Catholic Bishops Call for Health Care Reform

[GoodWitch58]

Catholic Bishops to Congress: Ditch the Politics, Pass Health Care -- Politics Daily
"Providing affordable and accessible health care that clearly reflects these fundamental principles is a public good, moral imperative and urgent national priority," the bishops write. "The moral measure of any health care reform proposal is whether it offers affordable and accessible health care to all, beginning with those most in need. This can be a matter of life or death, of dignity or deprivation."

I will find it most interesting now to see if other religious denominations speak out for "a public good, moral imperative" for people in need.

 

[Lynnie]

I agree with the bishops. I think everyone agrees.

 

[GoodWitch58]

If people would only educate themselves, instead of listening to what the latest talk radio/tv entertainer is saying

"Americans who say they don’t support the health reform bills pending in Congress change their minds when informed of the major provisions of the bills, according to an analysis of public attitudes by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The 16-page report shows that despite a year of media saturation coverage of the health-reform debate, knowledge of what is actually in the bills pending in Congress is scant. It indicates that voters aren't actually looking at what is in the bills, but are being swayed by what they hear."

and, if other principals of the various religious groups would speak out for decent health care, perhaps we could drown out the "sensation seeking" extremists who are more interested in their own bank accounts, or points of view, or whatever...than they are in seeing that Americans of all descriptions have access to reasonably priced health care.
Health News Florida

http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/housesenatebill_final.pdf

It would also help if the Democrats and the White House had made the message a lot clearer and had a firmer voice in the media debate.

 

[Teresa]

wow - I didn't know the Catholic Bishops were in such support of Universal Health care! I would guess the more conservative Catholics in our country do not agree. Just as the more conservative Catholics (many in my family) went with Bush on the war issue - not Pope John Paul (the issue of preservation of life did not prevail in this, and I do not think it will prevail in health care reform issues - in the minds of many religious conservatives).

but I'm so glad to hear of the support by Catholic Bishops.

Passing legislation to provide universal, affordable health has been a longtime goal of the Catholic bishops, and in their letter to Congress (pdf version here) they reiterate that they consider health care "a basic human right." They have even called health care reform a "pro-life issue,"

I would say that everyone does not agree with affordable health care for all as a basic human right. not by far. but hopefully we can continue with educating the public and gaining more support for the right to health care.

 

[30ashopper]

wow - I didn't know the Catholic Bishops were in such support of Universal Health care! I would guess the more conservative Catholics in our country do not agree. Just as the more conservative Catholics (many in my family) went with Bush on the war issue - not Pope John Paul (the issue of preservation of life did not prevail in this, and I do not think it will prevail in health care reform issues - in the minds of many religious conservatives).

but I'm so glad to hear of the support by Catholic Bishops.
I would say that everyone does not agree with affordable health care for all as a basic human right. not by far. but hopefully we can continue with educating the public and gaining more support for the right to health care.

The "right" to healthcare? How can something be a right if it requires enslaving someone else to provide it?

 

[scooterbug44]

I think that access to affordable medical care should be a reality in our country - but I think getting the costs of health care down will do more for that then requiring everyone to have insurance.

 

[Teresa]

The "right" to healthcare? How can something be a right if it requires enslaving someone else to provide it?

I believe health care is a basic human right especially in an advanced society. yes. and no, I do not believe in enslaving anyone for any reason. not part of the plan.

 

[30ashopper]

I believe health care is a basic human right especially in an advanced society. yes. and no, I do not believe in enslaving anyone for any reason. not part of the plan.

Ok, so you are refering to a "group right", not an individual right. Group rights commonly infringe individual rights, because they require enslavement in some form or another.

The general case difference being a free society vs. a social democracy. Social democrats believe individual rights can and should be infringed to enforce a moral sense of fairness.

 

[Teresa]

I think that access to affordable medical care should be a reality in our country - but I think getting the costs of health care down will do more for that then requiring everyone to have insurance.

we can do both (reduce costs and provide health care for everyone). and we should. and of course revamping the health care/insurance system will need to focus on quality health care (not disease based medicine), efficient/timely/comprehensive delivery of care, and lowering/maintaining reasonable costs. the idea is quality and affordable - so why do people think they are going to suddenly not have access to surgery or whatever? listen, I don't think we're there yet - a worthwhile health plan to provide affordable health care for all is going to take a lot of work - possibly years - to find all the right solutions and make it fit our needs as a country. we must start somewhere but with the understanding that it is a huge work in progress.

 

[Teresa]

Ok, so you are refering to a "group right", not an individual right. Group rights commonly infringe individual rights, because they require enslavement in some form or another.

The general case difference being a free society vs. a social democracy. Social democrats believe individual rights can and should be infringed to enforce a moral sense of fairness.

I am fairly certain that we do not have to give up freedoms in order to have health care. we do not have to change our form of government to care for people's health. I believe its a moral issue as well as a basic human right to have access to health care. especially in a country as great as ours.