Posted on 03/15/2010 4:47:07 AM PDT by StatenIsland
In a piece to be released later this morning, Catholic archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver comes out swinging against the health-care push in Washington this week. He writes, in part:
"Groups, trade associations and publications describing themselves as “Catholic” or “prolife” that endorse the Senate version — whatever their intentions — are doing a serious disservice to the nation and to the Church, undermining the witness of the Catholic community; and ensuring the failure of genuine, ethical health-care reform. By their public actions, they create confusion at exactly the moment Catholics need to think clearly about the remaining issues in the health-care debate. They also provide the illusion of moral cover for an unethical piece of legislation.
Do not be misled, in other words, by a Speaker’s lies or by anyone claiming to speak for the Catholic Church telling you a Catholic's conscience will be clear if he supports this legislation."
Chaput concludes:
"The long, unpleasant and too often dishonest national health-care debate is now in its last days. Its most painful feature has been those “Catholic” groups that by their eagerness for some kind of deal undercut the witness of the Catholic community and help advance a bad bill into a bad law. Their flawed judgment could now have damaging consequences for all of us.
Do not be misled. The Senate version of health-care reform currently being pushed ahead by congressional leaders and the White House — despite public resistance and numerous moral concerns — is bad law; and not simply bad, but dangerous. It does not deserve, nor does it have, the support of the Catholic bishops in our country, who speak for the believing Catholic community. In its current content, the Senate version of health-care legislation is not “reform.” Catholics and other persons of good will concerned about the foundations of human dignity should oppose it."
And he adds words of praise for Bart Stupak, among others:
"...the health-care reform debate has never been merely a matter of party politics. Nor is it now. Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak and a number of his Democratic colleagues have shown extraordinary character in pushing for good health-care reform while resisting attempts to poison it with abortion-related entitlements and other bad ideas that have nothing to do with real “health care.” Many Republicans share the goal of decent health-care reform, even if their solutions would differ dramatically. To put it another way, few persons seriously oppose making adequate health services available for all Americans. But God, or the devil, is in the details — and by that measure, the current Senate version of health-care reform is not merely defective, but also a dangerous mistake."
Gratitude! And clarity! This is what you call shepherding (and he's not new to any of this, and specifically on health care). And leadership. Someone else to say "thank you" to when you have the chance.
A great Bishop is not so frequent!
As a catholic i appreciate!
Unfortunately, other bishops are all in favor of the healthcare bill in the name of “social justice”.
The former Democrat staffers that run the US Conference of Catholic Bishops is all for the Obamacare crap. They mouth opposition to the abortion sections, but they are all for a government run socialist healthcare “reform”.
Sorry. Archbishop Chaput has endorsed the work of the CCHD which gave $7.3 million to ACORN and continues to give one/third of its money to community organizing groups. These groups played a major role in electing Obama. Chaput deserves no credit for trying to get abortion out of the healthcare bill.
Sorry, you are the one who is slanderously wrong. Wow, your anti-Catholicism is exhibited for all to see ... on multiple threads.
Thank Heaven for Archbishop Chaput, one of the few really good ones we have. You can always count on him.
Unfortunately, the archbishop himself is all for health care "reform." Quote: "Groups...ensuring the failure of genuine, ethical health-care reform."
A fine man, no doubt, but there's a worm in his apple. All "government health care reform" is socialist. Catholics who think the govt can provide this "social justice" in any way shape or form are embracing a falsehood implanted by the father of same.
Who isn’t for reform? What is coming out of Congress isn’t reform - it’s destruction.
The Archbishop has consistently called for the Catholic idea of subsidiarity to be adhered to, much to the dismay of his fellow bishops, and to the ignorance of Christians everywhere.
I am afraid that at the end of the day the Catholic Bishops are going to have blood on their hands as heath care “reform” ends up including federal funding of abortions.
Entirely their fault for dithering too long, for trying to negotiate with Obama under the naieve premise that he was acting in good faith, and for trying to thread the needle between being morally correct and having “social justice”.
Quote from Chaput: “I think that people can contribute to the(CCHD)collection without worrying that they are supporting causes that conflict with Church teaching.”
Sorry, that’s what he said. There is nothing anti-Catholic about standing up for Catholic teaching.
And furthermore, read the sacrilegious “Stations of the Cross” just published by Chaput’s CCHD, then tell me I’m the one who is anti-Catholic. http://www.reformcchdnow.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18&Itemid=18
Yep. That is what he said which is different than your original post that "Archbishop Chaput has endorsed ....."
No, he has NOT. You omit the rest of his statement which I highlight below .....
"At the same time, Jesus tells us that our treasure should be where our heart is. If people don’t like the decisions of the Campaign staff and their allocations, one of the ways they can show their displeasure is by withholding funds from their diocesan collections. It’s unfortunate that mistakes have been made, and I think the staff has to be more cautious and more critical in its judgment".
Webster’s definition of endorse: to give support to; sanction.
Now??? When has it ever NOT been their method of operations??
Me. There's no reform -- none whatsoever -- that Congress could produce that would get my approval. Only repeal of existing laws and regulations. Whatever new garbage they heap on is going to make a bigger stinking heap.
But that is reform too.
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