Cardinal praises expanded health care but fears remain on abortion

Catholic News Service ^ | 20100323 | Nancy Frazier O'Brien

[Arthur McGowan]

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George of Chicago, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, talks with Catholic News Service in Washington March 23, shortly after President Barack Obama signed the new health reform package into law. (CNS/Bob Roller) By Nancy Frazier O'Brien Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops praised new health reform legislation for expanding health care to more Americans but said the bishops and the Catholic community will be watching closely to ensure that the new law does not expand federal funding of abortion. "We are apprehensive as we look to the future, even as we applaud much of the increased care that will be available," Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago told Catholic News Service March 23, shortly after U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. "So we will watch basically and try to continue to enter into conversations as a moral voice -- never as a political voice; we've been very careful to insist upon the moral principles that everybody should be cared for and no one should be deliberately killed," he added. Cardinal George acknowledged in the interview that "the unity of the church has been wounded" in various political actions and conversations surrounding the health reform debate. The USCCB opposed the Senate bill that passed the House March 21, while some Catholic groups and members of Congress supported it. "We are certainly concerned about division in the church, because bishops have to be the people who are concerned about its unity, about keeping people together around Christ," he said. "The bishops know that they don't speak for every one of the 61 million Catholics in the country, but what we do is we speak for the Catholic faith itself," he said. "And those who share the faith will gather around." The cardinal said it remained to be seen whether the executive order promised by Obama would be adequate to keep the status quo on federal funding of abortion. "The president's executive order puts in some administrative protections that we are very grateful for, but an administrative order doesn't substitute for a statute," he said. Asked whether he expected church agencies to face difficulties related to abortion in the health reform law, the cardinal said, "We'll see how that plays out in the courts." "I suspect that there will be court challenges to Catholic medical practice," he added. Cardinal George also rejected claims by some that the USCCB had allied itself in the health reform debate with groups that were primarily interested in advancing the Republican agenda. "I really don't think that's true," he said. "The principles are twofold -- everybody taken care of, nobody killed. And I think that moral voice, while it doesn't correspond politically to either party, has been consistent." Also March 23, the USCCB released a statement by Cardinal George on health reform that was endorsed by the bishops' 32-member Administrative Committee. The statement noted that the bishops' conference has worked for nearly a century to achieve "reform of our health care system so that all may have access to the care that recognizes and affirms their human dignity." "As Catholic bishops, we have expressed our support for efforts to address this national and societal shortcoming," it added. "Many elements of the health care reform measure signed into law by the president address these concerns and so help to fulfill the duty that we have to each other for the common good. "Nevertheless, for whatever good this law achieves or intends, we as Catholic bishops have opposed its passage because there is compelling evidence that it would expand the role of the federal government in funding and facilitating abortion and plans to cover abortion," it said. The statement also said the new law "failed to include necessary language to provide essential conscience protections" and could leave many immigrant workers and families "worse off since they will not be allowed to purchase health coverage in the new exchanges to be created, even if they use their own money." The statement expressed the belief that "new legislation to address its deficiencies will almost certainly be required." Without naming any of them, the statement also praised "the principled actions of the pro-life members of Congress from both parties, in the House and the Senate, who have worked courageously to create legislation that respects the principles" outlined by the bishops. "They have often been vilified and have worked against great odds," it added. END Copyright (c) 2010 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250

[Arthur McGowan]

Cardinal George now asserts that the bishops speak ONLY for the teaching of the Catholic Church--in the midst of applauding totalitarianism, which the Catholic Church condemns.

[Palladin]

Cardinal George is the worst kind of hypocrite.

When he dies, another Bishop’s skull will be added to the floor of Hell.

[Westbrook]

The only think I can agree with this guy’s position is that I also am anti-abortion.

Other than that, he’s off in the weeds playing useful idiot for the totalitarian collectivist-statists.

[LibFreeOrDie]

The camel’s nose is under the tent now. Does he really think Catholic hospitals will be able to survive?

[OldNavyVet]

The only Catholic bishop I admire is wonderfully described in the first 90 pages of Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserable.” He was a bishop that slipped into that exalted position thanks to distance from Paris and a grand family name; a bishop that managed to transform Jean Valjean — overnight — into a man of tremendous character.

[pnh102]

Cardinal George is Father Pflager’s boss.

[OldGoatCPO]

This is why I will never become a Catholic, despite my wife's best efforts. The Church is liberal at it's core and communist in its desires. I loved John Paul the II and nearly took the plunge,glad I held off. Catholics are like the self loathing Jews who want to destroy Israel. When it comes down to it it is not about faith, it is money and power. Pflager and George are part of the Chicago crime syndicate that runs that city. I lived in Skokie, so I knew the Jews and Catholics I am speaking about. Jews who supported the Palestinians over Israel. I love Israel more than they did. Catholics who vote for baby killing dems because they are in the union and Dems support the Unions. Thank God Jesus rose from the dead or he would be doing back flips in his grave.

[Arthur McGowan]

And he made half-a$$ed move to reign Pfleger in when he arrived in Chicago. He ordered Pfleger to move to another parish. Pfleger refused. George backed down.

Michael Pfleger, Archbishop of Chicago.

[Arthur McGowan]

I’m sorry to hear that the stupidity and corruption of the bishops is keeping you out of the Catholic Church! They are 300 men (?) out of tens of millions of Catholics in this country.

I hope you will keep an open mind, and keep learning more about the saints and other Catholic heroes in history. They matter infinitely more than most bishops.

The Commies, on orders from Stalin, aggressively infiltrated the Church, starting in the thirties. If the resulting Leftism in the Church keeps you out, then Stalin wins!

[Kellis91789]

Every Catholic member of Congress that voted for this should be excommunicated. Joe Biden as well.