Posted on 08/04/2009 11:35:44 AM PDT by 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.
The Catholic Church has always been dedicated to helping the poor—from the earliest days of the new Church. That is Scriptural. They shared their goods where it was needed to do so. Even Jesus tells of the widow who gave of her last mite for the poor. We have had champions for the poor down through the ages, from St. Francis of Assissi and his Franciscan followers, St. Bernard, St. John Bosco, the Jesuit missionaries, Mother Teresa, the founder of Boys Town-—and this is only a handful of the dedicated men and women down the centuries who gave their lives in service of the poor.
I think you should consider the need to separate the act of giving because one wills to give, according to Scriptural teachings, and that of having our goods taken from us. The first way is a blessing for all—the latter way is by pressure and has no blessing or grace attached to it.
I think it’s unwise to label Cao a socialist by what you assume he has left out in his statement. Rather, give him credit for having an ideal that he won’t surrender for his personal gain.
Scripture tells us “Choose life”. That is the first right in our Declaration of Independence. Those who honor that are always, no doubt, ready to honor the rest.
As for snap judgments about what else Cao upholds, it’s better to find out first before labeling.
bttt
If he gets kicked out of office for this, then it will only prove to me that God intends to judge Washington D.C. very harshly.
I don’t need instructions about reading my Bible.
I’ve been taking care of that for a very long time.
Agreed. I hope that he is one of the contenders for the Presidential nomination in 2012.
Celebration of his bravery should be shouted from rooftops.
Agreed. I hope that he is one of the contenders for the Presidential nomination in 2012.
Why do you hope he is one of the contenders for the Presidential nomination in 2012? I understand he is a naturalized American (he was born in Vietnam) and is thus ineligible for the Presidency under Article II sec. 1 of the Constitution.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html
"No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States."
United States Senator then.
Congressman: Would Rather Save My Soul Than Back Pro-Abortion Health Care
Saving His Soul vs. Voting for ObamaCare
Posted by Tim Drake
Louisiana Rep. Anh Joseph Cao and family.
Catholic News Agency is reporting that Louisiana Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao prefers to “save his soul” rather than vote for the health-care bill. Cao 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 told 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 New Orleans district since 1890. Cao is a member of the National Advisory Council of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Thank you and God bless you and your family, Congressman Cao.
Excellent. So Bela Pelosi is going to target him in the 2010 elections? It will be interesting to see just who they come up with to challenge him.
Beg Pardon? Our Lord said love your neighbor as yourself, and that entail the preaching of the Gospel. The Gospel is not just a get out of jail card for the individual.
He represents a black district and the voters are enthralled by the Democratic Party.
They weren't enthralled in 2008, apparently.
There was a now convicted thief in office. Likely the Democrats will put up a candidate who has not yet been indicted.
That’s one good Republican!
Now here are the others?
Now WHERE are the others?
I know there are some Catholic Democrats?
WHERE is their conscience?
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