British cardinal sacks almost all directors of Catholic hospital

Published: 2008-02-26

LONDON (CNS) -- A British cardinal has fired almost the entire board of directors of a Catholic hospital where abortion referrals and contraceptives have been offered to patients. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor of Westminster requested the resignations of 10 of the 13 directors of London's Hospital of St. John and St. Elizabeth. His decision follows the appointment of Lord Guthrie, former head of Britain's armed forces, as the new chairman of the board in early February. "In the light of recent difficulties and challenges, the cardinal asked the board to resign their office," said a spokesman for the cardinal in a Feb. 22 statement. "This was to enable the new chairman to begin his office with the freedom to go about ensuring the future well-being of this Catholic hospital," he said. "The cardinal offered his sincere thanks to the old board for their generosity and all they had done for the hospital in the past."

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