Posted on 10/08/2009 7:24:56 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
In a letter just released, the three Catholic bishops leading the Churchs efforts on health care warned Congress that we will have no choice but to oppose the bill unless current bills are amended.
The letter signed by Bishop William Murphy, Cardinal Justin Rigali and Bishop John Wester outlines three main areas of concern: that no one should be forced to pay for or participate in abortion, that health care should be affordable and available to the poor and vulnerable, and that the needs of legal immigrants should be met.
Of those, of course, abortion poses the gravest threat to the bill. The bishops simply dont buy the argument that House Democrats found a way to block public funding for abortions with the Capps amendment, and they insist that the Hyde amendment doesnt apply to the bills because they are not appropriations measures. A sizable bloc of House Democrats, led by Bart Stupak of Michigan, agree and are pressuring for a clear prohibition on public funding.
Add this to the list of complications I outlined this morning. Heres the Bishops letter.
- that no one should be forced to pay for or participate in abortion,
- that health care should be affordable and available to the poor and vulnerable, and
- that the needs of legal immigrants should be met.
but I guess that's too many syllables for George Stephanopolous and his clones.
read later
Catholic Bishops, PING!
Just one? Is he the only bishop who understands the Catholic social teaching of subsidiarity?
The Catholic Church has had the opportunity for decades to say that the platform of the Democrat party is EVIL and Non Christian, but they refuse! Yes some have, and God Bless the ones that have!
But for the most part the Catholic Church is silent! Catholics with Clinton or Obama signs on their front lawns. Various Priests, Bishops etc standing with Democrats???
Give me a freaking break!! Or else what??? WHAT A JOKE!
Anything else short of... OUR MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH A PARTY THAT SUPPORTS ABORTION, HOMOSEXUALITY ETC ETC is to little.
Not to mention taking prayer out of schools, and now trying to remove crosses from veteran cemeteries.
What about the mass for 6 Catholics on the Supreme Court? We KNOW that a couple of them should have been refused Mass because of their positions on Christian issues.
Third, in that category of prudential judgment, the Catholic Church does not teach that government should directly provide health care. Unlike a prudential concern like national defense, for which government monopolization is objectively good it both limits violence overall and prevents the obvious abuses to which private armies are susceptible health care should not be subject to federal monopolization. Preserving patient choice (through a flourishing private sector) is the only way to prevent a health care monopoly from denying care arbitrarily, as we learned from HMOs in the recent past. While a government monopoly would not be motivated by profit, it would be motivated by such bureaucratic standards as quotas and defined best procedures, which are equally beyond the influence of most citizens. The proper role of the government is to regulate the private sector, in order to foster healthy competition and to curtail abuses. Therefore any legislation that undermines the viability of the private sector is suspect. Private, religious hospitals and nursing homes, in particular, should be protected, because these are the ones most vigorously offering actual health care to the poorest of the poor.
Leaving 200+ who haven't....which speaks volumes.
If Catholics would go to Mass once in a while, and if they're read what the bishops have to say, they might know.
Nothing Archbishop Dolan has said on the matter has impressed me.
see post 9. do you really think that, because you haven’t heard them, they haven’t spoken? Isn’t that just a bit egocentric?
I should rephrase this: Nothing of the little I have read that Archbishop Dolan has said on the matter has impressed me.
But they have spoken - the letter comes from the USCCB - hardly a minority group in your Church. And you're the one who offered the line "At least one Catholic bishop has stated..." Don't shoot me for taking you at your word. I'd have thought you would have heard from more by now.
oy. that’s laaaaaaaaaaaame.
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
Listen carefully at Mass if the priest cares to address it, or ask your confessor or bishop if you feel the need to discuss more.
They avoid the subject. At least at my church they do.
BTTT
Then talk to your confessor, priest or bishop personally if you want to know more.
Personally, I’m fine with not politicizing the Church. I think it plays into the Church’s enemies hands to do so.
You’re free to discuss with parishioners or organize outside the church.
Well, what are the Catholic bishops saying about the federal government taking over the health care business? It seems like most of them are saying "take out funding for abortion, and then you can take over this industry as long as you provide free health care for all those illegal Mexicans."
There are maybe a couple bishops who are opposing this government take-over. Those bishops are talking about subsidiarity. There are other institutions and businesses that could be providing the changes we need rather that the federal government. But the majority of bishops seem to be supporting some form of socialized medicine. Why the socialist solution?
You know that's not true! They said nothing about illegal Mexicans!
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