PHOENIX – The bishop of the Phoenix Catholic Diocese has extended his deadline to a Phoenix hospital to comply with church teachings or lose its Catholic status. Bishop Thomas Olm-sted issued the demands in a letter to Catholic Healthcare West, the parent of St. Joseph’s Hospital.

The diocese said Friday that Olmsted extended the deadline to Tuesday because of attempts to rectify the situation with St. Joseph’s.

The Arizona Republic reported that the bishop wants more oversight over the hospital’s medical practices to ensure it complies with Catholic health care rules.

The conflict stems from a 2009 procedure in which a patient’s pregnancy was terminated in order to save her life. Olmsted argues the procedure was an abortion, but the hospital disagrees.

 


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