41.   A similar debate involves Catholic hospitals that merge with non-Catholic facilities and whether they must forbid practices that violate church teachings.

42.   A similar debate involves Catholic hospitals that merge with non-Catholic facilities and whether they must forbid abortions and other practices that violate church teachings.

43.   An Illinois bishop has ordered Catholic hospitals in his diocese not to offer morning-after pills to rape victims for that reason.

44.   And they discussed how Catholic hospitals that merge with non-Catholic facilities should forbid abortions and other practices that violate church teachings.

45.   Another measure forbids Catholic hospitals that merge with non-Catholic ones from direct or indirect involvement with sterilization as a birth-control procedure.

46.   Besides the mandatum issue, the bishops are scheduled to vote Friday on a revised policy for Catholic hospitals and a statement on the Israeli-Palestinian crisis.

47.   But opponents said the first resolution would have forced Catholic hospitals to provide pregnancy services in violation of church doctrine.

48.   Fogel said communities have worked hard to reach compromises with the Catholic hospitals.

49.   In some rural areas that means a Catholic hospital becomes the only choice for health care.

50.   On hospitals, the bishops took a first look at revised rules for Catholic hospitals involved with mergers.