Catholic hospitals have signaled that they back the Senate’s compromise

[lakotak]

Hi All,

Hope this is the right forum. The title of the article is below and the link. Any thought from all the learned on this situation and if it means at some point Catholic hospitals will be doing abortions? It looks like it boils down to a money issue for the Catholic hospitals. It looks like they are going against the Bishops.

Catholic group supports Senate on abortion aid
Hospital association stance could provide political cover for Democrats

msnbc.msn.com/id/34593719/ns/politics-the_new_york_times/

 

[Bubba_Switzler]

In an apparent split with Roman Catholic bishops over the abortion-financing provisions of the proposed health care overhaul, the nation’s Catholic hospitals have signaled that they back the Senate’s compromise on the issue, raising hopes of breaking an impasse in Congress and stirring controversy within the church.

nytimes.com/2009/12/26/health/policy/26abort.html?hp

 

[Kirk_O]

I would love to see the Catholic Hospitals get away from any federal or state money. Making them completely independent from any legislation. The desire to receive the government money is Satan himself. For them to think they can’t manage unless they receive government aid; is not putting faith in the Lord to provide for them.

I see so many Christian Churches doing the same thing, to stay tax exempt. Satan has used this to enslave the churches.

 

[Lancer]

*From the NY Times Article…on MSNBC
*By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
msnbcmedia1.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Sources/Art/nyt_logo_140x252.gifupdated 12:02 a.m. ET, Sat., Dec . 26, 2009

In an apparent split with Roman Catholic bishops over the abortion-financing provisions of the proposed health carehttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2_bing.gif overhaul, the nation’s Catholic hospitals have** signaled that they back the Senate’s compromise on the issue**, raising hopes of breaking an impasse in Congress and stirring controversy within the church.
Just days before the bill passed, the Catholic Health Association, which represents hundreds of Catholic hospitals across the country, said in a statement that it was “encouraged” and “increasingly confident” that such a compromise “can achieve the objective of no federal fundinghttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2_bing.gif for abortion.” An umbrella group for nuns followed its lead.
Catholic scholars say their statement reflects a different application of church teachings against “cooperation with evil,” a calculus that the legislation offers a way to extend health insurance to millions of Americans. For the Catholic hospitals, that it is** both a moral and financial imperative, since like other hospitals they stand to gain from reducing the number of uninsured patients. **

And in practical political terms, some Democrats — including some opponents of abortion rights — **say that the Catholic hospitals’ relative openness to a compromise could play a pivotal role by providing political cover for Democrats who oppose abortion to support the health bill. **Democrats and liberal groups quickly disseminated the association’s endorsement along with others from the nuns’ group, other Catholics and evangelicals.

**Officials of the Catholic hospitals’ group and the nuns’ Leadership Conference of Women Religious declined to comment. **

msnbc.msn.com/id/34593719/ns/politics-the_new_york_times/
from the Catholic Health Association of the United States Statement

Comment Regarding Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 17, 2009) While we have yet to see the manager’s amendment or Senator Robert Casey’s final abortion amendment language, we are encouraged by recent deliberations and the outline** Senator Casey **is developing. It is our understanding that the language now being written would prohibit federal funding of abortion, ensure provider conscience protection and fund programs to provide supportive care to some of the most vulnerable pregnant women in our society.

Especially now that a public health insurance option is no longer on the table, we are increasingly confident that Senator Casey’s language can achieve the objective of no federal funding for abortion. We urge Congress to continue its work toward the goal of health reform that protects life at all stages while expanding coverage to the greatest possible number of people in our country. We look forward to reviewing the final language these improvements contemplate.

chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/Newsroom/NewsReleases/2009/r091217a.htm

Seems like the CHA is trying to support what they see as “a real need” for health care reform…and not be in opposition to the USCCB/Church on abortion (remember the USCCB want health care reform…in general…but with conscience-clause and pro-life provisions protected in concrete terms).

The NY Times/MSNBC “wording” and journalistic procedure…is clearly, I believe, at best misleading…and…at worse unethical…their reporter (Armstrong) appears to be…at best…simply, not very bright or talented as a reporter…and at worse…an ideologue who is trying to make a point even at the cost of journalistic integrity. In any case…it is unfair to the CHA. Note that there is no comment from CHA…and he uses the “Catholic scholars” title with no real reference. He uses a few words from the CHA statement and lifts them out as quotes to make his point. The NY Times, even with its elitist and liberal ideologue biases…used to be…very rigorous in its procedural journalism…now they sound like MSNBC or any of the other “sound-bite–talking heads” 24 hour news outlets which blast this garbage over the our airwaves as journalism and news!

I could find no recent LWRC (women religious) statement that matches up with CHA…there are dated statements, but none for this current CHA statement…more sloppy and lazy reporting by NY Times & Mr. Armstrong. I wonder who is the editor of the NY Times?..asleep at his desk for sure!

Pax Christi

 

[JReducation]

I too read the same thing. The NY Times is quoting out of context and out of time. Neither the sisters nor the Catholic Hospital Association have said what the NY Times is saying. They are being quoted out of context. The worse part is that the NY Times has taken not to publish rebuttals from Catholics. Respect Life has sent them letters asking them to clarify what they have written and they have ignored them. Bishops have had to find other means to refute what the NY Times often prints as “the Church said”, because the NY Times will not publish the Church’s response or clarification.

Don’t go to the NY Times for your Catholic News.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[RHC]

Agreed with JReducation. As a professional journalist, the current standards of “journalism” at the Gray Lady are appalling. Once upon a time, the article Mr. Armstrong wrote would barely pass at a Journalism 101. Now, however, it appears in what used to be the flagship of journalism. Unnamed sources, sloppy reporting, biased placement of quotes, cut-and-paste journalism…no wonder my profession is struggling.

