Catholic pastors directed to distribute anti-health reform materials at mass

[The_Dude 1,142]

Catholic pastors directed to distribute anti-health reform materials at mass

By John Tomasic 11/2/09 2:02 PM

This past weekend the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops instructed pastors at parishes across the country to distribute material urging Catholics to oppose the health reform bills making their way through Congress for allowing public funding of abortions. Priests were to insert the Bishops Conference pdf leaflets and letters into parish news bulletins, distribute them at church doors or place them in pews. They were also directed to read a statement at mass to reinforce the message.

The Conference of bishops reportedly sent the orders out last Thursday, the same day Speaker Nancy Pelosi presented the mammoth 2,000-page House reform bill to lawmakers and the public.

The material explains that the Catholic Church supports reform that will “protect the life and dignity of all people from the moment of conception until natural death.”

The insert contains phone numbers and web addresses at which constituents can contact their Representatives.

CNSNews reports that the Catholic Church has a “major stake” in the legislation:

A little over 100 million Americans are treated through Catholic hospitals and health centers. There are 624 Catholic hospitals in America. Also, 11 of the nation’s 40 largest health care systems are Catholic, such as Ascension Health, Catholic Health Initatives and Trinity Health.

As observers have pointed out, however, the bishops’ position seems to be oddly anti-government. The Church has never opposed any private health insurance policies that provide abortion benefits. It has never urged a boycott of particular insurance companies for offering abortion benefits. Aetna, Blue Cross, Cigna, United Healthcare– all the major private insurers provide for abortion services in their policies. All policy holders are paying into the provider network and subsidizing all its services.

The strong stance by the Bishops led one CNSNews commenter to ask why priests are being directed to mouth Republican Party talking points.

Leaflet Text:

HEALTH CARE REFORM IS ABOUT SAVING LIVES, NOT DESTROYING THEM.

Abortion is not health care because killing is not healing.

For over 30 years, the Hyde Amendment and other longstanding and widely

supported laws have prevented federal funding of elective abortions.

Yet health care reform bills advancing in Congress violate this policy.

Americans would be forced to subsidize abortions through their taxes and health insurance premiums. We need genuine health care reform— reform that helps save lives, not destroy them.

Tell Congress: “Remove Abortion Funding and Mandates from Needed

Health Care Reform!”

Visit www.usccb.org/action to send your e-mails today.

For more information on the U.S. bishops’ advocacy for authentic Health Care

Reform, visit www.usccb.org/healthcare.

Edited November 3, 2009 by Rob and Mel

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Figures

[HAL 9000 96]

I am super-surprised.

Oh wait, no I'm not.

[*JG* 2]

I absolutely hate when they mix politics in with the Mass. This isn't the first time, nor will it be the last.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I'm thankful that my priest doesn't indulge in anything political while conducting a mass.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm thankful that my priest doesn't indulge in anything political while conducting a mass.

I don't know about that. There are some very political situations that Jesus addressed in the Gospel. That said - I don't understand why these bishops are targeting health care reform bill while not doing the same against private insurance companies that provide abortion services. If by paying into a pool that provides such services makes one a culpible, then they are being selective by going after public insurance while ignoring private insurance all this time. That makes their sincerity questionable, IMO.

Edited November 3, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[Danno 1,228]

I'm surprised that some of you are surprised.

How else would you expect the catholic Church to respond to an issue they see as GOV funded killing of unborn babies?

My how we applaud the Church when their Priest marched for civil rights or any of the other issues the Church has waded into but if they object to this one provision of this reform bill.... a provision which would FORCE all tax payers to fund abortion.. you think they should shut-up and sit-down.

Every Church and indeed any group has an obligation to speak out and take a stand against Government acts which are contrary to core values of it's group. (for or against)

That The church did not rail against private insurance companies is clearly something different all together as no one is forced to join nor support them in the unavoidable way we will, with this Bill.

IF the Church can't use the Parish to address the issue of "life", they best close up shop and call it quits.

Seriously, I doubt they are interrupting the Mass its self to give this information... or perhaps you don't know what the mass even is?

They are probably putting a paper in the Church bulletin

Or mentioning it in another part of the service.

[Nina~ 431]

I'm surprised that some of you are surprised.

How else would you expect the catholic Church to respond to an issue they see as GOV funded killing of unborn babies?

