Olmsted, who stripped St. Joseph's of its Catholic status in December 2010 after a case that involved a terminated pregnancy, issued a "statement of clarification" because church members asked whether he had changed his mind after Creighton University established a new medical school this summer at the Phoenix hospital.
Olmsted said the arrival of Creighton "has led to some confusion" because the Omaha, Neb.-based university is a Catholic institution.
"To ensure clarity on the issue, I wish to affirm to all of the faithful that St. Joseph's Hospital is not a Catholic institution," Olmsted said. "St. Joseph's Hospital does not faithfully adhere to the ethical and religious directives for Catholic health-care services."
Olmsted declared that the hospital performed an abortion in November 2009 when it terminated the 11-week pregnancy of a woman who suffered from pulmonary hypertension, a condition that could have been fatal during pregnancy.
The hospital's medical staff said they performed the procedure to save the woman's life.
Hospital officials said they felt obligated to save the mother's life and believed the procedure followed the church's guidelines that allow exceptions for saving a mother's life. Olmsted disagreed.
St. Joseph's parent organization, formerly called Catholic Healthcare West, ended governing ties with the church this year and changed its name to Dignity Health.
Even with its parent organization's name change, St. Joseph's representatives said the hospital has not changed its mission of caring for patients.
Olmsted said Monday that parishioners "cannot be guaranteed authentic Catholic health care" at St. Joseph's.
Creighton representatives have been in discussion with St. Joseph's administration about Olmsted's declaration and Dignity Health's decision to sever ties with the church.
The university's medical-school dean has said the university does not view the hospital's disagreement with the Phoenix bishop as problematic for students or patients.
The hospital's medical staff said they performed the procedure to save the woman's life.
Hospital officials said they felt obligated to save the mother's life and believed the procedure followed the church's guidelines that allow exceptions for saving a mother's life. Olmsted disagreed.
St. Joseph's parent organization, formerly called Catholic Healthcare West, ended governing ties with the church this year and changed its name to Dignity Health.
Even with its parent organization's name change, St. Joseph's representatives said the hospital has not changed its mission of caring for patients.
Olmsted said Monday that parishioners "cannot be guaranteed authentic Catholic health care" at St. Joseph's.
Creighton representatives have been in discussion with St. Joseph's administration about Olmsted's declaration and Dignity Health's decision to sever ties with the church.
The university's medical-school dean has said the university does not view the hospital's disagreement with the Phoenix bishop as problematic for students or patients.