Catholic hospital to allow transgender surgery after being sued

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Comments: 34

Seton Medical Center in Daly City, CA

Daly City, Calif., Mar 4, 2008 / 04:19 am (CNA).- A Catholic hospital that refused to allow its facilities to be used for breast implant surgery on a man that had undergone a sex-change operation will now allow the procedure, the California Catholic Daily reports.

In 2006 a doctor told Charlene Hastings, 57, that Seton Medical Center in Daly City would not allow him to perform breast-enhancement surgery on a transsexual. Hastings claimed that upon further inquiry a surgical coordinator at the hospital said to him, “It’s not God’s will” and “God made you a man.”

A 2006 memo sent by Seton Medical Center to physicians said, “transgender procedures or procedures that are part of the transgendering process may not be performed at Seton, as Seton is a Catholic Hospital.”

Hastings filed suit against the hospital in San Francisco Superior Court in December. The suit alleged that Seton violated state law, which allows religiously-based hospitals to refuse to perform abortions but makes no exemption for denying elective surgery for transgender operations.

On February 27 the San Francisco television station CBS 5 News reported that the hospital had issued a written statement to CBS 5 that said, “We regret any confusion that may have come from this situation. We want this patient and her physician to know that they are welcome at Seton Medical Center.”

The hospital still said that Catholic teaching prohibits the accommodation of sex-change operations.

The CBS 5 News station characterized the statement as a “veiled apology.” It said, “transgender Charlene Hastings has claimed moral victory against Catholics.”

According to the California Catholic Daily, Hasting’s attorney, Chris Dolan, said that a lawsuit seeking monetary damages would proceed.

“Like any good religious experience, first you need enlightenment and then you need atonement,” said Dolan. “And what we have here perhaps is a glimpse of enlightenment. Has it changed their heart? I don’t think so. Will it change their practice? It better.”

Hastings will not undergo surgery at Seton, saying he would not be comfortable because he would feel the hospital would be “doing it under duress.”

Comments: 34

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Katherine
Winnipeg/Canada 04/11/2010 06:31 PM EST

Is there no love in any of your hearts? Would you harm people, in the name of your God? Would you tell people to live in pain because it is against your belief to cure them on the Sabbath, or at your hospital? Perhaps as you say they would be better served by the Samaritans. Wake up people of Judah. You have hurt the children of God, you have despised them and mocked them. You have brought them down in their despair, and they have called out to God in their prayers. They seek to live in peace, and you hold judgment over them. You stone them. Who among you has not broken the very law you are claiming to defend - which women among you have worn pants, or worked outside of your home? Which men have not been perfumed as women are? You have broken the very rule of God, love your neighbor. The respect of a human being. Who was that person harming? Who was being hurt? What but your pride was lost? Oh the Pharisees and Sadducee count their laws, and ignore the meaning. Would you incite anger and violence against people? Would you justify hatred in the name of the God of Love. Can you repent and find love in your hearts? Or have your hearts been too hardened by fear and hatred?

Published by: Patrick
Las Vegas NV 01/29/2009 11:09 AM EST

I agree there is seperation of church and state! I agree the goverment has NO right to tell a catholic hospital what to do and not to do ... HOWEVER if this hospital is taking ANY money from ANY goverment and or state or claiming Tax exemption based on a church this hospital MUST follow the law ! Now if the hospital pays ALL of its taxes and does NOT take any money or exemptions (including medicare and medicade) then the state is wrong and the hospital should have the right to refuse service ! I believe that religion is a person and or a group of peoples beliefs and should be fully respected however i believe that if all people are paying taxes to fund it then they cant exclude anyone.. fair is fair dont expect me to pay and not benefit from it likewise if i dont pay my share i shouldnt benefit

Published by: Stephanie
Los Angeles 10/28/2008 05:07 PM EST

Transgenderism is also know as GID (Gender Identity Disorder), a mental illness. Physical mutilation of the mentally ill is wrong, regardless of religion.

Published by: Aiden Ellis
Columbus, GA, USA 09/22/2008 09:06 PM EST

I feel it important to represent Columbus, GA fairly so that all that may stumble across this article do not feel that this town is full of closed-minded apes. As a transgender person I can tell you that these battles of biology vs. identity are indeed very real and it is not the gender reassignment surgery that causes the suicides. The suicide rate in my community is caused by a lack of acceptance from society. Perhaps if society as a whole would drop the judgements and lose the fear of people that are different the suicide rate would drop. By not allowing a transgender person the freedom to have SRS procedures you would simply be imprisoning them to a life in a body that is deformed. Just because "God created" a child with a cleft lip doesn't mean that a corrective operation is going against"God's will".

Published by: Rendrean Temple
Buffalo,ny usa 08/19/2008 07:24 AM EST

A transgendered person is one born with the wrong genitalia and the only correction is surgery.

