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To: markomalley; Alex Murphy; NYer; Salvation; narses; wagglebee; misterrob; trisham; metmom; don-o; ...
"There are different ways to achieve access for all."

This piece of confused USCCB bafflegab no doubt reflects confusion amongst the U.S. Bishops about Catholic Social Teaching, and especially about the hugely important distinction between "society" and "the state."

If we say that "society" must strive for the common good in relation to healtcare (or water quality, or cinema and broadcast entertainment, or neighborhood safety, or early childhood education, or anything else), we must emphasize that "society" consists of every form of human organization, beginning with the marital couple and the family, and extending through workplaces, businesses, nonprofits, labor organizations, trade associations, professional groups, parishes, schools, fraternal and civic associations, philanthopic and charitable groups, clubs, partnerships, city and county governments, etc. etc. etc. with special emphasis on that third etcetera.

All of these are not, collectively, "the state"; they are prior to and more important than "the state": they constitute "society." And "the state" cannot justly invade and absorb the functions of "society."

It is because "society" must strive for the common good in relation to healthcare, that spouses care for each other in sickness and in health; that parents care for dependent children; that adult children care for aged and dependent elders; that parishes hire parish nurses; that religious orders found and staff hospitals; that ospitals form healthcare consortia; that employers offer group insurance coverage; that students decide to enter the medical professions; that an inventor seeks a patent for a new therapeutic device, and then goes out to attract investors ---

I'm trying to suggest a crowded Bruegel canvas showing hundreds and thousands of people individually and jointly doing their thing, resulting in people in their "common associations" achieving the "common good."

This multiplex, layered society, each unit having its own proper gifts, opportunities, and obligations, is the context for all the Church's teachings on Social Justice.

Somebody should tell the USCCB.

I seem to have a vocation in Remedial Catechism.

11 posted on 09/16/2009 12:43:55 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (What does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God)
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To: Mrs. Don-o
I seem to have a vocation in Remedial Catechism.

*******************

LOL!

As for the rest of your post: well said, Mrs D.

12 posted on 09/16/2009 12:48:18 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Job well done!


17 posted on 09/16/2009 2:04:40 PM PDT by Biggirl (Called To Be Patriots!:)=^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^=)
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