From The Colorado Independent:
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.
The Catholic Church has been active in Colorado politics in recent years (in 2006 they weren’t shy in telling parishioners to vote in favor of a gay marriage ban). They’re certainly toeing the line on political activity by a nonprofit organization, but what politician would really call them out on it?
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or vice versa.
The headline is contradicted by the text.
The text says:
“Catholic Church Tells People to Oppose Public Funding of Abortion.”
If you’re going to flat-out lie in the headline, wouldn’t it be more consistent to monkey with the quote so that it supports that lie ?
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But this isn’t you trolling, it’s you not reading. Try again.
The statement Bishops are instructed to read tells people to oppose health care reform legislation. Thems the facts. Sorry if you don’t like them.
That squares with the headline. Of course they’re opposing health care reform for some reason or another, but they’re still opposing health care reform.
The Catholic Church is a stronger advocate of health care reform than the Democratic Party. But it remains committed to following Jesus Christ, which means no abortion.
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to draw attention to the action you said wasn’t supported by the quote — you’d already made the point about abortion funding. But again, everyone who opposed health reform bills does so for some reason, they’re still opposing health reform because those bills are what’s on the table.
The Constitution makes abortion in the first trimester a civil right for all women. Every elected and public official takes an oath to uphold the Constitution. Catholics are forbidden by the 8th Commandment to bear false witness. If the Church were following “Jesus Christ” OR their own doctrine, they would instruct all Catholics that they cannot take an oath to uphold the Constitution as long as abortion is a civil right under that Constitution. NO WAY.
Church has been playing politics for 2000 years, doesn’t have a damm thing to do with Christ….if the Church believed in Christ, they would not have to play politics.
So do me a favor, BX, drop the pious crap or read your gd Baltimore Cathecism
http://coloradopols.com/diary/…
and only a handful of bold-faced block quotes. Not up to your usual standards, Wade.
will use more flair from now on.
they have to monkey with the facts – which they did.
The current health care reform proposals specifically state that Federal subsidy money for HCR will not go to fund abortions.
As a cynic, I’m going to have to say the Catholic Church has gone ’round the bend in the company of Sean Hannity. If I were less cynical, I’d say it had something to do with their health care business.
…please change your handle to Ridiculous X
from CS
politicianBishop Mikey Sheridan?Has he told people yet, that if they support heath care, he will withhold Holy Communion?
They appear to be opposing a specific piece of legislation, thereby risking their tax-exempt status.
I thought it was restricted to candidates only, at least at the Federal level.
http://www.au.org/resources/br…
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Have you read any non-profit charters lately ?
Practically every non-profit ever created was created for a political reason. Whether fighting hunger or curing disease, they have politics, influencing decisions and influencing the public, at their core.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P…
Now, a non-profit should not engage in partisan politics. Maybe that’s what you were thinking ? But health care reform is not a partisan issue.
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All day long the Democratic Party is pushing one religious belief or another: abortion on demand, homosexual marriage, access to healthcare, treating immigrants like human beings and children of God. Why is it OK for your religious beliefs to inform your conscience, but its not OK for me, unless my beliefs happen to align with yours ?
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…does not mean that others are motivated by religion. Stop projecting your silly superstitions on others.
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where does your belief in, say, abortion come from ?
Does science tell you that it’s a morally acceptable choice ?
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From the Wikipedia entry for “Religion:”
Do you not adhere to some system of thought ?
Haven’t you recited some of your system’s narratives and beliefs here ?
Doesn’t that system give meaning to your life experiences through reference to ultimate truth ?
People need some organizing beliefs in order to function. Even you.
Go ahead and take pride in not belonging to an “organized” religion, you’ve earned that. Without any sarcasm, I confess that needing the crutch of organized religion is a sign of my weakness. At least on this web site, you come across as a much stronger person than me. Good for you.
But your superstitions look just as silly to me as mine do to you. I respect your right to believe such silly stuff. But I must object when you act on that sillyness to kill children, for example.
I’m not a very good Christian. Billy Graham knew with 100% certainty that,despite whatever sinful acts he committed, or any evil that lurked in his heart, that he was assured of salvation because he took some unrelated passages of the Bible out of context and shaped them into a contract binding on Jesus.
I’m not that clever. I am even occasionally an agnostic. I sure don’t deserve the great reward promised to true believers.
I’m just a schlub hoping for mercy. I also hope that mine is the “one true religion,” as the Pope promises. If I find out its not, when I cross the great divide, I’ll be sure to let you know.
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..that I’m superior to you. Who am I to question this fact? I bow before the unexplained power of others.
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Its been a long time coming, but in the end you admit that you DO have religious beliefs, handed on to you from yo momma.
Science and reason don’t provide any rationalization for homosexual marriage, or for abortion. But if yo momma sez they are good, you embrace that. Fair enuf.
[I cannot believe the rationalist Cajun spicy stew thinks that a quirk of law justifies or explains something, one way or the other, so I’ll pass on that low hanging fruit.]
I acknowledge your claim to moral superiority, no questions asked. After all, that’s what your religion tells you.
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That’s nothing new.
It’s my understanding that churches aren’t non-profits; they’re tax-exempt entities.
One Oklahoma newspaper article:
http://findarticles.com/p/arti…
…passed a resolution at its Diocesan convention last month broadly supporting healthcare reform. The resolution was framed in general terms, i.e., not for or against any specific legislation, largely to avoid tax liability issues. Not-for-profit tax exemptions are justified on the basis of the public good created by the exempt entity. It’s hard to rationalize express advocacy (lobbying on specific issues) as akin to operating soup kitchens or making rooms available for AA meetings.
…passed a resolution at its Diocesan convention last month broadly supporting healthcare reform. The resolution was framed in general terms, i.e., not for or against any specific legislation, largely to avoid tax liability issues. Not-for-profit tax exemptions are justified on the basis of the public good created by the exempt entity. It’s hard to rationalize express advocacy (lobbying on specific issues) as akin to operating soup kitchens or making rooms available for AA meetings.