Irish Health Minister vows there will be no 'religious interference' at hospital on Catholic-owned land

Nuns belonging to the Sisters of Charity are being asked to agree to contracts that would prevent them from "interfering" in the operations of the new National Maternity Hospital that would be built on the land owned by the religious order.

The planned move of the National Maternity Hospital to a religiously-owned site in south Dublin has generated controversy since it was revealed that the facility will be owned by the Sisters of Charity.

Thousands have signed a petition to oppose the decision due to allegations of child abuse by the order, as well as concerns that the nuns would not allow abortion and other practices contrary to Catholic teachings at the facility.

The new hospital, which was scheduled to begin construction this year, will be run by a subsidiary company of St Vincent's Healthcare Group, which is owned by the Sisters of Charity, according to Irish Times.

In response to the controversy, Irish Minister for Health Simon Harris promised that there will be key protections against "religious interference" before the move takes place.

Harris said that he is trying to set three conditions, including that "the hospital must have clinical, operational and financial independence, with no question of religious interference."

"The Minister for Health will have the power to guarantee this to ensure all relevant and legal healthcare must be available," he added.

The health minister pointed out that St. Vincent's is making the land available to the State for free. He maintained that the religious order will not be profiting from the development of the hospital.

Dr. Peter Boylan, a former Master at Holles Street Hospital, stated that it is "inappropriate for a hospital to have a strong religious influence, particularly from the Catholic Church." He questioned whether the nuns' religious beliefs would affect the hospital's ability to provide access to services, such as IVF, abortions, and gender realignment operations.

In a statement to the Sunday Times, the bishop of Elphin said that the hospital that would be built on Catholic-owned land must operate by Catholic rules.

"Public funding, while it brings with it other legal and moral obligations, does not change that responsibility," said Bishop Kevin Doran.

Doran cited canon law which decrees that land owned by religious institutions is "ecclesiastical property" over which the Pope has "primacy of governance."

St. Vincent's Healthcare Group said that it will review the status of the new hospital because of the controversy surrounding its ownership.