The new healthcare plan has been brought to us by…Catholics?
I was sickened to see Catholic Joe Biden standing next to the most pro-abortion President in the history of the country signing the biggest expansion of abortion since Roe.
We’d all fought the bill for so long but when Catholic Bart Stupak relented to Catholic Nancy Pelosi I knew that the healthcare bill was going through. I couldn’t imagine how Stupak could not know that the healthcare plan funded abortion, especially after the Catholic HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius acknowledged it in an interview.
The bill had gained some extra momentum after 60 Catholic nuns endorsed the plan.
And then here’s the list of Catholic congressman who voted “yes” on Obamacare, according to Catholic Advocate.
■Representative Ann Kirkpatrick (D, AZ-01) YES
■Representative Ed Pastor (D, AZ-04) YES
■Representative Harry E. Mitchell (D, AZ-05) YES
■Representative Raul M. Grijalva (D, AZ-07) YES
California
■Representative Mike Thompson (D, CA-01) YES
■Representative George Miller (D, CA-07) YES
■Representative Nancy Pelosi (D, CA-08) YES
■Representative Jerry McNerney (D, CA-11) YES
■Representative Anna Eshoo (D, CA-14) YES
■Representative Dennis A. Cardoza (D, CA-18) YES
■Representative Jim Costa (D, CA-20) YES
■Representative Xavier Becerra (D, CA-31) YES
■Representative Diane E. Watson (D, CA-33) YES
■Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (D, CA-34) YES
■Representative Grace F. Napolitano (D, CA-38) YES
■Representative Linda T. Sanchez (D, CA-39) YES
■Representative Joe Baca (D, CA-43) YES
■Representative Loretta Sanchez (D, CA-47) YES
■Representative John T. Salazar (D, CO-03) YES
■Representative Betsy Markey (D, CO-04) YES
■Representative John B. Larson (D, CT-01) YES
■Representative Joe Courtney (D, CT-02) YES
■Representative Rosa L. DeLauro (D, CT-03) YES
■Representative Luis V. Gutierrez (D, IL-04) YES
■Representative Jerry F. Costello (D, IL-12) YES
■Representative Phil Hare (D, IL-17) YES
■Representative Peter J. Visclosky (D, IN-01) YES
■Representative Joe Donnelly (D, IN-02) YES
■Representative Brad Ellsworth (D, IN-08) YES
■Representative Michael H. Michaud (D, ME-02) YES
■Representative Richard E. Neal (D, MA-02) YES
■Representative James P. McGovern (D, MA-03) YES
■Representative Ed Markey (D, MA-07) YES
■Representative Michael E. Capuano (D, MA-08) YES
■Representative William D. Delahunt (D, MA-10) YES
■Representative Bart Stupak (D, MI-01) YES
■Representative Dale E. Kildee (D, MI-05) YES
■Representative John D. Dingell (D, MI-15) YES
■Representative Betty McCollum (D, MN-04) YES
■Representative James L. Oberstar (D, MN-08) YES
■Representative William Lacy Clay (D, MO-01) YES
■Representative Carol Shea-Porter (D, NH-01) YES
■Representative Frank Pallone (D, NJ-06) YES
■Representative Bill Pascrell (D, NJ-08) YES
■Representative Albio Sires (D, NJ-13) YES
■Representative Ben Ray Lujan (D, NM-03) YES
■Representative Tim Bishop (D, NY-01) YES
■Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D, NY-04) YES
■Representative Joseph Crowley (D, NY-07) YES
■Representative Nydia M. Velazquez (D, NY-12) YES
■Representative Charles B. Rangel (D, NY-15) YES
■Representative Jose E. Serrano (D, NY-16) YES
■Representative John J. Hall (D, NY-19) YES
■Representative Paul Tonko (D, NY-21) YES
■Representative Maurice D. Hinchey (D, NY-22) YES
■Representative Dan Maffei (D, NY-25) YES
■Representative Brian Higgins (D, NY-27) YES
■Representative Steve Driehaus (D, OH-01) YES
■Representative Charles A. Wilson (D, OH-06) YES
■Representative Marcy Kaptur (D, OH-09) YES
■Representative Dennis J. Kucinich (D, OH-10) YES
■Representative Mary Jo Kilroy (D, OH-15) YES
■Representative John Boccieri (D, OH-16) YES
■Representative Tim Ryan (D, OH-17) YES
■Representative Peter DeFazio (D, OR-04) YES
■Representative Robert Brady (D, PA-01) YES
■Representative Kathy Dahlkemper (D, PA-03) YES
■Representative Joe Sestak (D, PA-07) YES
■Representative Patrick J. Murphy (D, PA-8) YES
