I know pensions are a fading employment benefit, but I am puzzled that religiously affiliated hospitals feel they're being "penalized" if the retirement benefit they promise their employees, and which their employees expect to be there for them after years of service, are not managed, funded, and protected in the same manner as the pension benefits of non-religiously affiliated hospitals.  

Is not the worker worthy of his hire?

If there can be no protection of this future benefit, perhaps the hospitals should consider the likelihood that employees who are willing to take less money now with that future expectation, will be unwilling to accept less now?  And be more likely to leave as soon as they have other options?  Thereby immediately costing the hospitals more in wages, recruiting and training?  The complaint that having to maintain, adequately fund, and protect pensions will cost too much and raise medical costs seems short-sighted.