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Catholic Magazine Endorses Health Care Reform: 'No Abortion Funding In The Bill'
Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Wea, KS.
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The National Catholic Reporter today endorsed the Democrats' health care reform legislation, another signal to pro-life Democrats that they are free to back the bill on Sunday. "Congress, and its Catholics, should say yes to health care reform," the magazine editorialized today.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs posted the editorial on his Twitter feed, calling it "another very important health care development." The editors wrote that the debate has gotten "nasty" but insisted that pro-life Democrats have nothing to worry about.
"Bottom line: The current legislation is not 'pro-abortion,' and there is no, repeat no, federal funding of abortion in the bill," National Catholic Reporter wrote. "In any event, what is being debated is not the morality of abortion but the politics of abortion, and there is plenty of room for honest and respectful disagreement among Catholics about politics."
For several days as House leaders attempt to pull enough prolife Democrats into the fold to reach the needed votes to pass health care reform, we've been tracking the discussions between Catholic leaders, the White House and Democratic leadership. Brian has good details here and Gibbs said Obama had some face to face meetings with Catholic leaders.
Sister Carol Keehan of the Catholic Health Association met this week with Obama and "he was effusive about her support and about her as a person for making the courageous statements that she has," Gibbs said. Keehan endorsed the legislation.
The National Catholic Reporter editorial mostly focused on the merits of the legislation. "[T]he choice Congress faces is between the status quo and change -- and the current bill is a profoundly preferable step in the direction of positive change," they editorialized.
The editors wrote:
There are, to be sure, grave problems with the bill the House will consider in the next few days. It maintains the squirrelly system of employer-based health care coverage that impedes cost reduction. Its treatment of undocumented workers is shameful. It is unnecessarily complicated, even Byzantine, in some of its provisions. It falls short of providing true universal coverage.
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chimpale
March 18, 2010 3:38 PM
Well, it looks like it's the Catholic bishops vs. just about all of the rest of the Catholic church.
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SchrodingersCat
March 18, 2010 4:07 PM in reply to chimpale
Well, that's pretty much true for a lot of issues.
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erica
March 18, 2010 4:10 PM in reply to chimpale
I will probably go to hell for saying this. But here goes: why should we care what the Catholic Bishops think? They're off the hook medically speaking, because altar boys don't get pregnant.
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FreeRider
March 18, 2010 4:22 PM in reply to erica
Co-sign.
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Viva!America!
March 18, 2010 3:46 PM
Stupak don't answer to no stinkin' magazine.
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tpmreader
March 18, 2010 3:55 PM
According to the many advocate of this (in my view fraud, waste and abuse) Health Care Legislation Bill soon as the late Sentor Edward Kennedy and the late President John Kennedy Daughter, Caroline Kennedy went to Kennedy Harvard Business School to receive an Award from then President Bush, I assume we will soon see in the future and if successful in Politics Rep. Kucinich at these Awards and as we saw Barbra Streisand, the Leading Hollywood Democrate KISSING President Bush on Stage seemingly fully and completely blessing, supporting and thanking President Bush and his Administration in 2008 or 2009.
I expect Rep. Kucinich to fully and completely exhonorate President Bush et all and in concurrance with President Obama and the none action of the Presidential Powers and It's Limitations' 'Impeachment Hearings' et all.
I guess so much for any regard and respect for Judge Edith Jones Article in the Mass News, The American legal system has been corrupted almost beyond recognition, Judge Edith Jones of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, told the Federalist Society of Harvard Law School on February 28.
She said that the question of what is morally right is routinely sacrificed to what is politically expedient. The change has come because legal philosophy has descended to nihilism.
I continue to give support to those TPM Comments of the past that have stated;
IF YOU CONTINUE OR MAKE WORSE THE BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS OR PAST ADMINISTRATIONS POLICIES, PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES, 'YOU OWN THEM'.
IT IS NOT THE ACTION THAT UNDERMINES OUR DEMOCRACY, IT IS THE REACTION THAT MAY UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRACY.
