Replies

Yes, the Bishops have the teaching authority on matters of DOCTRINE. Health care for immigrants is not Catholic Doctrine. National Health care at all is not Catolic Doctrine.

Terrific observation here. You are very close to recognizing an important distinction.

Catholic social teaching is outlined in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.

Be patient and let me split hairs with you for a minute. The issue of "doctrine" than you raise might be more appropriately called "dogma".

The Compendium outlines church teaching in terms of doctrine but not dogma. Think dogma is being the teaching concerning the Holy Trinity. There is not much room for argument there. However, in terms of social teaching, the "doctrine" is a series of stated goals consistent with Biblical teaching of Christ. HOW one accomplishes those goals may be argued. The methods is where we may come into disagreement. The same would not be true concerning the Holy Trinity.

Your observation is a very good one and, with this clarification, I suggest this is one of the reasons why there is confusion on church teaching in this regard.