Unfortunately, the damage is done. Those who wish to discredit our bishops and the Church are disseminating this piece of writing far and wide. I received it by e-mail from my family, who are always looking for a reason to discredit the Church.

 

[Darryl1958]

The mainstream news in Canada were reporting this backing as genuine.

I guess it is not?

 

[Teelynn]

The NYT will do anything to divide, and discredit the Catholic Church…and anything to uphold the left agenda. They will publish out of context, and slant a story in any way possible to discredit traditional Christian values in this country. They have been known to publish complete untruths many times. The NYT itself must be exposed for who they really are.

 

[roysheehan]

Hi All,

Hope this is the right forum. The title of the article is below and the link. Any thought from all the learned on this situation and if it means at some point Catholic hospitals will be doing abortions? It looks like it boils down to a money issue for the Catholic hospitals. It looks like they are going against the Bishops.

Catholic group supports Senate on abortion aid
Hospital association stance could provide political cover for Democrats

msnbc.msn.com/id/34593719/ns/politics-the_new_york_times/

Working in a hospital setting with many doctors who are not Catholic poses a problem not only for Catholic hospital administrators also for any Catholic who supports the industry in any way is that medical science often proposes procedures and medical interventions and pharmaceuticals that drastically challenge and oppose Catholic faith beliefs. Science and the Catholic Church can work harmoniously only when one does not compromise the beliefs of the other. This is not difficult to maintain so long as the Catholic is firm in faith, however many Catholic in the medical industry develop a tendency over time to put their faith in medicine and medical interventions at the cost of losing their faith in Christ. This is what has happened to many Catholic hospitals and staff as well as many educational facilities that favor or put their faith into man made sciences. I know this is true because I not only worked at a Catholic hospital, also I was healed by faith in Christ of a life threatening illness through prayer while the hospital staff wanted to poison me with medicine and medical interventions. It is only by the grace of Christ and the Blessed Mother that I am still alive to write to you about it. There is no solution to the problem of Catholic hospitals that err from faith, rather the solution is in the hands of those who are ill and want to place their faith in Christ and not the hospital and doctors and so choose life through Christ and treat the hospital staff individually according to their faith in Christ then abandon those who are atheistic in medical science.

 

[Scoobyshme]

Sometimes we seem to forget that Satan is the father of lies. He uses whatever instruments he can, such as the NY Times, the national media, Hollywood, etc., to persecute the Church wherever and whenever he can. Lying is his first choice of weapon, for sure. And the best lies are those that have partial truths somewhere within them. Satan has always been perfectly willing to hide an ounce of lie under a pound of truth any day. In this case, it’s more like a pound of lie under an ounce of truth, but I’m sure you get the picture.

 

[roysheehan]

Sometimes we seem to forget that Satan is the father of lies. He uses whatever instruments he can, such as the NY Times, the national media, Hollywood, etc., to persecute the Church wherever and whenever he can. Lying is his first choice of weapon, for sure. And the best lies are those that have partial truths somewhere within them. Satan has always been perfectly willing to hide an ounce of lie under a pound of truth any day. In this case, it’s more like a pound of lie under an ounce of truth, but I’m sure you get the picture.

Psychology used in medical science also provides the means to avoid suffering as they promote “pain relievers” in liquid and pill form. Many Catholic are unwilling to endure suffering as it requires an increase in faith to enable one to carry one with pain. Pope John Paul II wrote on the value of suffering as a means to expiate punishment for sin. Catholic who deliberately make extraordinary efforts to alleviate suffering through pain could be disposing of a valuable means to obtaining the grace of forgiveness of sin.

 

[Scoobyshme]

Psychology used in medical science also provides the means to avoid suffering as they promote “pain relievers” in liquid and pill form. Many Catholic are unwilling to endure suffering as it requires an increase in faith to enable one to carry one with pain. Pope John Paul II wrote on the value of suffering as a means to expiate punishment for sin. Catholic who deliberately make extraordinary efforts to alleviate suffering through pain could be disposing of a valuable means to obtaining the grace of forgiveness of sin.

Roy,
That's an excellent point you made! Nobody seems to know the meaning of "redemptive suffering" in our day!

 

[roysheehan]

Roy,

That's an excellent point you made!  Nobody seems to know the meaning of "redemptive suffering" in our day!

Scooby, . Suffering through moderation not only avoids the tendency to gluttony, but also the pathway to all other sin. Pope John Paul II explains in full here: vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_11021984_salvifici-doloris_en.html
Abortion is also avoidance of suffering. As Christ said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me”. Parents who give birth fully accept a lifetime of suffering in raising those children follow the prescriptions of the Church diligently.

The science of psychology teaches that we should avoid suffering at great expense which is in direct opposition to what was taught us by Christ’s example and His teaching. Psychology and medical science work hand in hand in multiple ways to contradict the teaching of Christ , unfortunately they gain credibility especially from those who wish to avoid suffering. Many of the Saints agree that if one knew the Redemptive value of suffering, we would pray for an increase.

 

[roysheehan]

Roy,

That's an excellent point you made!  Nobody seems to know the meaning of "redemptive suffering" in our day!

Scooby, Medical science and psychology often prescribe unnatural and unwarranted treatments that actually increase suffering through chemicals and mental philosophies that poison the body and mind and so delude the patient that they are affecting a cure when in fact creating an unnatural imbalance that alters the recovery to one of more intense suffering that is cruel and inhuman. We have now arrived at the age of persecution of the human soul by authoritatively sanctioned social systems designed to damage and poison humanity which causes inhuman suffering and opposes natural suffering.