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July 13, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Diocese of Terrassa, a city in the Catalonia region of Spain, has issued a statement recognizing that abortions and vasectomies are occurring in two hospitals where diocesan representatives are members of the board of directors.

While Bishop Saiz Meneses “has repeatedly and publicly manifested his revulsion and condemnation of these practices and the legislation that permits them,” the diocese will continue to participate in the administration of the hospitals, according to the statement.

The diocese says that the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has affirmed its policy in a communication with the diocese issued last year.

According to the statement, “the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on June 28, 2011, transmitted to the Bishop a ruling that indicated that if the clerics [on the board of directors] have spoken with clarity and have voted with coherence in the meetings of the respective boards, it does not seem that there could be a cooperation in a morally illicit evil.”

“The ruling also indicated that the possible scandal or confusion in the eyes of public opinion due to [the clerics’] presence on the boards can be avoided if they make public their opinion against these practices and also their effort against them,” stated the diocese.

The diocese assures readers that “the Bishop reiterates his condemnation of these practices against Catholic morality and awaits a definitive decision and a positive resolution to the efforts it continues to make with the administrations [of the hospitals]. Meanwhile, it seems convenient to not abandon the boards of said hospitals at this time.”

In the five weeks that have passed since the diocese issued the statement, there has been no indication that the practices have ceased.

One local priest who is leading protests against the pro-abortion practices at several hospitals in the Catalonia region, says he is dissatisfied with the diocese’s approach to the issue.

“The communiqué of the Diocese of Tarrasa…makes it clear that the Bishop is making the Holy See and the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith responsible for his decision to remain on the board of directors of the General Hospital of Granollers, although they are doing abortions there, dispensing abortion pills and sterilizing,” lamented Fr. Custodio Ballester.

Since 2010, various sources in the Spanish media have reported the practice of abortion and sterilization, distribution of contraceptives, and other practices at Catholic hospitals in Catalonia that violate Catholic moral teachings on human life and sexuality.  Although Barcelona’s Cardinal Archbishop Lluis Martínez Sístach has said that a pro-life policy has been established at local hospitals, reports continue to appear in the media indicating that the abortions have not ceased.