I honestly don’t understand the support from many priests and bishops for socialized healthcare.
Looking at Europe and around the globe, it seems to be the rule that big government seems to crowd out religion. With Big Government’s life of ever expanding rights, it is inevitable that some “rights” will be mutually exclusive such as the right to an abortion or contraception will collide with a pharmacist or doctor’s religious beliefs. As we know the separation of Church and state has become the secularization of church and state. Does anybody believe that Big Government is going to side with the pharmacist for long?
Let’s face it, Big Government in America is now a moral force. It is almost a religion with the dogma of the ACLU as its catechism and judges as bishops. Big Government actively seeks to displace the churches and as such has been the driving force behind secularism and the infringement of religious liberty.
That’s why it’s so mystifying to me to hear some Catholic bishops approving of a major expansion of government. This is especially odd since the expansion is in healthcare industry which the Catholic Church is so heavily involved in and freedom of conscience protections are so important.
We’ve already seen the state of Connecticut force Catholic hospitals to administer the abortion drug to rape victims. Do you really think that tide will be turned by a massive growth of the power of government in the healthcare sector?
November 9, 2009 at 3:38 am
Have you read this article by Judie Brown http://all.org/newsroom_judieblog.php?id=2827?
She very clearly explains why national health care must be opposed.
November 9, 2009 at 4:24 am
A very timely and perceptive post. I can only add my agreement.
November 9, 2009 at 11:38 am
Very true.
Big Government, in all the forms we've seen it in the last century at least, is a monster that desires to be idolized by the people. That is, it literally desires to be worshiped, and worshipped alone.
It's a testament to the moral weakness of our pastors, which itself is an indictment of the "faithful", that we would be so blind to this basic fact.
November 9, 2009 at 1:02 pm
And sadly, the American precedent, is what will likely bankrupt our own healthcare here in the southern tip of Deepest Darkest Africa;)!
The communists (literally, communist party- very powerful here) are pushing the same here, except without us being able to afford it at all, and doctors already fleeing.
Of course, here, taxpayers, I think have funded abortion for years. What you do affects everyone, make sure America turns.
Marc
November 9, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Matthew – the same Marxists that invaded the classrooms following the 60's also taught the future bishops of our church. They were already infected before even getting to the seminary.
We have a priest in our diocese that has his articles routinely printed in our diocesan rag knocking America and calling Israel "a mean little country", as well as pushing his socialistic philosophy.
And the Jesuits? Oy Vey!
November 9, 2009 at 6:41 pm
It drives me nuts too, but think about it.
Religion demands a strive for purity; politics works best when you don't let the ideals of a perfect society soak through (in other words, you define what crime is, maybe have a bit of this that and the other, but otherwise let charity and God give us our meaning). But it makes sense that men who have dedicated their lives to an orginization and obedience and ideals would not truly understanding why approaching politics from the "feel good, do good," approach is so dangerous.
If they were men who studied history enough to become Conservative in their worldview, they might not have wanted to be priests.
And of course let me apply the caveats that I know a lot of Conservatives priests, probably some of the most well educated men I've known are priests, etc, etc.
But I'm sure everyone can think of at least one Father that this line of thought applies to. I know I can.
November 10, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Actually, the Bishops want "universal healthcare" which is just saying that everyone should have access to medical services..but, as always with the dignity of life at the heart of it all.
If you read some older as well as our current Popes encylicals, you can see where they are coming from.
Government help should be there IF we need it.
Unfortunately, people(especially the younger generation) has an attitude that they shouldn't have to work for anything. They have had everything handed to them, so the "social" aspect of government has become like a lottery giveaway….but as we all know, nothing comes for free concerning government.