Posted on 09/16/2009 7:48:21 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
The US Bishops' Conference today issued the following article by Maria del Mar Muñoz-Visoso, Assistant Director of the Office of Media Relations, entitled: 'Make your voice heard in the health care debate'.
Does thinking about health care reform give you a headache? Are the rhetoric, the cross messages, and the overflow of information — and misinformation — tempting you give in to the pessimistic thought that the sick who are most in need of health care, the poor, the marginalized, the immigrant, don’t stand a chance, “as always,” in front of powerful financial and political interests? Do you question getting involved at all?
The task seems daunting, but this is not the moment to give up or disconnect. The debate has reached a critical moment when the Catholic voice needs to be heard clearly and strongly.
The US Catholic bishops have spoken with one voice on the principles that should guide the discussion. They have been advocating for decades for the reform of a fragmented health system, one that is currently expensive, filled with inefficiencies and leaves too many people out.
The introduction of several bills in Congress this session (there are several different versions circulating in the House and the Senate as this is being written) acknowledges this reality. This has provided the opportunity to present the Catholic teaching on this issue and, in light of the tensions and complexity of the debate, has made the clear outlining of certain basic moral principles more necessary than ever.
A Catholic in good conscience cannot blindly vow support for one proposal or another without first measuring it against the fundamental principles of subsidiarity, solidarity and the common good.
Following Catholic social teaching, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
The urgency of the matter has seen many bishops present these principles in order to educate the faithful and the public, encourage them to get involved, and also ensure they are aware of the dangers, subterfuges and subtleties hidden in the different proposals.- Supports universal health coverage which protects the life and dignity of all, from conception to natural death, especially those who are poor and vulnerable.
- Opposes any efforts to expand abortion funding, mandate abortion coverage, or endanger the conscience rights of health care providers and religious institutions.
- Supports effective measures to safeguard the health of all of society by expanding eligibility for public programs, such as Medicaid, to all low income families and vulnerable people, and by offering adequate subsidies for cost-sharing of insurance premiums and out of pocket expenses. Legal immigrants, and all pregnant women and children, regardless of immigration status, should be included.
Locally each bishop has put emphasis in that which concerns him the most but, in the end, the message is always the same: it is urgent to reform the U.S. health system, but don’t do it at the expense of the poor, the children in their mother’s womb, or the consciences of doctors, nurses and other health workers. We can do better than this.
There are different ways to achieve access for all. We can debate and compromise on the proper role of government.
Let us find solutions where all the stakeholders can play a role and do it according to their religious convictions.
Let us stop the noise and the finger-pointing and turn to the issue at hand: the health of the nation. As one of our veteran Hispanic bishops, Bishop Ricardo Ramirez of Las Cruces, New Mexico, put it recently: “in our public discourse, let us not allow anger to suffocate wisdom, nor let slogans replace solutions.”
If there is a country where the means exist to remedy the health care crisis, it is this one. But, is there a will? Solidarity and the common good come at a price.
A Catholic in good conscience cannot blindly vow support for one proposal or another without first measuring it against the fundamental principles of subsidiarity, solidarity and the common good....
But you can "blindly vow support for one proposal or another" after you've measured it...
Locally each bishop has put emphasis in that which concerns him the most but, in the end, the message is always the same: it is urgent to reform the U.S. health system, but don’t do it at the expense of the poor, the children in their mother’s womb, or the consciences of doctors, nurses and other health workers. We can do better than this....
In the end, the message is always the same: the bishops really want to support Obamacare, if only that abortion thing wasn't in the way.
....If there is a country where the means exist to remedy the health care crisis, it is this one. But, is there a will? Solidarity and the common good come at a price.
The bishops' social teachings come at a price, payable in the form of higher taxes and the expansion of civil government. Are you prepared to pay that price?
They probably would put up with the abortions if it meant getting socialized medicine passed. Commies with collars.
*** Supports universal health coverage which protects the life and dignity of all, from conception to natural death, especially those who are poor and vulnerable.***
The above statement is true. However, Alex, you are also right about having the government handle health care. We heard just recently that the government loses FIFTY PER CENT of all of its paper work.
The US Catholic bishops have spoken with one voice on the principles that should guide the discussion.
Uh, no, not exactly:
Unfortunately, I wish it were more, but not all bishops are in favor of socialism.
Back to the article, Following Catholic social teaching, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Unfortunately, this statement does not follow Catholic Social Teaching. It follows socialism.
As I have repeatedly posted:
Just as it is gravely wrong to take from individuals what they can accomplish by their own initiative and industry and give it to the community, so also it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and disturbance of right order to assign to a greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organizations can do
- Pius XI, Quadragesimo Anno, 79
If there is a country where the means exist to remedy the health care crisis, it is this one. But, is there a will? Solidarity and the common good come at a price.
