Row over nuns’ involvement in maternity hospital escalates

The proposed relocation of the National Maternity Hospital in Ireland to the campus of St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin, which is owned by the Religious Sisters of Charity, may not go ahead due to claims of possible religious interference in the new taxpayer-funded €300 million facility, writes Sarah Mac Donald.

Under an agreed deal, a subsidiary of St Vincent’s Healthcare Group would be “sole owners” of the new hospital in return for the land on which the new facility is built. The Religious Sisters of Charity are the major shareholders of the healthcare group.

In the past week, a row erupted following a campaign by those opposed to any Catholic ethos in the new maternity hospital. More than 90,000 people signed a petition expressing opposition to the Sisters’ involvement in the hospital and some politicians were critical. Health Minister, Simon Harris, said there was “no question of religious interference” with the new hospital.

A former master of the National Maternity Hospital, Dr Peter Boylan, who publicly criticised the Religious Sisters of Charity’s ownership of the hospital, refused to resign from the hospital board despite being asked to do so by  the board’s deputy chairman, Nicholas Kearns.

Dr Boylan, chairman of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, claimed the new hospital may not provide sterilisation, infertility treatment, gender reassignment surgery and abortion in light of the Religious Sisters of Charity’s involvement. The St Vincent’s Hospital board has indicated it will review the project.