Health care should prioritize people, not profits. Yet, Catholic health systems continue to expand, acquiring more and more independent hospitals. Despite their non-profit status and because of their Catholic directives, they’re leaving devastating impacts on access, affordability, and basic rights in their wake.

A Growing Crisis 

The last two decades have seen a massive wave of hospital mergers, contributing to the growth of the Catholic health care system. This consolidation trend has led to:

  • Hospital closures that create health care deserts, particularly in rural and underserved communities. 
  • Unfair price increases due to lack of competition that make health care more expensive for all. 
  • A lack of reinvestment in the communities that Catholic non-profit health systems claim to serve, despite benefiting from massive tax breaks as non-profits.

Catholic institutions now comprise four of the ten largest health systems in the U.S. And despite their stated charitable mission, they account for half of the top ten health systems with the largest “fair share deficits.” That means they’re taking more from taxpayers than they’re giving back to their communities.    

The Dangers of Religious Refusals 

Beyond the financial impact, religious restrictions imposed by Catholic hospitals create dangerous barriers to care. The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic health services, written by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, must be followed by all Catholic health systems. These directives limit access to critical health care, often going against evidence-based medical standards and clinical guidelines, including:

  • Reproductive care, such as refusing life-saving abortions and forcing people to carry unviable pregnancies to term. 
  • Gender-affirming care, with policies that block surgeries and deny the rights of transgender patients.

These restrictions have left patients like Ollie, who was excited for long-awaited gender-affirming surgery, without options after last-minute cancellations. Similarly, countless others are forced to travel long distances – or face life-threatening delays – to access the care they want and need.  

For instance: 

  • Anna Nusslock’s Story: In February 2024, Anna Nusslock, 15 weeks pregnant with twins, experienced premature rupture of membranes. She sought emergency care at Providence St. Joseph Hospital, a Catholic-affiliated institution in Eureka, California. Despite the non-viability of her pregnancy and significant health risks, the hospital refused to perform an emergency abortion due to its religious policies. Nusslock was advised to travel to another facility and was allegedly provided only with a bucket and towels for the journey.  
  • Evan Minton’s Story: In 2016, Evan Minton, a transgender man, had his hysterectomy canceled by Mercy San Juan Medical Center, a Catholic hospital in California, due to religious directives prohibiting gender-affirming procedures. The hospital chain regularly provides hysterectomies for patients who aren’t transgender.  
  • Oliver Knight’s Story: In 2017, Oliver Knight, another transgender man, was scheduled for a hysterectomy at St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, California. His surgery was canceled minutes before it was to begin, citing the hospital’s adherence to Catholic doctrines. Knight subsequently filed a lawsuit against the hospital.
This Isn’t About Faith – It’s About Our Health

This issue isn’t about Catholic people, many of whom disagree with these restrictive policies. It’s about holding large health systems accountable to their non-profit mission and ensuring health care serves everyone, not just some of us. 

Ascension, one of the largest Catholic health systems in the U.S., has been closing labor and delivery departments at a rate higher than the national average. From 2012 to 2021, Ascension shuttered more than 26% of its maternity units, disproportionately affecting areas with high poverty rates and communities of color. These closures contribute to health care deserts that limit access to essential maternal care. 

We all deserve access to affordable, comprehensive care that respects our rights and dignity – no exceptions.

Take Action 

We need your voice to push back against these harmful practices. 

📢 Sign the petition today to demand accountability and ensure that no one is denied the care they need due to religious refusals or corporate greed.

Together, we can fight for a health care system that prioritizes people over profits.

Resources

Bigger and Bigger: The Growth of Catholic Health Systems

In 2020, a new round of hospital data analysis has documented nearly two decades of growth by Catholic health systems.

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Holding Hospitals Accountable on their Fair Share Contributions to the Community

Non-profit hospitals across the country get millions of dollars a year in tax breaks for their work in the community. The question is: how many of these non-profit hospitals are doing enough to deserve this tax break and who is holding them accountable?

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Non-Profit Hospitals and the Medical Debt Crisis in America

In the simplest of terms, many non-profit hospitals aren’t living up to their promise to community – and it’s having significant impacts on the health and financial security of people.

Read more