Calvary's Catholic rules restrict IVF and abortion at Newcastle's Mater hospital
The Mater is a NSW hospital. It works like a public facility. But Calvary, a Catholic healthcare company, owns it. It blocks abortion, IVF, contraception and gender-affirming care based on religious beliefs.
Newcastle's Mater hospital works like a public facility but Calvary Health Care, a Catholic organisation, owns it. Calvary follows strict ethical codes.
The Mater blocks abortion, IVF, contraception, gender-affirming care, sterilisation and voluntary assisted dying. All these services are legal in Australia.
More than 1000 people seek IVF treatment at the Mater each year. They could lose access if hospital policies get stricter.
The restrictions move the burden to other hospitals like John Hunter. A NSW Parliamentary inquiry studied the public-private partnership and found years of problems: mould, water leaks and safety concerns.
The inquiry unanimously recommended returning the Mater to full public ownership. Doctors should make medical decisions, not religious beliefs.
- more than 1000
- IVF patients annually
- Waratah, Newcastle
- Hospital location
- Calvary Health Care
- Owner
Why it mattersPeople seeking legal reproductive healthcare at a public hospital should get care. They should not be denied because of a private operator's religious beliefs.
AustraliaNewcastle residents and fertility patients across the Hunter region currently lose access to legal services at their closest major public hospital because of one organisation's religious restrictions.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
