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RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES

Fetuses Aren't People, Says Catholic Hospital

Malpractice case has Catholic group rejecting deeply-held belief

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by Mary Noble

Senior Editor t

Image: edinchavez.com

A Colorado man is suing a Catholic hospital because his wife and the 7-month twins she was carrying died in the examination room.

Lori Stodghill, 31, died from a clogged artery, after the obstetrician on call failed to answer his pager.

The hospital's defense? They're not liable for the twins' deaths, because fetuses are not persons with legal rights in Colorado. That defense rests on state law, which asserts that the "term 'person,' as it is used in the Wrongful Death Act, encompasses only individuals born alive,'" reports the Colorado Independent.

But since the St. Thomas More Hospital is Catholic-affiliated, it adheres to the Ethical and Religious Directives of the Catholic Church. These include the statement that "the Church's defense of life encompasses the unborn" and an affirmation of "the sanctity of life 'from the moment of conception.'"

The hospital is run by Catholic Health Initiatives, a nonprofit that directs 170 other healthcare facilities nationwide.

Via the Colorado Independent. H/T Politix user DARSB.
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What's your take on the Catholic hospital's case that fetuses aren't people?

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Comments (view in Forum)

  • DerivePI
    !
    It would take a godly amount of courage and faith for a person with any convictions to not be hypocritical in today's world. For decades, the church has been working to get Colorado to recognize unborn children as people. Yet, given this circumstance, the same people who refuse to recognize these children as people are asking the catholic church to fall on their own sword. Hypocritical indeed. Yet, from standardless people the desire to cast down any standard continues to be evident.

    Yes, the catholic church is being hypocritical. Even going to court over this lawsuit is contrary to the gospel they preach. The example is high and we are just people, but what is it to you?
  • harold_lloyd
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    Let's not hear any more talk about resisting Obamacare because it forces birth control services on Catholic institutions.
    That what I like about this country though, even for the church, when it comes right down to it, business is business.

    Will the Muslim world please take note.
  • o
    woodtick57
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    Only on those Catholic institutions playing in the real world. if they open a business to the public, they have to play by real world rules. they can do as they wish in their gov't subsidized churches...
  • harold_lloyd
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    @woodtick57
    Speaking of which, why are all the activities of a church exempt from taxation, and not just the sanctuary where worship takes place?
  • harold_lloyd
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    @Denizen_Kate
    There are times when the church doctrine has to bend to the reality of the day. If it can't, it becomes an impediment to the functioning of society.
  • View all 6 replies >
  • twinertia
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    "People" anywhere else, until it might cost them some money. This is IT, folks; it shows these cults for what they REALLY are. There's nothing caring or devoted or even remotely "pious" about their positions.
  • ASmith
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    Those who control religious cults aren't concerned about morality. They're concerned about money and power, and anything that serves that end (or is self-serving toward that end) is acceptable to the cult.
  • hwyangel
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    " A Colorado man is suing a Catholic hospital"
    In other words "the Colorado man" took the matter to the state court, not the church. And according to the state laws, not the church, the unborn are not people with rights.
  • drpeeper
    !
    @hwyangel It's a fetus if you don't want it- a baby if you do. I wish people would understand that. It's a way to rationalize with some people.
  • hwyangel
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    @drpeeper

    Fetus: The term used to describe a developing human infant from approximately the third month of pregnancy until delivery. The term embryo is used prior to the third month.
    The point was that the matter taken to court was subject to the laws of that court.
  • VCP
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    @hwyangel but the church is hiding behind the state law to save money. Which is obviously more important to them than their doctrine. Imagine that?
  • View all 8 replies >
  • CanadianIndy
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    When Jesus was asked if Jews should still pay taxes and obey Cesaer's laws, he answered: "Render unto Cesaer that which is Cesaer's." Therefore, technically, the Catholic Church is following the teachings of their god by following the laws of the land.

    However, the hopeless cynic in me can't help but be suspicious due to the nature of the case. The hospital, Catholic or not, was at fault. They're just trying to get off on a technicality just like any other guilt felon would. So is it right? Are they following their god's teachings? Are they dodging? One could argue any side and still come to a dead heat with the other.
  • methinks
    !
    I'm a Catholic and I agree with you on this. That why I voted "it's complicated."

    The man is suing over the state law, which seems to take precedent in this case.

