The Bishops and Health Care Reform

When the House first passed its version of Health Care Reform, I was elated -- it seemed that we might at last succeed in having health care recognized and supported as a universal right, and that we might have finally found ways to contain the exploding costs of this care. In the succeeding months we have seen one disappointment after another, even as the Senate passed its version of reform. The mood of the country has soured. It seems that even those who "hunger and thirst for justice" have begun to question whether to support the bill that we have come down to.

The US Catholic Bishops seem to have reached that place, and their answer is a reluctant NO. Their letters earlier this week (you can find them here) reluctantly conclude they can't support the bill, and it's not only about abortion, although I don't doubt that's the main issue. More than that, they've urged parishioners across the country (our parish received a suggested bulletin flier a couple of hours ago) to contact their representatives with that message.

I'm very happy that our bishops are so actively involved in this justice issue -- and I know that it's NOT just because of the abortion angle. We're getting more active in other areas of social justice teaching. We've got a postcard campaign about immigration waiting to take off, and the Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty is looking for a million Catholic voters to join, so I think it's clear that people concerned about justice issues are causing some movement within the Catholic Church. But I confess I'm also a little angry that we've come to the place where the official Church is now opposing something that we've supported for years.