■Representative Chris Carney (D, PA-10) YES
■Representative Paul Kanjorski (D, PA-11) YES
■Representative Michael F. Doyle (D, PA-14) YES
■Representative Patrick J. Kennedy (D, RI-01) YES
■Representative James R. Langevin (D, RI-02) YES
■Representative Ruben Hinojosa (D, TX-15) YES
■Representative Silvestre Reyes (D, TX-16) YES
■Representative Charlie Gonzalez (D, TX-20) YES
■Representative Ciro D. Rodriguez (D, TX-23) YES
■Representative Henry Cuellar (D, TX-28) YES
■Representative Peter Welch (D, VT-At-Large) YES
■Representative Tom Perriello (D, VA-05) YES
■Representative James P. Moran (D, VA-08) YES
■Representative Gerald E. Connolly (D, VA-11) YES
■Representative David R. Obey (D, WI-07) YES
There is something very wrong with Catholicism in America when Catholics play such a large role in passing anti-life and anti-conscience legislation. Catholic politicians need to be reminded that you don’t leave Christ at the Capitol steps. They need to be reminded that the issue of life is not negotiable. And Catholic voters need to elect politicians who understand that evil exists and fight with all they have against enshrining evil into law. They must remember that the terms public servant and Catholic are not mutually exclusive.
Catholic voters need to take their responsibility seriously and stop electing politicians who say one thing and do another.
Update: Lipinski and Lynch, both of whom voted NO, have been removed from the list. I was looking at a different vote so thanks to the commenters for the heads up.
March 24, 2010 at 3:10 am
Makes me sick…. but how can we expect them to defend a faith that they probably were never taught correctly to begin with… it comes down to poor catechesis and formation. We are reaping what was sown…. Next sunday, ask some random parishioners to explain what the Real Presence is and you will get the idea.
March 24, 2010 at 3:24 am
I wrote about hc reform yesterday on my blog; particularly from a Catholic perspective. I don't want to repeat anything here, so here's a link:
http://www.faithfictionandflannery.com/2010/03/dorothy-day-personalism-and-health-care.html
March 24, 2010 at 3:39 am
I hate to agree with an annon, but he does have a bit of a point– I recently found out that someone I thought was a very, very good Catholic doesn't believe we have any idea what Christ "actually" taught, and thinks that most of the Church's teachings are for non-moral reasons. (ie, no birth control so there's lots of little Catholics)
March 24, 2010 at 3:49 am
I think that Dan Lipinski voted 'NO' on the bill. Please check that out to be certain.
March 24, 2010 at 3:51 am
Still, my classmates had some of the best Catholic education in the country, and most are "I don't get it" Liberals. I'm afraid fat, happy ears are all too often deaf ears.
March 24, 2010 at 3:57 am
I'm not trying to be a smart-tail, but… Catholic education, or education in Catholicism?
March 24, 2010 at 3:58 am
I had read that Rep. Lipinski voted No on the bill. As for Rep Gutierrez of Illinois, no one knows what religion he practices especially the Hon. G himself. I think that he consults with the I Ching each morning to discover his current denomination.
Given the state of society and the Church now, why should we surprised at the apostasy that is all the rage?
March 24, 2010 at 4:02 am
Anonymous:
Don't worry, I'm a catechist and the kids I teach, ages 10-14, will be receiving their first holy communion in a few weeks. They know the Real Presence. Just this week I baked some bread and brought it and asked them if Christ was present in the bread. They said "No, because it is not consecrated."
March 24, 2010 at 4:05 am
I had also heard on local radio that Lipinski was the only IL Democrat to vote against the bill.
March 24, 2010 at 4:15 am
I'm pretty sure Stephan Lynch from MA voted against the bill.
March 24, 2010 at 4:34 am
With all due respect to those sisters… I would suggest them removing their habits but I am sure they are gone.
