That's why everything out of the USCCB offices on "Health" (cough) "Care" (cough) "Reform" (cough) has this triploid, written-by-a-committee look.
They have very much absorbed the Washington DC assumption that "every problem has a government solution" --- which is quite un-called-for in terms of Catholic doctrine.
I have a basic objection to the whole USCCB lobbying effort. They use our resources (I'm speaking of Catholic pew-sitters in general) with no input, indeed no possibility of input from us; and they "borrow" a kind of spurious authority from the Bishops.
Canonically, Bishops' role as teachers consists of defining the moral principles, and according to Catholic doctrine itself, the political nuts-and-bolts of that is supposed to entirely under the control of us, the laity.
IT'S OUR JOB.
It is scandalous in principle, and quite harmful in practice, for them to usurp our role like this.
I just wrote another frankly irate letter about it to Mr. Doerflinger, and also to by bishop. It is no small matter. The consequences of this are grave.
Nevertheless, who else is coming out against the Obamacare bill other than the Bishops and Alveda King? Where are all the orthodox Protestant clergy?
Alveda King: Reid's Racial Insensitivity Exceeded by Disregard for Unborn
U.S. bishops reactivate nationwide campaign against federal abortion funding
Battle Over Abortion Funding in Congress Pits Catholics Against Each Other
New Catholic mandate on comatose patients
The US Catholic Bishops and Health Care Reform: A Failure of Imagination
US Bishops' Biggest Hope: Life-Affirming Care for All
Abortion Debate Shows the Catholic Bishops' Growing Influence
The Catholic case against health-care reform
Pro-Life Leaders Launch Opposition to Senate Health Bill Following Nelson Amendment Demise
With pro-life amendment's defeat, US bishops urgently call for changes in Senate health bill
More Proof that the US Catholic Bishops are Leading the Charge in Abortion Battle
Bishops Urge Senators to Support [Abortion]Amendment on Health Care; Urge Constituents to Back It
Bishops urged to be tough on pols who would pay for abortion
Health reform still full of thorny problems for Catholics (Vasa comes out for subsidiarity)
Healthcare and Catholics: True and False Arguments
Meddling Bishops Interfere in Political Process
How the Stupak-Pitts Amendment May Change Our Politics
Health Care and the Power of the Bishops' Conference
US Bishops: Abortion Isn't Health Care
Denver Archbishop Chaput says promises were broken on abortion
Catholic Bishops: Health Care Bill ... Money-Laundering System for Funding Abortion
Catholic Caucus: The Bishops Go On Offense
US bishops conference mounts late drive against 'unacceptable' health-care reform
Catholic Bishops Urge Members to Oppose Abortion Funding in Health Care Plan [Catholic Uprising!]
Bishops Announce Unprecedented Massive Catholic Opposition to Obamacare
Bishops Call for Massive Catholic Opposition to Abortion in Current Health Care Reform
Archbishop Charles Chaput on the Current Struggle Between Catholics and "Caesar"
The Bishop's Ax Falls on Obama. And on the Vatican Curia (bombshell article)
US Bishops: Heath Package Still Funding Abortions (Urge Congress to Keep Working)
Catholic Bishops Declare They Will Vigorously Oppose Health Care Bill as It Now Stands
Bishops Restate Vow vs. Obamacare's Abortion
Important: US Bishops taking the gloves off on health care reform
BREAKING: Catholic Bishops On Health Care - Change Bills Or Else
U.S. bishops warn of vigorous opposition if Congress fails to fix health care bills
List: *41* Bishops against Obamacare (and counting!)
Bishop Murphy Issues Video Statement on Health Care Reform [Diocese of Rockville Centre]
Health Care Principles [Bishop Samuel Aquila, Fargo, ND]
Florida Bishop [Thomas Wenski] Weighs in on Health Care Reform
ObamaCare and Catholic social teaching [Bishop Neckless]
Some Catholic bishops question gov't health care
Bostons Roman Catholic Cardinal Says He Confronted Obama about Abortion in Health Care Plan....
Iowa Bishop: Dont Be Railroaded into the Current...Health Care Proposals
in a message issued by the Diocese of Sioux City (The Church on Universal Healthcare)
Nazi Health Care A Catholic Bishop Speaks Out Against "End of Life Care" (Germany, 1941)
Bishop Nickless: "No Health Care Reform is Better than the Wrong Health Care Reform"
Cardinal Rigali, Abp. Chaput Intensify Warnings Against Obamacare's Abortion Expansion