A bill has been introduced into the Colorado legislature that would inhibit the right of a Catholic order of nuns to purchase two non-Catholic hospitals in the Denver area. The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System is seeking to acquire Lutheran and Good Samaritan hospitals, something the proposed legislation wants to thwart.
Catholic League president Bill Donohue supports the efforts of Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput and the Colorado Catholic Conference to help the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth succeed in their quest to obtain the two hospitals. Here is what he said:
“The idea that the Catholic Church wants to impose its will on the public is one of the oldest and most invidious canards ever expressed. Ironically, here we go again—except in reverse: It is the Church’s adversaries who want to impose their secular conception of health care on the Sisters. What is bothering some Colorado lawmakers is the right of Catholic hospitals not to perform operations, or make available certain drugs, which violate their ethical standards.
“The Catholic League stands with Archbishop Chaput when he says, ‘They [the Sisters] can’t compromise their Catholic beliefs without undermining their whole mission.’ It is for this reason that we strongly urge all members of the Colorado legislature to protect the religious liberty rights of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth to exercise their religious strictures.”
Contact: Morgan Carroll, chief sponsor of this draconian legislation:morgan.carroll.house@state.co.us