I live in Texas and will be confronting my representative (a Methodist democrat) upon his next visit here– thankfully we have some rather outspoken priests who hopefully will enlighten the Catholic voters of this atrocity.
Bishops need to get their respective houses in order too though.
March 24, 2010 at 8:37 am
"Catholic voters need to take their responsibility seriously and stop electing politicians who say one thing and do another."
Just as Catholics need to DEMAND that priests and bishops who PUSH annulments, like condems at the high school health office, are removed from their positions, defrocked AND excommunicated, along with the canon lawyers who do the same, more or less! The corruption is rampant.
Fat chance! Annulment = canonically blessed adultery = spousal and child abuse.
It will remain a perfect fit for the modern Catholic Church until some Pope grows up and acts like a Catholic Pope, once again. Have not heard of one since Pius XII!
Come on Benedict, to hell with your American Brother Bishops who lust after adulterers to keep their coffers and pews full. You are doing nothing as families and innocent spouses are being destroyed.
Either stop talking and ACT or RESIGN! It is THAT time, Benedict.
March 24, 2010 at 8:54 am
…that was an impressive thread-hijack.
March 24, 2010 at 11:22 am
Am I the only one who thinks that if the USCCB had stated before the vote, "If you vote yes then you will be automatically excommunicated," things would have turned out differently? The bishops have enabled these politicians for years, not holding them accountable for their pro-death scandal-causing voting record.
March 24, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Hi Kat, I agree with you about the sentiment of excommunication, but that is misunderstood by the media and culture. Consequently, it gets turned around to work against the Catholic Church. I've struggled with this for a long time and have come to accept it.
I think the bishops should have done what you suggested except deny them the Eucharist. After all, if a priest has knowledge that a person is in a PUBLIC state of sin, he has the obligation to deny that person communion, for the sake of their soul. Correct me if I'm wrong here.
Good post.
-Dave L., Allentown PA
March 24, 2010 at 12:17 pm
I would be interested in the Catholic Reps. who DIDN'T vote. Does anyone have that information. They deserve our thanks and respect.
March 24, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Above, I meant the Catholic Reps. who didn't vote yes – those who voted against.
March 24, 2010 at 12:50 pm
It's all because of that Kennedy fallacy of not letting one's Catholic principles affect governing or legislating for all people. The fallacy is that the abortion funding issue is not just a Catholic but a human one. But those distinctions are just too costly – in many ways. And the bishops, I can count with 1 hand those who were actively engaged. Have they turned into politicians as well. I've read some nasty blogs accusing them of being in on it – like playing both sides of the fence. Card. Mahoney is even encouraged by the promises of Obama http://cardinalrogermahonyblogsla.blogspot.com/2010/03/immigration-rally-washington-dc.html
March 24, 2010 at 1:13 pm
This sort of thing makes me (almost) physically ill…how is it possible that so many Catholics know so little about their faith?
I have to trace it, in part anyway, in a straight line to the deformation of the liturgy. Seeing as how the liturgy was mangled by men from being directed toward Christ into the "Church of Aren't We Fabulous", and how for the majority of Christians the only learning about their faith is the hour they spend in church on Sunday morning, everything we say and do in that hour is vital.
People learned that if Father could make up the liturgy as he went along, and implicitly (or even explicitly) refused to submit to the authority of the Church, then the laity wasn't bound to submit either. From my childhood, around 1979 or so, it has been a downward spiral…
Only 2 things give me hope…taken as a given, of course, that Christ has won the victory already and "the gates of Hell will not prevail" against His Vicar or His Church…the influx of Evangelicals in the 90's and traditional Anglo-Catholics coming the "teens" are leaven that re-invigorated cradle Catholics to learn and appreciate their faith.
Santa Ioseph, Ora pro nobis!… (St Joseph, pray for us!)
March 24, 2010 at 2:07 pm
I think there are a lot of Catholic Americans who just have lost stamina in trying to swim upstream in this Protestant American culture. Its so easy just to float.
But my husband reminded me at a scary point in our nation's history (like 6 years ago) that the gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church, and that is absolutely true. But that doesn't mean that the missionary Catholic Church that is here in the US will always exist. We have the grace here and now in the Eucharist, but that doesn't mean that our grandchildren will find it in these same soils years from now with the direction we're headed.