Ep. 4.48: A Hospital at a Crossroads: Archbishop Rigali, SLU, and the Fight for Catholic Identity

This episode traces the tense 1997–98 battle over the future of St. Louis University Hospital, as Archbishop Justin Rigali confronted SLU’s plan to sell the institution to Tenet Healthcare—a for‑profit system with a troubling national record and no Catholic oversight. Drawing on letters, testimonies, and the long shadow of Cardinal Ritter’s earlier governance decisions, the story follows Rigali’s effort to preserve the hospital’s Catholic identity, the university’s financial pressures, and the wider implications for Catholic healthcare in St. Louis. Alongside this unfolding controversy, the episode also highlights the archdiocese’s steadfast commitment to the March for Life, recounting the determination of St. Louis pilgrims who braved snowstorms, political headwinds, and logistical mishaps to witness for the dignity of human life.