[what's up]

Neverthelessm, the statist position has never been the favored position

Perhaps...however, the current framing of a product/service as a "right" will inevitably result in statism.

Pius' position may have been correct on the issue, but these more current statements from the Vatican found in the cited article certainly seem to encourage rather than discourage the growth of the State.

[Mrs. Don-o]

What's most exasperating to me, is that there are certainly individuals, parties and factions in the Church which are strongly statist and which for my entire lifetime have never been corrected or reined in by the authentic teachers.

In the run-up to Obamacare (all of 2009) the USCCB staffers were putting out reams of ecclesiastical bafflegab which never (to my knowledge) even mentioned subsidiarity --- the "small and local" principle which is so essential to Christian responsiility and liberty.

The only good thing to come of this whole hellacious mess, I think, is that the most recent incoming prelates in the USCCB (Benedict appointees) finally see what's happened. They realize the warm snuggly robe of "universal healthcare" via the Federal govt has transformed before their eyes into a straitjacket of tyranny.

A painful experience. And it's going to get more painful. But it will teach them a lesson.