Contact: Stephen Phelan, Human Life International, 540-622-5270, SPhelan@hli.org  

FRONT ROYAL, Va., Dec. 22, 2010 /Christian Newswire/ -- Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro-Carámbula, interim president of Human Life International (HLI), today praised the decision of Phoenix Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted to decree that Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) and its affiliate St. Joseph's Hospital cannot be considered Catholic.

"The situation is indeed regrettable, and it is clear how difficult it has been for Bishop Olmsted," said Monsignor Barreiro. "But this is what heroic, faithful leadership looks like. It does not take its cues from prevailing mores, but from the unchangeable teaching of the Church, which holds that every human person possesses not only life, but a dignity that demands our respect and defense, especially when he or she is most vulnerable."

"As Bishop Olmsted said in his statement, CHW has long been in violation of the clear and unchanging teaching of the Church which it supposedly represents. But CHW is obviously not practicing truly Catholic health care. Untold numbers of persons have been misled and harmed by CHW's shameful ignorance of the Church's teaching, and since we know that they have been on notice for several years about their errors, they can no longer claim ignorance," said Monsignor Barreiro. "Bishop Olmsted's decision, as difficult as it was, is just and is in harmony with truth. Every human being must be defended from unjust aggression, whether the aggressor is a powerful person, the state, or a physician."

"We hope that faithful Catholics around the nation will take the time to send Bishop Olmsted a note of support and appreciation, and will pray for him and his staff, for CHW, and for all involved in this sad affair," said Monsignor Barreiro.

Human Life International: Pro-Life Missionaries to the World

Founded in 1981, HLI is the world's largest international pro-life organization and has affiliates and associates in over 100 countries on six continents. www.hli.org