London, England, Feb 23, 2008 / 01:24 am
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor has ordered the board of directors of a Catholic hospital in London to resign after disputes over staff support of abortion, contraception, and sex-change operations, the Guardian reports.
General practitioners at St. John and St. Elizabeth Hospital had been referring patients for abortions and prescribing the so-called morning-after pill, scandalizing many Catholics.
The general practitioners serve about 9,000 patients at the hospital, which is funded by Britain’s National Health Service, self-paying patients, private health insurance companies and charitable donations. The hospital serves patients regardless of their religious beliefs, and its maternity ward has become fashionable among celebrities.
According to the Guardian, a spokesman for the Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor explained the decision, saying, "In light of recent difficulties and challenges the cardinal asked the board to resign their office. This was to enable a new chairman to begin his office with the freedom to go about ensuring the future wellbeing of this Catholic hospital. The cardinal offered his sincere thanks to the old board and all they had done."