My how we applaud the Church when their Priest marched for civil rights or any of the other issues the Church has waded into but if they object to this one provision of this reform bill.... a provision which would FORCE all tax payers to fund abortion.. you think they should shut-up and sit-down.

Every Church and indeed any group has an obligation to speak out and take a stand against Government acts which are contrary to core values of it's group. (for or against)

That The church did not rail against private insurance companies is clearly something different all together as no one is forced to join nor support them in the unavoidable way we will, with this Bill.

IF the Church can't use the Parish to address the issue of "life", they best close up shop and call it quits.

Seriously, I doubt they are interrupting the Mass its self to give this information... or perhaps you don't know what the mass even is?

They are probably putting a paper in the Church bulletin

Or mentioning it in another part of the service.

The outrage is because, what the church is doing goes against everything that is Christlike. Jesus never said anything about abortions, however he wandered from village to village healing the sick. Providing healthcare for all is one of the basic elements of Christianity. In fact, when a missionary goes to a rural community, one of the first things they do is to build a school and a free clinic to help the needy. So when the church does something un-christlike in the name of Christ, there is going to be plenty of outrage!

Edited November 3, 2009 by Nina Ballerina

[The_Dude 1,142]

I'm surprised that some of you are surprised.

How else would you expect the catholic Church to respond to an issue they see as GOV funded killing of unborn babies?

My how we applaud the Church when their Priest marched for civil rights or any of the other issues the Church has waded into but if they object to this one provision of this reform bill.... a provision which would FORCE all tax payers to fund abortion.. you think they should shut-up and sit-down.

Every Church and indeed any group has an obligation to speak out and take a stand against Government acts which are contrary to core values of it's group. (for or against)

That The church did not rail against private insurance companies is clearly something different all together as no one is forced to join nor support them in the unavoidable way we will, with this Bill.

IF the Church can't use the Parish to address the issue of "life", they best close up shop and call it quits.

Seriously, I doubt they are interrupting the Mass its self to give this information... or perhaps you don't know what the mass even is?

They are probably putting a paper in the Church bulletin

Or mentioning it in another part of the service.

IF the church is giving political speeches from the pulpit, then they are subject to lose their tax exemptions. Nobody is telling them they can't do this, they simply have to make a choice.

[NickD 203]

Not sure why the Church is making such an issue out of abortion when it's a proven fact that young boys do not get pregnant. Maybe that is why they do that so it won't be an issue.

Just never ran across a girl or woman that wanted an abortion, now married folks not being able to have children, that seems to be a major problem. They should make an issue about all the young illegal girls around here getting pregnant at 13-14 years of age, but they do that to have a USC legal kid, now that is a problem.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Not sure why the Church is making such an issue out of abortion when it's a proven fact that young boys do not get pregnant. Maybe that is why they do that so it won't be an issue.

Just never ran across a girl or woman that wanted an abortion, now married folks not being able to have children, that seems to be a major problem. They should make an issue about all the young illegal girls around here getting pregnant at 13-14 years of age, but they do that to have a USC legal kid, now that is a problem.

I wasn't aware that it was just illegal immigrants who were getting pregnant at 13-14. I think that is a problem no matter who it is or what their rationale (or lack thereof) was.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I recently spoke with my Dad over this - he's been an ordained Catholic Deacon for over 30 years. He said he's really not up to snuff on all the details, but he made this interesting comment - the Catholic Church is also against capital punishment, but you probably won't see too many bishops campaigning against policies or even candidates that support capital punishment.

[Danno 1,228]

I recently spoke with my Dad over this - he's been an ordained Catholic Deacon for over 30 years. He said he's really not up to snuff on all the details, but he made this interesting comment - the Catholic Church is also against capital punishment, but you probably won't see too many bishops campaigning against policies or even candidates that support capital punishment.

The Catholic church is also against lying but to lump all offenses into one pot... and suggest that they all merit the same response is shallow.

Death penalty and Abortion are both contrary to Catholic teaching but they are not accepted as equal offenses.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Says who?

[NickD 203]

They also passed out literature telling us to vote for this guy that can be held personally responsible for the deaths of thousands of people on the basis he is personally against abortion. Didn't do a goddamn thing to prevent abortion, nor to ease the economic conditions that force some married couples into it because they can't afford another kid, but he was just personally against it. Bunch of hypocrites.