Catholic Hospital Hypocrisy
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I work for a hospital that is part of a Catholic organization. When I went to employee orientation 10 years ago, I was surprised to hear that they would not pay for any birth control medications or procedures based on their Catholic faith. They stated that it is part of their belief system and they feel strong enough about it to take this stance. About a year ago, our emergency room was highlighted in a newspaper article reporting on the difference in care a female rape victim might receive based on which hospital she goes to. Our Catholic hospital forbids ER doctors from even discussing the abortion pill with these patients, which is pertinent information to share with these women when discussing all risks and treatment options based on their situation and information shared when treated by other area hospitals without a Catholic affiliation. Boy, those Catholics really stand by their beliefs. That’s admirable regardless of whether or not I agree with them. But wait a minute. I realized last year when I worked on Easter, the holiest of Catholic holidays that pays homage to the day Christ, their savior, rose from the dead after being crucified, is not a paid holiday. According to their pay scales, it’s no more holy of a day then St. Patrick’s Day. It looks like the common denominator when guiding their business values is budget, not religious convictions. Justin, raised Catholic, not actively practicing.
Comment by John on 8 February 2008:
Yes, I couldn’t agree more with the Hypocrisy of Catholic practices. We all know that they discourage birth control of any kind so more of them can procreate and carry on the Catholic faith.
Comment by Shelly on 8 February 2008:
I don’t think that Catholic establishments should be so strict with the rules especially in health care. I know the hospital by my house is Catholic and it’s 1 of 2 trauma icu’s in the state. Basically if you are in a serious accident you are rushed there.
If a womam is beaten and raped shouldn’t she be given the choice to take the morning after pill. It’s absolutely rediculous that a hospital that should be based on faith and high moral values would basically force this woman to have a child that could be disabled, genetically predestined to be a criminal and or……… Every day this woman would look at the child she may be subjected to ptsd.
Where’s your dad? He got the death sentence for raping and murdering 20 woman. I was born because he attacked my mom……
Comment by Mark on 8 February 2008:
Way to go Shelly. I fully agree with you. In today’s society religion should have a more moderate stance. Obviously the majority of Catholics practice safe sex with condoms and ue other types of Brth control. Catholic families rarely have 10 kids anymore. I assume birth control plays a role.
It seems in our society that people are too strict with following old religous princaple or they part of a large group who have no faith of any kind. People should just take all of the good ideas out of whatever faith and live a life following basic moral princaples.
Why can’t a hospital like these mentioned above come into the 21st century and ben on the rules.
Comment by vinesa on 8 February 2008:
Yes, it’s absolutely crazy hypocrisy at that hospital. HOw can they not give paid vacation for Easter. Isn’t christianity based on the idea of christ. As you pointed out Easter is suppossed to be the celebration of christ rising from the dead. As, it seems with most things in life it is really about money.
Comment by linda on 12 February 2008:
the hospital here in my hometown is catholic and their policies on reproduction and fertility has driven most ob’s that worked here out of town. The hospital in olympia on the westside is non secualr and that is where the best ob went tostart a woman centered practice. in fact, once i get my rn, i am not working at any hospital that doesn’t support my beliefs on women’s health care even it means i have to drive. in fact that hospital is in vancouver where their hospital practices everything from midwifery to high risk pregnancies.
Comment by pat on 18 February 2008:
Hi Justin,
You are so right about the hypocritical religion thing. It stems much deeper than just medical care. What about all of the priests and what they did to childeren. However, with that said, I believe that religiion, for the most part, does teach good moral values and the majority of people who practice those principals are good people.
Comment by Beth on 18 February 2008:
You said it Pat. Most people are good and have good intentions in life and business. It’s the smll percentage of bad people who we as a society tends to focus on.