happened, you see, is that the hospital saved the life of a young mother suffering from seriously high blood pressure. Her eleven- week pregnancy endangered her life to the point where doctors felt the only alternative was to terminate it.

The Roman Catholic Diocesse of Phoenix, represented by Bishop Thomas Omstead, doesn’t like that. They consider it a “scandal.” St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center has therefore been stripped of its affiliation with the church.

The next time anyone hears the Catholic Church praising the “dignity” of pregnant women, this case should be kept in mind.