Published by: Marie
Peoria, IL 08/03/2008 08:58 PM EST

Transsexuality is an intersexed physiological medical condition. God created a diverse mix of different kinds of people and sex and gender are not black and white issues. There are many factors involved including brain sex and physical ambiguity. I find it hypocritical that so many of the Catholics alter their bodies....put on make-up,color their hair, pierce their ears and have boob jobs and face-lifts themselves and then tell others they can't!. When someone they don't understand because of their lack of education does it because of a condition that they did not choose, suddenly they are upset. Give me a break. God loves his gender gifted children and you should pray that you never have to suffer the way so many transgendered people do in society.

Published by: frances
New York, NY 04/11/2008 12:31 AM EST

Catholic America is crumbling. American Catholic institutions need to get exemption from anything against Catholic beliefs or refuse government money.

Published by: Kathy
Chicago, Illinois 03/14/2008 08:39 PM EST

Veronica, you are being disingenuous. Breast augmentation for a man would be part of a transgender surgery.

Published by: Jaime Ochoa
atwater, ca. 03/08/2008 10:40 AM EST

Thank God Im Catholic! I'll pray for that hospital.

Published by: Kathy
Chicago, Illinois 03/08/2008 07:53 AM EST

Veronica,
I would think, for a man going through this process, it would be PART of the transgender surgery not merely a breast augmentation.

Published by: Lance Patrick
Columbus, GA USA 03/07/2008 10:28 PM EST

Time to stop taking government money or close. Maybe it is also time to pay attention to supporting the faithful first. It is fine if everyone else wants the benefits of Catholic hospitals and schools but it must be on the Church's terms, not the state. Pray for shepherds strong enough to defend us.

Published by: Jason Miller
Santa Paula, CA 93060 03/05/2008 05:37 PM EST

In reply to xrk9854:

I am completely confident this psychiatrically disturbed person (Gender Identity Disorder is a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis) is NOT a woman. Let's make a monetary bet, get the individual genetic tested, and check the sex chromosomes. Guarantee you they are XY. P.T. Nothing can change that. And speaking of ignorant, you obviously know very little about Galileo or you would realize that Galileo was punished NOT because of his scientific discoveries (several of which were in error), but he rather arrogantly and forcefully tried to push theological changes due to them. These changes were in fact erroneous - Galileo was wrong. Maybe how Galileo was dealt with was wrong, but the Catholic church was not in error in how it proceeded scientifically and theologically.

Finally, your comments on the hospital having to comply with state law by taking state funding - this may not be so since they are trying to force a religious institution to go against its beliefs. Courts change from time to time and state to state regarding this. So it is a point of legitimate debate. In a related matter, the high rate of suicide and psychiatric maladjustment that people encounter after sex reassignment surgery suggests this is not a healthy practice for healthcare professionals to engage in. This maladjustment and suicide cannot be explained by so called "intolerance" as well, since the same rates are seen in countries where there have been decades of acceptance.

Published by: xrk9854
Utopia, USA 03/05/2008 10:38 AM EST

You people are so ignorant. If the hospital takes state money it MUST comply with state law. No ifs, ands, or buts.

The hospital in question was in violation of state law period!

Published by: Nancy
Los Angeles, Ca 03/05/2008 02:43 AM EST

If God created that person the way he/she is, then it should be that way. God does not make mistakes but He has his purposes and if the person who wants different sex should look up to God and say, "Let it be your will and not mine." This bit of being trap on another gender's body is not a life threatening. Accept the will of God and don't try to change the way He created you and accept His ultimate will! The hospital being Catholic should refuse this kind of operations, that is why the name is Catholic meaning belonging to Jesus Christ, if they give in ad perform these kind of operations - then the name should not be Catholic hospital!!

Published by: Nate
Iliff,CO 03/05/2008 12:02 AM EST

Catholicism: The last allowable persecution continues as it will until the breaking of this world. Take Hope, never cease in zeal and passion for spreading the faith and fighting for our right as Catholics. Remember that the Church flourishes under duress!!!! People live as if there is no eternity! Pray for them!Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Published by: Alicia
Australia 03/04/2008 10:58 PM EST

Why do these ignorant reporters insist on calling a transgender woman 'he'? I'd love it if they were put in the spotlight and they were called what they weren't to see how they would handle it.

Published by: william wendt
philadelphia,pa. 03/04/2008 10:39 PM EST

the devil never rests!

Published by: Kelly
CA 03/04/2008 03:06 PM EST

How interesting. Apparently it is morally valid (as indicated by the complete lack of objection) for Seton to host countless breast augmentation procedures for non-transgender women, most of which (not including reconstruction) are performed as a result of vanity, pride and lust. But when the procedure is part of treatment for a medical condition that makes us uncomfortable, it is suddenly a victory for Satan. Bit of a double standard, don't you think, to ignore the immorality we secretly like and cry outrage over something we don't understand?

Perhaps we are too quick to twist God's word into justification for our sinfulness...

Published by: Maryanne
Pittsburgh, PA 03/04/2008 03:03 PM EST

If Catholic hospitals can be forced to go against the Catholic faith, we should close them as many Bishops said they would do before going against doctrine. What happened to the consitution that allow free practice of religion. This is exactly what Jefferson was afraid of when he tried to keep the state from interfering in the life of the Church.

