Supreme Court’s health-care decision: Two Catholic cheers [ Barf? ]

washingtonpost.com ^ | June 29 2012 | By Stephen Schneck

[NoLibZone]

What might Catholics think about the Supreme Court’s narrow vindication of the basic features of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? Like many Catholic progressives, I shouted out two big cheers. But, I can’t quite yet raise that loud third cheer. The court’s decision wonderfully affirms the act’s basic provisions. And those provisions can get America close to the dream that the institutional Catholic Church has long promoted —government-assured, universal health care for all. So, two boisterous Catholic cheers!

Why not a third cheer? Because despite nearly a year’s hard efforts, faith-based groups and the Obama administration have not been able to hammer out the critical last tweaks on exemptions needed by religious organizations in regard to the ACA’s contraception mandate. With the momentum and enthusiasm from the court’s vindication, let’s put shoulders to the wheel and roll out those needed tweaks now.

With those tweaks, many more Catholics can support the law. At least since 1919, the Catholic Church in the United States has insisted that government must assure universal health-care coverage to all Americans.

Pope Benedict XVI has insisted that such coverage is a right the foundation of which is found in both the divinely ordained dignity of the human person and the moral imperative of the common good.

[NoLibZone]

i>"At least since 1919, the Catholic Church in the United States has insisted that government must assure universal health-care coverage to all Americans.

Pope Benedict XVI has insisted that such coverage is a right the foundation of which is found in both the divinely ordained dignity of the human person and the moral imperative of the common good."

Is this accurate?

[NYer]

Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[gorush]

If you’re happy and you know it clank your chains (CLANK, CLANK)

[ari-freedom]

Enjoy your death panels because remember: money does not grow on trees.

[LowTaxesEqualsProsperity]

They can enjoy the abortions, too.

[Bratch]

[BlatherNaut]

"At least since 1919, the Catholic Church in the United States has insisted that government must assure universal health-care coverage to all Americans. Pope Benedict XVI has insisted that such coverage is a right the foundation of which is found in both the divinely ordained dignity of the human person and the moral imperative of the common good."

As a universal ideal.

And NOT via socialist coercion.

Pope Pius XI condemned atheistic communism (of which socialism is an ugly stepchild) in the Encyclical, "Divini Redemptoris".

Liberal politicians and certain American bishops have joined forces, engaging in "end justifies the means" rhetoric and tactics which pervert Catholic teachings, elevating a notion of "social conscience" and its attendant liberal politics above individual free will.

Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, and certain pro-socialist bishops and priests have been responsible for much confusion regarding this issue.

[Ann Archy]

Sincewe will ALLL be paying for ABORTIONS now thru this monstrosity, we are ALL ABORTIONISTS now!!!

[SampleMan]

You can’t be a progressive catholic, because Christianity only allows one God.

[Alberta's Child]

The author of this article is a complete @sshole. On the one hand he applauds ObamaCare for its "universal health care" aspects, but then pushes for an exemption for "religious organizations" from the very same "universal health care."

I'll say it again ... what an @sshole.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

As a universal ideal.

And NOT via socialist coercion.

I’m glad you pointed that out. I was concerned when I gave a cursory read to some Vatican II documents years ago and read that the Church considers education a universal right. My own position is that there can be no right to goods or services since that would mean I have a right to your stuff and you have a right to my stuff. That doesn’t work in the universe God created for us, with linear time and all. So a moral responsibility on my part does not create a right on your part. We can still achieve the universal ideal, though, when we all learn to obey His will.

[smalltownslick]

“Like many Catholic progressives”

Just what is a Catholic progressive? Isn’t that an oxymoron?

[Mrs. Don-o]

"The government must assure" is the falsehood here. Catholic teaching often affirms that in a good society, the sick are universally cared for, but "society" does not equal "the state."

That is the HUGE error that entraps many people (Cahtolics and non-Catholics alike): assuming that "society" means "the government" or "the state."

