BREAKING: Catholic Bishops On Health Care - Change Bills Or Else

Abortion is a legal and sometimes very necessary medical procedure in the United States and in almost every civilized country on Earth. The Catholic Church should have no say whatsoever on any healthcare policy. Interesting that those on the right say that the government should stay out of healthcare, unless of course, it's a women's issue. The Catholic Church is one of the most sexist institutions that exist. There's reason so many Catholics have left the church. The above story is one of them.

I agree with all three demands, though I would also say that *illegal* immigrants should be promptly jailed and deported after receiving treatment.

Forcing people to pay for abortion will cause such an uproar that it will lead to an open political revolt.....How long to we have to be governed by idiots?

Well it's a good thing we have the separation of church and state, thanks for your opinion Bishops, but you were not elected by the American people and Congress is NOT beholden to you. Democrats were elected with a sizable mandate for change, Universal Health Care being a key piece of that change.

} might also add covering illegals,mandating insurance and exploding the deficit will have the same effect....

What I dont understand is what is the "Else"? What are they going to do. What are the repercussions?

In the name of the father, the son, and the right wing...

If the leaders of my church had made that comment it would not have been noticed. Why are we bothering to give them coverage. Every American is entitled to his or her opinion and that is all these statements are, 3 individuals opinions.

Are those bishops for or against the health care required to heal the boys who have been molested and sodomized by the RC clergy?

"What I dont understand is what is the "Else"? What are they going to do. What are the repercussions?"
Billy C | Oct 8, 2009 5:49:02 PM

Catholics are the largest single religion in America, and we are a majority rule country. The 'or else' should be pretty obvious.

The abortion issue is one of conscience where the Church has been steadfastly (infuriatingly at times) unyielding on. And unlike Republicans who are happy to kill people off after they get out of the womb, the Catholic belief in the right to life is consistent regardless of their crimes or threat.

Congress would be wise to find a mechanism to prise out abortion funding from the bill. A little like China and Taiwan, we're not up for rational discussion on the subject.

How can you call yourself an unbiased journalist when you use language like "they insist that the Hyde amendment doesn’t apply to the bills"?

They INSIST? really?

YOU should insist, George. They speak the truth. Get educated. The Hyde amendment does not apply to the health care reform bills.

Ignorance is amazing! The public already funds abortions through medicaid, and subsidized state health insurance programs, and this has been going on for decades. Also, in case of ectopic pregnancy, what would the church like done? Either an abortion must be performed or the mother and fetus will die of hemmorage. Clearly, there are some very valid non-elective reasons for abortion that are not being thought out by the church. Even the bible puts more value to a live woman's life than to that of the unborn, so why doesn't the church? Lawmakers and clergy really need to stop interfering with women's health.

This bill has become totally contaminated. On one hand, they don't want anyone coming between the doctor and patient. On the other hand, they want issues such as abortion, racism, immigration, campaign contribution, corrupted politicians, etc. etc. to be handled in this bill.

Let's adhere to real health reform issues and forget Fox and faux friends (clowns).

Bishop William Murphy, Cardinal Justin Rigali and Bishop John Wester need to setup a place where the unwanted unaborted kids can go and fund the first 18 years of their lives. Put that in the bill and then prohibit public funding for abortion. Problem solved.

So the Catholic Church wants to be a political organization? Fine. Take away their tax-exempt status.

If you like your government to be run by religion, move to Iran.

Deb is wrong. Not all abortions are "medically necessarily"! In fact, out of all abortions performed in the United States, only ONE PERCENT (1%) is medically necessarily to have abortion just to save the lives of mothers. All other reasons are nothing but stupid and selfish on our parts. We were being deceived ourselves to prevent births because it will cramp our lifestyle, or we can't afford it, or because they are too much trouble for us, or we were too young, making prom night mistakes, etc. etc. Let get ride of innocent babies to save some bucks and instead spend on hardwood flooring, new car, or God forbids that you only want the pleasures - not accept the consequent. We tell ourselves this lie! Heaven forbid we should lay this justification (including so-called medical neccessarily as an excuse to cover up your mistakes) at the feet of God. I will promise you this!

I didn't think that the Catholic church had a vote in Congress...

Erik...as much as you're entitled to your opinion about the ills of abortion, you'd do well to remember that your life will NEVER be in jeopardy from pregnancy or the secondary effects of it. I suggest you back on down from the pulpit of self-rightiousness, you'll NEVER know what it's like to be raped and impregnated or at risk of death if you carry a fetus to term. Who are you to judge or lecture? Your opinion is tainted by your arrogant tone.

So it's o.k. to try to keep affordable insurance from those hurting, to continue to deny pre-existing, because of this one issue? How is one ANY different from the other? Is helping the sick not a moral obligation? How is this any different from me having to pay for a war I never approved of?

So it's o.k. to try to keep affordable insurance from those hurting, to continue to deny pre-existing, because of this one issue? How is one ANY different from the other? Is helping the sick not a moral obligation? How is this any different from me having to pay for a war I never approved of?

Abortion, for the most part, is an elective procedure and as such should be paid for out of pocket except in those few cases where there is an underlying medical issue regarding the health of the mother, mental or physical. Many women use abortion as birth control and this practice cannot be stopped if public funding for abortions is increased, promoted, or readily available.

the churches responsibility it is to populate the land...,...,... then MAKE SURE NO CHILD IS LEFT BEHIND, E.T. phone home ,gods calling come home lost boy. statistical norms of devine inteligence [not just intelligent design but RESPONSIBILITY to "find&send" the present extra-link / snag! of bifurcating ignorance, find the prime case and send! them early to whence they truely belong and long to go. unleasch my heart! and the corinthians shall march man.destinies excess faith,

yeah right! corinthians march to save the out-land lost youth raised in distant culture find&send annyt

It makes me laugh when people claim that voters Congress and Obama were given a mandate to pass Obamacare when they voted for "change". Obama never described the "change" he was going to bring other than to say that all bills would be posted on the net for people to read before any vote was taken. Not only did that not happen the Dems voted against it. Obama said that people making under $250,000 per year would not see a dime extra in taxes, then the bill charges fines and fees,BUT he didn't raise the taxes. When are we going to start seeing the changes he did actually put into words?