What's an abortionist doing working at a Catholic hospital?

Mercy’s physician-credentialing and privileging practices are consistent with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, Schmidt said.

Protesters waved signs that said such things as “Dr. Grossman is an abortionist” and “Abortion Kills Children,” and others purporting to depict aborted fetuses at drivers entering the hospital’s parking lot. Some drivers honked at the protesters; others revved their engines.

“A Catholic Hospital having an abortionist on staff is a scandal,” said Daniel Anguis, local director of LifeGuard, the Christian nonprofit based in Maryland that organized the protest. “On Wednesday, he dismembers babies, and the rest of the week he delivers them. And we’re here today to let the hospital know it won’t be tolerated anymore.”

The group said learning about Grossman’s “employment” by Mercy was the reason for the protest. However, Grossman is an independent practitioner with an affiliation with Four Corners OB-GYN. He performs abortions at the Durango Planned Parenthood office, and he is listed as a member of Mercy’s practicing staff.

In a statement, Mercy spokesman Nathan Schmidt said abortions are not performed at the hospital and that it neither employs nor compensates Grossman.

He was at work in the hospital during the protest.

Grossman, 67, was approved by the hospital’s board of directors to practice medicine at the hospital in 1976. Today, he is the hospital’s longest-serving physician.

“Dr. Richard Grossman is a member of the medical staff at Mercy Regional Medical Center. Being a member of the hospital’s staff does not constitute employment,” Schmidt said.

Mercy’s physician-credentialing and privileging practices are consistent with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, Schmidt said.

There’s more at the link. But now, a petition drive has been launched to have Dr. Grossman removed from the hospital, and a web site has more information.