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flavius
March 18, 2010 4:08 PM in reply to tpmreader
It will save lives. Human beings who want to live will die if its defeated. If I believed it undermined our democracy I'd still be for it , but I don't.
Yesterday the guy who cuts our hedge told me he'd been to a neurologist for an hour-and-a-half consultation. Bill : $3000.
Stephen's insurance has a $10,000 deductible and there's no way he can pay this $3000. The neurologist may allow him to work it off. So he'll be a health care slave.
This has got to stop. It's got to stop. Now.
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mans_best_friend
March 18, 2010 4:22 PM in reply to flavius
There are thousands and thousands of Stephens. For most of the people opposing this bill, principle and/or scoring political victories are more important than guys like Stephen.
It's going to stop. It may not be perfect, and it may not help every last Stephen, but it will help most of them. And it's a start.
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tpmreader
March 18, 2010 4:34 PM in reply to flavius
Flavius, Thank you for your kind and gracious reply. I did not intend to imply that this so-called Health Care Bill, in itself would undermine our Democracy.
I could easily inquire to many hedge trimmers to ascertain the costs of their health care plan, IF ANY. Please note I hope your Hedge Trimmer is able to find cost effective Health Care.
(From the many Hedge Trimmers and Doctors I know, many of them and their friends et-cetra go to another Country for their Health Care and Operations. Please note that in many situations I advise to suggest for US Health Care even though in some situations Surgical Operations that are not done in this Country have had success in another Country, although I have also heard possibly that many Surgical Operations done in another Country have to be redone in the US. Also from my observation the US has a more stringent requirement to become a Doctor within the Immune System requirements and drugs thereof application. Also, my view is if it is affordable your immune system drug therapy and care would most likely be better to come from the Country of where you physically live and have had the surgical procedures and care, unless there is a more unified World Health care support system.
I hope your hedge trimmer finds a reasonable solution to whatever the health care concern and issues are regarding his health care and your seemingly expressed concern.
As I have not re-read this, please allow me corrections or modifications, if and/or as needed.
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flavius
March 18, 2010 9:58 PM in reply to tpmreader
I take your compassionate comments at face value.
And as a result I'm optimistic that in time you'll conclude that the health care reform -which I desperately hope is coming- has resulted in a system of which you're proud ,and which will provide you with good care when you need it. Hopefully far in the future.
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lousgirl84
March 18, 2010 4:34 PM in reply to tpmreader
Just making shit up about Streisand or skewing it to suit your needs? Here's the story from Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/07/barbra-streisand-visits-t_n_149133.html
Barbra Streisand got an awkward kiss on the cheek from the president, and yes, she gave him a smooch back.
Streisand, a vocal critic of President George W. Bush, was a guest Sunday at the White House just before one of Washington's few A-list events: the Kennedy Center Honors.
"Art transcends politics this weekend," the longtime Democrat said beforehand. Still, she said it would have been "lovely" if she could have received the award while President-elect Barack Obama was in office.
The singer and actress was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, along with actor Morgan Freeman, country singer George Jones, dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp and musicians Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who.\
So STFU?????
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tpmreader
March 18, 2010 4:55 PM in reply to lousgirl84
I thought you would display your abuse upon me. Apparently you words have no honest intent or meaning meaning. Although I am concerned that your threats that I STFP may have.
1) Your own words within your reply fully support my writing with my comment.
2) Your complete disregard to reasonably expected common courtesy, ethics and morals has me concened, especially if you are in or retired from Law Enforcement or Judicial or some related Government Job that is related to peoples Health Care, safety, benifit or Social Security et-cetra.
Hopefully you will some how find the intelligence to not speak out of context and to abuse others and with your repiticious of solutions as to say or imply 'huh or I do not know the answers'.
Also you ad-hominen and seemingly never ending 'idiot' mentions to other commenteers is nonsense and without proper interpretation of fact and usually always without any solution for resolve.
Your so-called Patriotism is seemingly always to symbols and power and seemingly never with any regard to a proper and forthright to Patriotic support for people and humanity and/or proper and forthright interpretation to Law and the endeavors, thereof.