    That being said, at 7 months, those twins could have survived if the doctor had gotten there in time. Babies as early as 21 weeks have survived; these were at 28 weeks, so I am leaning toward the father's case on this.
  • u
    tomincali
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    laws of the lands,too bad they pick and chose which laws, when it is for their pocket they support it,if taking form their pocket they don't care about the law of the land.
  • Thegrif
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    I agree. You can't have it both ways Church.
    Against abortion- calling it the taking of a life.
    And
    Not taking responsibility for the deaths of these unborn twins by saying they were not alive.
    This seems like a lawyer move to me, not a church move.
    So lets not get all crazy blaming the church, blame hospital admin.
  • hwyangel
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    Suing people in a public court is not a Christian practice. So by taking a matter to court subjects it to the laws of the court, and the state law says that the unborn are not people with rights. Had the matter been brought to the church elders it would have been an entirely different outcome.
  • russ
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    I have to differ with you on this one. I knew a young lady who was the Queen of the Demolay chapter in St Louis MO about 1970. It was BEFORE Roe v Wade. She became pregnant and wanted an abortion. Although it was illegal, her beloved Catholic Church flew her to New York where she could get one all expenses paid. Sounds like the same outcome, different circumstances.
  • hwyangel
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    @russ

    There was no scientific evidence of life at conception before roe vs wade. A lot of people were misinformed then.
  • DARSB
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    I have a bit of information to contribute. I was the Director of Quality Resources at that hospital, and I know the OB GYN involved. St. Thomas More is the only hospital in that county, the next nearest about 40 minutes away. Since it's the only hospital it necessarily serves a large number of non Catholics.

    I don't know if the plaintiff in this case is Catholic, but it shouldn't matter: why would anyone ask the Church to adjudicate a case of negligence by a Church owned hospital? As we see with the ongoing conspiracy to shield pedophile priests, the Church is not above acting in its own interests no matter the cost to the individual.
  • hwyangel
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    @DARSB

    The pedophile priest is a good example. Most people believe that he was being protected, I don't believe that was the case.
    When a matter is brought to the church it is delt with by church law. Amnesty and Anonymity does not negate penance.
  • o
    woodtick57
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    @hwyangel

    the catholic church knowingly moved pedophiles from parishes where people were complaining about their molestation of kids to other, unknowing parishes. how in the world is that not covering uyp thier activities? w;hy did they not contact the proper authorities to have those priests prosecuted for the crimes they knew they commited?
  • View all 23 replies >
  • Jean
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    we have too many "cafeteria catholics" in the Catholic church. Those who want to pick and choose what they want to believe at their convienance instead of following the path that Christ laid out for us. They think they know better than Him!??! NOT!!!
  • ConserveUSA
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    Jean, you are so correct and it is either Roman Catholic or Not. I believe excommunication should be the best for who made this terrible statement.
  • u
    Kellso
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    The Catholic Church should denounce and should separate this so called hospital from ANYTHING connected to the church
    John the Baptist was 6 months in the woumb when Mary approached and as read in the Holy Bible, John lept inside his mother because he could sense the presence of Jesus in Mary's woumb and HE was only there for a few hours!
    The Bible gives us all answers..........not just part of them, and we CAN NOT pick and choose which ones we believe.
  • Knightkore
    !
    So, I have a question....I understand the hypocrisy of this case....that is the obvious surface-level thing to see....when I read this I nearly vomited....but what really disturbs people their hypocrisy or them actually using the progressive liberal laws....the current abortion non-person laws that so many progressive liberals hold to, to hide behind?

    Shouldn't progressive liberals be encouraging the church?
  • PayThatCEO
    !
    Encouraging them would be feeding into the hypocrisy. My God, come on. This Church, with centuries of brutality and murder on its side, has been a destructive force in the lives of women and children. And now, when the tables turn and its the Church that must face its own music...well, it just changes the rules for itself. The Catholic Church is a disgusting power and money hungry monster that should have been destroyed long ago.
  • u
    Hireman
    !
    This is a clear case of the legal team telling the church to hide behind the law instead of taking one on the chin for its values.
  • u
    BelinKS
    !
    That deliberit hypocrisy. But I think that state needs a law change. Babies born at 7 months now survive. If that had happened in my state they would be in it for all three!
  • u
    S-N-A-F-U
    !
    "Stultus est sicut stultus facit!"

    They could be right, I took a fetus from the garbage can from that hospital and planted it in my back yard -- Shazam!!! Now I have Walnut tree.....<wink>
  • Ashstop
    !
    Why is it when the courts rule a certain way then those in favor of it act like its the "Actual Word of God" spoken , indisputable, but the same ruling now isn't right? Abortion Fans scream it's not human, it's only a fetuse! Now same people yell it is human? Come on! Which is it?
    If your going to say the law applies for abortion then you have to say it applies here too.
    Is it human if its wanted? Not human if its not?
    Church is using our own laws the same as abortionist use it.. To their favor
  • o
    woodtick57
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    Actually, in this case it is the catholic church trying to have it both ways....

    Since there is no real word of god, most sane people just consider the rulings of our courts to be the law of the land...
  • SkepticSimian
    !
    Only the woman has the right to decide to whether or not terminate her pregnancy. Pro-choice is not a license for a doctor/church-hospital to be negligent.
  • Ashstop
    !
    @woodtick57
    True, but all abortionist should be agreeing with them about this, if the baby isn't alive then it's not alive.
  • Ashstop
    !
    @SkepticSimian
    Yea, I choose life
    I think if this really is the only evidence they have, that he didn't answer his pager then it's a weak case, can they prove the pager went off, that the hospital knew he didn't answer it? I would hate to know I would be sued anytime I didn't hear my phone
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