Published by: Jack Angelo Territo
Buffalo,ny USA 03/04/2008 01:28 PM EST

Someone wrote WHY dont Catholics fight back ? How could they when Popes,bishops tell them to turn the other cheek and to love the enemyand PRAY MY SON? TO BE cATHOLIC, I guess, is to shed one's manhood?

Published by: nancyryan
kensingtonNH/USA 03/04/2008 01:08 PM EST

This is deplorable. Ts man could have gone to any other hospital of his choosing-If he oes not like the stance of our catholic teachings then he shold respect that. There are many things i don't like either but I respect other belifs when it comes to faith. Wake up people before it is to late. This man or woman is just plain greedy. In the end God will judge this person.

Published by: John
Redmond, OR 03/04/2008 01:00 PM EST

Just another Catholic hospital with no spine and no will to fight for what they believe is right. I'm glad that Jesus didn't take that attitude.

Published by: Gail J
Washington State 03/04/2008 12:58 PM EST

As a Catholic I am saddened and enraged. Hastings wanted an apology and then discounted it. Hastings wanted the operation at Seton and now does not. Hastings refuses Seaton's apology and offer to operate but DOES WANT MONEY and will sue for it!

Catholics are welcome to give to charity but not to uphold the beliefs and principles of their faith.

BLACKMAIL! So unfair!
Must we close all our Catholic hospitals and charities? If so, it will be a tragedy for our nation!

Published by: Phil
Nashville, TN, USA 03/04/2008 12:36 PM EST

Rate: Very Good

Why all the fuss if this person will end up having the surgery at another facility, anyway? The fact that Seton Medical Center, until it caved in to PC pressure, refused to do it did NOT keep this person from getting it somewhere else. Just another example of the Christian-haters trying to change the Church. How TOLERANT of them.

Published by: joyce
Illinois 03/04/2008 12:16 PM EST

The attacks against Catholic beliefs (Church) do not cease; the vultures need to feed their greed.

Dolan's comment "It better." sounds powerful doesn't it? What's his percent of the take when all is said and done? We all end up accountable in the end, thank God.

Published by: Greg Cwik
Buffalo NY 03/04/2008 12:14 PM EST

This is disgusting, why should a "Catholic" hospital be forced to perform procedureds that are against the church teaching. I think all Catholics should revolt and start burning and rioting like the Muslims do, maybe we'll be given preferential treatment like they get. What happenede to seperation of Church and State, if that's the case maybe the State should start funding catholic education.

Published by: Nancy Seip
FL 03/04/2008 12:07 PM EST

Attorney Dolan needs to be 'struck' with a genuine religious experience before he presumes to know anything about the subject.

The Catholic hospital was doing the right thing.

Published by: Christine Fitch
Perrysburg,Ohio 03/04/2008 11:13 AM EST

It would have been better for Seton Hospital to close there doors then to go against God for the likes of this sick man who thinks he is a woman.They just gave a victory to Satan.When are you catholics going to show some spine.Who is more important,God or money.

Published by: xrk9854
Utopia, USA 03/04/2008 09:42 AM EST

Your biased views continue. Why can't you show some respect for the WOMAN in question? Hopefully the Church will be quicker to change their attitude on this than they were about Galileo (over 500 years!!!).

Published by: Chuck Anziulewicz
Spring Hill, West Virginia, USA 03/04/2008 08:52 AM EST

Rate: Regular

Let's face it: Human beings are subject to a multitude of physical and psychological afflictions, many of which have a genetic or congenital origin. Does this mean God makes mistakes? Of course not. But the fact that God does NOT make mistakes does not preclude us from correcting these problems to the best of our medical and scientific ability; it's why God gave us BRAINS. And the fact is, Gender Dysphoria EXISTS. There are and always have been human beings who are genuinely convinced that they are born into bodies of the wrong gender. Who are we do question their perceptions? And if, ultimately, gender reassignment surgery is what will make these children of God happy and give them peace, who are we do deny that? One does not submit to such radical medical procedures in a mercurial fashion; one doesn't just assume that if it doesn't work, they'll just go back later. So PLEASE, let's stop being so judgmental about transgender people, unless we are willing to walk a day in their shoes.

Published by: Teresa
Milwaukee, WI USA 03/04/2008 08:36 AM EST

This is outrageous! How can the government force any religious institution to perform procedures against their beliefs??? Where is the freedom of religion??? This individual can go to a secular hospital and have theis procedure done; why did he even go to a Catholic hospital in the first place? Has everyone lost their minds??? This makes NO SENSE!

Published by: Rich
Katy, TX 03/04/2008 08:32 AM EST

Chalk up another one for the sodomites.

Published by: Zuma
Santa Rosa 03/04/2008 07:55 AM EST

So much for the right of the Catholics to practice and protect the principals of their religion.

If I were that hospital I would refuse and if the state demanded it, I would close the hospital. Sorry, I choose to believe in Jesus over the state, and its corrupt courts!

Published by: Veronica
Greencastle, IN 03/04/2008 07:39 AM EST

It's not "transgender surgery;" it's breast augmentation.

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