Catholic Congressman: I'd Rather Save My Soul Than Vote for the Health Care Bill

Catholic News Agency ^ | 8/3/09

[marshmallow]

New Orleans, La., Aug 3, 2009 / 02:06 pm (CNA).- Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao, (R-New Orleans), the first Vietnamese-American congressman and a Catholic, announced this past weekend that, because of the “stealth mandate” for abortion still present in the Health Care bill, he prefers to “save his soul” rather than vote in favor of it.

Cao, the only member of the Louisiana House delegation who had not weighed in on where he stands on the health reform bill, told the Times-Picayune on Saturday that he cannot support any bill that permits public money to be spent on abortion.

“At the end of the day if the health care reform bill does not have strong language prohibiting the use of federal funding for abortion, then the bill is really a no-go for me,” said Cao, who spent time in formation to be a Jesuit priest.

“Being a Jesuit, I very much adhere to the notion of social justice,” Cao said. “I do fully understand the need of providing everyone with access to health care, but to me personally, I cannot be privy to a law that will allow the potential of destroying thousands of innocent lives,” he explained to the Louisiana newspaper.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced that Cao will be one of seven Republican members of Congress targeted with radio ads that will play on radio stations with largely African-American audiences, urging him to support Obama's health reform efforts.

“I know that voting against the health care bill will probably be the death of my political career,” Cao said, “but I have to live with myself, and I always reflect on the phrase of the New Testament, ‘How does it profit a man's life to gain the world but to lose his soul.’”

Cao is the first native of Vietnam to serve in Congress and the first Republican to serve in his district since 1890. He won in a district that usually votes overwhelmingly Democratic.

The poorest member of Louisiana's delegation, and a devout Roman Catholic, Cao served as a board member for Mary Queen of Vietnam Catholic Church's Community Development Corporation which assists Vietnamese-Americans with hurricane relief, and is a member of the National Advisory Council of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Cao also told the Times-Picayune that he is still undecided about the merits of including a public option in any health reform redesign. He believes that it may ultimately lead to the destruction of the private insurance market and a "government takeover" of health insurance.

[marshmallow]

Are you listening, Nancy......Teddy.........Joe??

This is how faith is supposed to animate politics.

In contrast to the above mentioned who sold their souls in order to further their political careers, this man is prepared to forsake his political career in order to be true to his faith.

Bravo!

[pnh102]

Rep. Cao is so cool.

[Albion Wilde]

God bless this bold pro-lifer in the Congress.

[timestax]

bump !

[Liberty Valance]

“I know that voting against the health care bill will probably be the death of my political career,” Cao said, “but I have to live with myself, and I always reflect on the phrase of the New Testament, ‘How does it profit a man's life to gain the world but to lose his soul.’”

That statement is so powerful that it needed repeating.

Dear Congressman Cao,

Thank you for your pro-life stand. If you are voted out of your district for taking this stand then you should be commended for making the right decision even though it cost you your seat. The founders of this nation risked everything they had to make a stand for us. We are proud of you and honored by your stand no matter if you lose the next one or not.

Sincerely,

Liberty

[SoConPubbie]

“Being a Jesuit, I very much adhere to the notion of social justice,” Cao said. “I do fully understand the need of providing everyone with access to health care, but to me personally, I cannot be privy to a law that will allow the potential of destroying thousands of innocent lives,” he explained to the Louisiana newspaper.

Too bad he couldn't couple his pro-life stance against the bill with a solid explanation of why the socialist underpinnings of the bill go against gospel teachings as well!

It is not moral to steal the hard-earned money of one individual at the point of a gun to give to someone who has not earned it even if it has been blessed legally by the state. It is immoral.

No where in the Gospel is there a hint of recommending Government intervention or force to promote giving, nowhere.

The Gospel Jesus brought was all about the individual and the individual's choices. Period!

If I remember, one of the Ten Commandments deals directly with this concept.

Thou Shalt Not Steal!

[Tennessee Nana]

God bless this good man...

[Liberty Valance]

Republican Anh ‘Joseph’ Cao waves as he holds his daughter Betsy Cao, 4, with his wife Kate Hieu Hoang, right, at his victory party after defeating Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., for the 2nd Congressional District in New Orleans Saturday, Dec. 6. Photo provided by the Associated Press.

[ForeignDude]

I was thinking along similar lines.

Left unsaid by Cao is how he would vote if the abortion provision in the bill was removed.

If that is the only impediment he sees in voting for socialized medicine, then he is simply a pro-life Socialist. Which means, of course, that he’s willing to save the life of an infant so that that infant can live his entire life as a federal slave.

How about we save the kid’s life AND we preserve their God-given liberties?

[Mrs. Don-o]

"Cao also told the Times-Picayune that he is still undecided about the merits of including a public option in any health reform redesign. He believes that it may ultimately lead to the destruction of the private insurance market and a "government takeover" of health insurance."

This doesn't sound like a man who's "willing to save the life of an infant so that that infant can live his entire life as a federal slave." In fact, it sounds like a man who values liberty as well as life.

God bless this good man.

[SoConPubbie]

If that is the only impediment he sees in voting for socialized medicine, then he is simply a pro-life Socialist. Which means, of course, that he’s willing to save the life of an infant so that that infant can live his entire life as a federal slave.

This, in a nutshell, is what is wrong with the GOP and why it will remain the minority party unless it wraps it's mind and heart around the idea of limited-government.

I applaud him for his Pro-Life stance, but it is telling that he did not communicate that he was against the bill for anything else, such as the fact that it is completely a Socialist take-over of something that is of primary importantance to all Americans.

Celebration of his bravery should be muted by this fact!

[SoConPubbie]

Guess I spoke too soon and should have read a little deeper.

[Dr. Sivana]

I don't think any of us has slammed someone voting against the bill on the basis of it being socialist without his mentioning the abortion funding aspect.

There are plenty of people focusing on those other aspects. Cao took a position that can (and should) embarrass self-described Catholic politicians who are nonetheless pro-abortion.

Reciting a litany against the bill would have weakened his statement.

[Salvation]

Catholic Ping!

[The Great RJ]

I would hope the US Catholic bishops would comment on not only the abortion funding in the health care bill but the support the bill would give to euthanasia and asssisted suicide.

[afraidfortherepublic]

God bless this bold pro-lifer in the Congress.

Mega Dittos!

[Emmett McCarthy]

Is he a member of a non-clerical lay branch of the Jesuits? Him having a wife and child makes me ask this question.

[Liberty Valance]

FWIW
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Cao

[Emmett McCarthy]

OK, I see. He did spent 6 years in a Jesuit seminary, but never took ordination. I was educated by Jesuits myself, although not to this extent.

[Venturer]

There are a lot of faux Catholics in the Congress who have sold their souls.