Obviously this is not re-read and hurriedly written and I will be glad to accomodate any reasonable corrections and/or modifications that may compliment and support our Democracy, Laws and Religious aspirations and endeavors.
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tpmreader
March 18, 2010 4:59 PM in reply to tpmreader
Correction: I thought you said you would NOT display your further abuse upon me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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FreeRider
March 18, 2010 5:34 PM in reply to tpmreader
Why would you waste time correcting a few words out of an entire book length post of braindead illiterate do do?
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tpmreader
March 18, 2010 6:00 PM in reply to FreeRider
Does not your question in a proper context of interpretation, answer your question. (we the people)
I did not imply that the comments where imbicile in nature only without merit (clearly self proclaimed on past comments), deliberately abusive and/or insulting and seeminlgy without reason or provacation to insult).
(Also, is there to suggest of a concern for an abusive need for attention or result thereof within nature and/or displayed in some known and/or unknown expressions). Questions and/or threats that I have requested and suggested an answer be forthcomming should they have any relevance to the proper and forthright, respect and regard to our Democracy. Laws and religious aspirations, should there be a reply or an apology).
I receive the right to corrections and modifications to this reply as needed, expected and as I am able.
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FreeRider
March 18, 2010 6:13 PM in reply to tpmreader
You flunked Freshman Composition, didn't you?
Geez, Gomer. Here's a tip: writing a convoluted sentence with lots of $2 words doesn't make you look smart. It makes you look like a pretentious ignoramus trying desperately to mask your stupidity on the issues.
Clarity = brilliance.
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tpmreader
March 18, 2010 6:51 PM in reply to FreeRider
Your remarks towards me and generally are and continue to be with no substance, merit, clarity and intelligence on any subject matter that would benifit from substance, clarity, merit and intelligence. Only continued insults to me and many others who try to offer reasonable concerns, solutions and resolves thereof..........
Although, my apologies for may spelling and gramatical errors.
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mans_best_friend
March 18, 2010 4:03 PM
Don't just read this blog post - read the article. They sound so...sane.
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Ann Arbor
March 18, 2010 4:24 PM in reply to mans_best_friend
It's now the GOP that is home to superstition and quackery. Tax cuts increase revenue! WMD in Iraq! Cut spending to stimulate the economy!
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Ann Arbor
March 18, 2010 4:28 PM in reply to mans_best_friend
And one more that's relevant to the matter at hand: Best health-care system in the world!
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erica
March 18, 2010 4:05 PM
It is so gratifying to see Democrats finally asking Democrats for support. (As opposed to begging Republicans to vote for their proposals.) I hope this trend will continue.
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AJM
March 18, 2010 11:58 PM in reply to erica
Agreed.
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Joe Pettit
March 18, 2010 4:40 PM
It might be worth pointing out that Commonweal Magazine, a Catholic magazine of Politics, Culture, and Art, has also come out multiple times in favor of reform and opposing the abortion funding argument. Most recently, they have done so here,
http://commonwealmagazine.org/crying-wolf
Perhaps the TPM headline should read: "Catholic MagazineS Edorse Health Care Reform"
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Joe Pettit
March 18, 2010 5:28 PM
Er...that should be ENdorse.
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Buckeye Terrorist Fist Jab Nation
March 18, 2010 5:43 PM
NCR is a well-respected Catholic newspaper, and adds to the list of supporters of health care reform, starkly contrasting with the GOP Bishops wing of the American Catholic Church.
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jsdc007
March 18, 2010 5:44 PM
I guess Bart Stupak doesn't subscribe to this Catholic Magazine.
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anelder
March 18, 2010 8:05 PM
Actually the bishops aren't even one with the Pope. Much of the Pope's insructions on voting dealt directly with voting for a whole package of social reforms rather than zeroing out one issue, example: abortion. Looks like the Nuns, magazines, various other Catholic based organizations are better versed on what the Pope says than the biships are. Or could be they the bishops are just part of the church structure that tends to bolster their own position and power. Hence of course their despicable behavior in the children abuse scandal.
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