Beacon Health's takeover of Ascension Borgess in southwest Michigan restored reproductive health services that Catholic doctrine had blocked for years.

What made the sale stand out is that these things usually happen the other way around. According to the health advocacy group Community Catalyst, as of 2020, the 10 largest Catholic health care systems now “own or control 394 short-term acute care hospitals.” Four of the 10 largest health care systems in the country are affiliated with the Catholic Church. More than 30% of births in the U.S. now happen in a Catholic hospital.

And that’s been a major problem because Catholic hospitals play by different rules, not dictated by what’s best for patients.

Their directives don’t come from medical professionals, but rather the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. And since anything involving contraception is forbidden in the faith, even a normal procedure like tubal ligation isn’t permitted. This rule applies even if future pregnancies would put the woman’s life in danger.