I can overlook their take on illegals. They have biblical citations that would indicate leniency toward aliens were they to read them in that manner.
They don’t support “the rest of the bill”. They disapprove of the abortion provisions, of course, and also of anything that smacks of euthanasia (death panels).
I would imagine they’d not support any gay provisions of the bill contrary to their doctrine.
My guess is they know better than to approve of mandates.
I think it is a huge, ongoing mistake for conservatives to concede that any element of collectivism is Biblical.
It is not.
Collectivism in any form makes man a servant to man (in the form of the state) and this is against God's will as stated in the Bible.
No king but Jesus. That is what my Bible tells me.
The host nation is to treat immigrants humanely, while enforcing its laws, not allowing things like torture, withholding of the necessities of life, breaking up families, and being more sensitive to the exigencies of refugees fleeing war, oppression, or natural disasters.
Those Catholic officials who endorse things like the Dream Act, or a general amnesty, are offering their personal political opinion.
Note excerpt from their own site dated May 21, 2010. (emphais mine)
As the Chairmen of the three committees most directly involved in the efforts of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on health care reform, we are writing to set the record straight on some important issues raised during and after final consideration of the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” this spring.
From our first statement to Congress a year ago (http://usccb.org/sdwp/national/2009-05-usccb-health-care-statement.pdf) to Cardinal George’s March 23rd, 2010 statement about the enactment of a “profoundly flawed” final bill, the position of our Conference has been unified and consistent. Reflecting decades of advocacy on behalf of universal access to health care, the bishops were clear in calling for health care reform as a moral imperative and urgent national priority. We called for reform that would make health coverage affordable for the poor and needy, moving our society substantially toward the goal of universal coverage. We were equally clear in stating that this must be done in accord with the dignity of each and every human person, showing full respect for the life, health and conscience of all.
“I can overlook their take on illegals. They have biblical citations that would indicate leniency toward aliens. . .”
Ah, not exactly. First, as much as people wish they would do so, priests and bishops do not interpret the Bible.
Two, the Catechism as well as the current pope’s encyclical on charity (Caritas in Veritate (English: Charity in Truth) both state, in common terms, that it’s really stupid for the government of any country to allow foreigners to come in and drain its resources especially if charity is the goal, since the end game of such an endeavor will be no more resources for charity.
What you are talking about is bishops going off the reservation- interpreting the Bible- which they are allowed to do, just not within or in the name of Catholicism- and that is what is getting them into this mess in the first place.