One of the problems is that a lot of theoretically “Catholic” hospitals are under lay boards now that actually are not responsible to the bishop. I suspect that a lot of the “Catholic” hospitals would be just fine with anything the Government told them to do, and would become a simple non-profit corporation in order to keep on getting Federal money. I think the question is whether the bishops will then be willing to discipline any Catholics involved in this (although many of the hospitals have non-Catholics on their boards or as their executives) and excommunicate them, suing them to prevent them from keeping a name that implies that they are supported by or part of the Catholic Church.
I expect to see a lot of division on this, although frankly, I was very impressed by the fact that Obama was not able to find a treasonous bishop or priest willing to preside over the fun at his inauguration. It speaks well of Catholics that at least there was no official Catholic blessing of this abomination.
But there is definitely going to be confrontation between the Church and the government. I think Obama will try to stir up that latent anti-Catholicism that exists in this country, and things could get ugly.
Pray that the bishops remain strong!
Does the Church own the buildings? and if so under what sort of arrangment does the board operate?
Sadly many Catholics disparage the Church's teachings on abortion as well as homosexuality otherwise this would not be an issue and Obama would not be President.
Mel