If CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System’s purchase of Wadley Regional Medical Center goes through, women in Texarkana won’t have the option of a tubal ligation when their babies are delivered at either hospital.

The option will be available at local surgery centers, hospital officials say.

“The Catholic tradition has deep respect for the marriage covenant and the sanctity of parenthood. Our Christian tradition is to respect the dignity of the human body so we do not perform any procedure that harms the human body,” Sister Damian Murphy said.

Because St. Michae...

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