Has somebody at USCCB forgotten about subsidiarity? Obviously, the answer is "yes."
Alex, I hate seeing this kind of tripe come out of the USCCB, particularly when they so egregiously violate the teachings of the Church. They do not have the right to invent their own doctrine out of whole cloth. If they feel they have no alternative, so be it. They should form their own denomination and leave us Catholics alone.
I am a Catholic, and I engage in the health care debate often. Have lost friends over it. I just don’t engage in it the way this article seems to want me to. :)
Folks who think universal health care should be provided should be setting up a fund and inviting others of like mind to donate. They can use that money to provide health care for the poor. After all, Jesus said YOU help the needy. He was never in favor of taking money from others by force in order to help the needy.
By the way, the Catholic Church has a lot of money. Yes, they do a lot of good with some of that money. But they have a lot of stuff they could sell and use the money to provide this health care they claim to be so concerned about.
So, Bishops. . .get busy!
LOL! I think we all need to send messages to the bishops that we disapprove of the healthcare issue at any cost!
Health Care Principles [Bishop Samuel Aquila, Fargo, ND]
Florida Bishop [Thomas Wenski] Weighs in on Health Care Reform
ObamaCare and Catholic social teaching [Bishop Neckless]
Some Catholic bishops question gov't health care
Boston’s Roman Catholic Cardinal Says He Confronted Obama about Abortion in Health Care Plan....
Iowa Bishop: Don’t Be Railroaded into the Current...Health Care Proposals
in a message issued by the Diocese of Sioux City (The Church on Universal Healthcare)
Nazi Health Care A Catholic Bishop Speaks Out Against "End of Life Care" (Germany, 1941)
Bishop Nickless: "No Health Care Reform is Better than the Wrong Health Care Reform"
Cardinal Rigali, Abp. Chaput Intensify Warnings Against Obamacare's Abortion Expansion
The "works based people" ignore the 8th commandments and steal from others These are the same people who support breaking the laws of this YHvH created is it YHvH ? Who condemns stealing ? Or is it Satan ? Who rewards others who sin in Pride. Amen !
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
so they like the Pharisees can gloat and feel that it is their tithe to their lord.
nation. The question is who is their lord ?
I engaged in healthcare debate, it is called taking part in tea parties.
This piece of confused USCCB bafflegab no doubt reflects confusion amongst the U.S. Bishops about Catholic Social Teaching, and especially about the hugely important distinction between "society" and "the state."
If we say that "society" must strive for the common good in relation to healtcare (or water quality, or cinema and broadcast entertainment, or neighborhood safety, or early childhood education, or anything else), we must emphasize that "society" consists of every form of human organization, beginning with the marital couple and the family, and extending through workplaces, businesses, nonprofits, labor organizations, trade associations, professional groups, parishes, schools, fraternal and civic associations, philanthopic and charitable groups, clubs, partnerships, city and county governments, etc. etc. etc. with special emphasis on that third etcetera.
All of these are not, collectively, "the state"; they are prior to and more important than "the state": they constitute "society." And "the state" cannot justly invade and absorb the functions of "society."
It is because "society" must strive for the common good in relation to healthcare, that spouses care for each other in sickness and in health; that parents care for dependent children; that adult children care for aged and dependent elders; that parishes hire parish nurses; that religious orders found and staff hospitals; that ospitals form healthcare consortia; that employers offer group insurance coverage; that students decide to enter the medical professions; that an inventor seeks a patent for a new therapeutic device, and then goes out to attract investors ---
I'm trying to suggest a crowded Bruegel canvas showing hundreds and thousands of people individually and jointly doing their thing, resulting in people in their "common associations" achieving the "common good."
This multiplex, layered society, each unit having its own proper gifts, opportunities, and obligations, is the context for all the Church's teachings on Social Justice.
Somebody should tell the USCCB.
I seem to have a vocation in Remedial Catechism.
*******************
LOL!
As for the rest of your post: well said, Mrs D.
He that's okay as long as there is "SOCIAL JUSTICE".
Besides only the "rich" will have to pay for it, so what if the govt is in control of your medical records. Who cares if the elderly don't get full coverage in the last two years of their life.
So when are American RC's going to hold them accountable, or is that someone else's job?
Job well done!
They'll take the wafer and keep their mouths shut. Holding the bishops accountable is someone else's job. Namely, the Protestants.
They just described the health care system we now have...But they decided we need to include with a guarantee that illegal aliens are included...
As it stands, the Church was never established to be a democracy or republic, so it's not like we can fire them.
What we can do (and hopefully, will do, as far as Catholics who are faithful to the teachings of the Church):
Now am I naive enough to believe that the majority will do any or all of the above?
But as far as getting the deacons and elders together and voting out the current preacher and replacing him with another one...don't work that way.
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