I don't have time right now to look up "subsidiarity," but it's the key word to keep in mind: that all "social obligations" are to be carried out at the most local or "lowest" level. In other words, centralized government should never usurp the choices, rights, and duties of a mriad of intermediary institutions, including: businesses, professions, profitable enterprises, foundations, fraternal, charitable and philanthropic organizations, non-profits, church-related, counties, townships, etc. etc.

No point of Catholic social teaching is more frequently overlooked.

Including by our often clueless bishops. Sorry to say.

[NoLibZone]

"The author of this article is a complete @sshole. On the one hand he applauds ObamaCare for its "universal health care" aspects, but then pushes for an exemption for "religious organizations" from the very same "universal health care."

That's liberalism in a nutshell!!

[BlatherNaut]

So a moral responsibility on my part does not create a right on your part. We can still achieve the universal ideal, though, when we all learn to obey His will.

Exactly right.

"Only in freedom can man direct himself toward goodness. Our contemporaries make much of this freedom and pursue it eagerly; and rightly to be sure. Often however they foster it perversely as a license for doing whatever pleases them, even if it is evil. For its part, authentic freedom is an exceptional sign of the divine image within man. For God has willed that man remain "under the control of his own decisions,"so that he can seek his Creator spontaneously, and come freely to utter and blissful perfection through loyalty to Him. Hence man's dignity demands that he act according to a knowing and free choice that is personally motivated and prompted from within, not under blind internal impulse nor by mere external pressure."

GAUDIUM ET SPES

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_cons_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html

[Smokin' Joe]

SPEW!

It isn't just religious organizations, but those who believe that abortion is morally wrong--a sin, for those unaccustomed to the term.

So the church doesn't have to buy aborticare, but the parishoners do?

How does that NOT infringe on the freedom of religion?

There is no "fix". Dress it in lace and cover it with perfume, and a turd is still a turd at heart.

[jmaroneps37]

“Why not a third cheer? Because despite nearly a year’s hard efforts, faith-based groups and the Obama administration have not been able to hammer out the critical last tweaks on exemptions needed by religious organizations in regard to the ACA’s contraception mandate.”
Hey moron that's because your marxist pal doesn't want to give in or compromise (how we compromise with a human life is something only people like you can imagine) he wants to rub Christian faces in the mud from the bottom of his Aladdin slippers.

[daniel1212]

Some would wish, but as such are treated as members in life and in death, and V2 can be used by both sides, that is why the SSPX and sedevacantist schisms exist.

And the liberal side constitute the majority of self described Catholics. http://www.peacebyjesus.com/RC-Stats_vs._Evang.html

[daniel1212]

This relates to the perspicuity of the magisterium.

Pope, church leaders call for guaranteed health care for all people

(CNS/Paul Haring)

By Sarah Delaney
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI and other church leaders said it was the moral responsibility of nations to guarantee access to health care for all of their citizens, regardless of social and economic status or their ability to pay.

Access to adequate medical attention, the pope said in a written message Nov. 18, was one of the “inalienable rights” of man.

The pope’s message was read by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, to participants at the 25th International Conference of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry at the Vatican Nov. 18-19...

Because an individual’s health is a “precious asset” to society as well as to himself, governments and other agencies should seek to protect it by “dedicating the equipment, resources and energy so that the greatest number of people can have access.”

“Justice in health care should be a priority of governments and international institutions,” he said, cautioning that protecting human health does not include euthanasia or promoting artificial reproductive techniques that include the destruction of embryos.

Care for human life from conception to its natural end must be a guiding light in determining health care policy, the pope said.

In his own written statement, Cardinal Bertone had strong words in support of the need for governments to take care of all citizens, especially children, the elderly, the poor and immigrants...

“Justice requires guaranteed universal access to health care,” he said, adding that the provision of minimal levels of medical attention to all is “commonly accepted as a fundamental human right.”

Governments are obligated, therefore, to adopt the proper legislative, administrative and financial measures to provide such care along with other basic conditions that promote good health, such as food security, water and housing, the cardinal said. - http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1004736.htm