Will FOCA force the Catholic Church out of healthcare?
posted at 4:27 pm on March 6, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
We have asked this question before, on several occasions during the campaign, and now the media has begun to ask it as well. With the Catholic Church providing over 600 hospitals nationwide, servicing mostly needy areas, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wonders aloud today whether the Freedom of Choice Act pushed now by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) would tear an irreparable hole in the nation’s safety net:
A proposed bill promising major changes in the U.S. abortion landscape has Roman Catholic bishops threatening to close Catholic hospitals if the Democratic Congress and White House make it law.
The Freedom of Choice Act failed to get out of subcommittee in 2004, but its sponsor is poised to refile it now that former Senate co-sponsor Barack Obama occupies the Oval Office.
A spokesman for Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said the legislation “is among the congressman’s priorities. We expect to reintroduce it sooner rather than later.”
A NARAL spokesperson told the P-D that any suggestion of passing FOCA was just a pro-life scare tactic. However, Barack Obama himself told Planned Parenthood that FOCA would be his first priority as President:
Some of the bishops in the church want to use an incremental approach to FOCA rather than the final option of shutdowns. They favor a civil-disobedience approach, daring the government to come after them for refusing to perform abortions. That keeps the hospitals open and their consciences clear. These advocates don’t believe that Obama would dare come after them in court, but I suspect they’re being more than a little naive — as are anyone who gets fooled by NARAL’s dismissive take on the seriousness of Nadler’s effort.
Previous FOCA/Catholic posts:
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Obama will simply steal more billions to buy the hospitals….thereby making a significant inroad to socialist healthcare.
You read it here first.
LimeyGeek on March 6, 2009 at 4:30 PM
They could always be like Brazil and insist that a nine year old girl carry twins that were conceived during a rape by her stepfather.
SnarkVader on March 6, 2009 at 4:30 PM
He will declare a National Emergency if they close, and then order them to stay open…
And then things will REALLY get ugly.
Romeo13 on March 6, 2009 at 4:32 PM
Boxer and Nadler, right? Write it down people.
JiangxiDad on March 6, 2009 at 4:32 PM
Imagine if the rape-baby was a girl that grew up and was raped and then the grand-rape-baby traveled back in time and was the original rapist!
A pro-life dilemma indeed!
LimeyGeek on March 6, 2009 at 4:33 PM
I don’t think this is a battle he can win without extreme measures.
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 4:33 PM
This really isn’t a threat to this administration. In fact, I’m sure they see plenty of opportunity to eliminating private charity…especially if it has ties to organized religion. Suffering seems to be currency for these people.
I always knew that America was an historical aberration, albeit a shining and wonderful one, that could not last forever. I didn’t anticipate I’d see it so endangered or possibly lost in my lifetime, cheered on by moronic fans who are just glad that Bush is gone.
Asher on March 6, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Get ready for the catholic bashing bigots, they will be here shortly.
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Nobody ever mentions Bambi’s plan to control the army to prevent them from protecting and defending the Constitution. How does he expect to get around the sheep dogs?
JiangxiDad on March 6, 2009 at 4:35 PM
I pray the Catholic Church does what is right. Close their facilities down if need be.
Some things are higher than Obama, you know.
Daddy-O on March 6, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Curiously enough, this is one time when I will side with the catlicks….strange bedfellows and all that jazz…
LimeyGeek on March 6, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Discussed this with my physician a couple of weeks ago. He is pretty confident they will shut down. He isn’t Catholic but has priviledges at our biggest Catholic hospital. Said the result will be chaos.
a capella on March 6, 2009 at 4:37 PM
I disagree. There are two things they must do, to do right. One, disobey. Two, prevent Obama from seizing the hospitals on a pretext.
JiangxiDad on March 6, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Perhaps not just Catholics, but Baptists as well. Of course, shutting down those hospitals will keep women from having to travel across town or to another county to see a doctor who advocates for abortion. But we’ll all have government healthcare. Who’s going to need hospitals?
mchristian on March 6, 2009 at 4:37 PM
I hope you don’t mean that seriously. We may be faced with riots and protests and civil disobedience. I assume “catlicks” will be standing next to you.
JiangxiDad on March 6, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Above his paygrade, you mean?
mchristian on March 6, 2009 at 4:39 PM
yes, I hope other groups will join the catholic bishops in this fight.
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 4:40 PM
It’s a great PR move, as well. A little bit of media exposure, if the man does come down on them, will go a long way. My only regret is that it will be Bill Donohue leading the charge.
MadisonConservative on March 6, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Maybe I’m misreading something here. I suspect half the nation would rise up in violent protest.
JiangxiDad on March 6, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Station teams of jacked Jesuit preists with mad nija skills at each hospital and do as they damn well please.
There are no shortages of non Catholic hospitals who will gladly kill your child for you, shoo ya kooky libs.
Alden Pyle on March 6, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Who cares about sick people, sick kids, poor people’s medical care from the Church! The only thing important here is paying back the nitwits who voted for the Messiah. Policy decisions trump kindness and common sense every time. Just ask Harry “Dead Man Walking” Reid.
Cinday Blackburn on March 6, 2009 at 4:42 PM
I truly hope you are right. Liberals take away our liberties one isolated group at a time.
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 4:43 PM
I used to think that Obama would not be so stupid as to follow through with passing FOCA. This past month or so I think he probably will be that stupid. This puts government in every aspect of our lives, including religion. If he goes for it, I can’t wait to see the Church go for civil disobedience.
msmveritas on March 6, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Didn’t a majority of RCs vote for Obama in the last election? Doug Kmiec, how you liking your new BFF now?
funky chicken on March 6, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Living in a Dan Brown novel?
mchristian on March 6, 2009 at 4:47 PM
If this doesn’t reflect the substance of Ed’s post on the Ramirez cartoon, I don’t know what does.
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/03/06/ramirez-picks-up-the-nero-theme/
Obama got elected, but most of the country is very uncomfortable with abortion on demand, removal of reasonable restrictions, removal of conscience-of- professionals rules, and removal of parental-consent rules.
FOCA wipes all those restrictions away. Shame on all of everyone in this country if this passes.
BuckeyeSam on March 6, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Also it’s tactically the better move as it still leaves you the final option of closing the hospitals.
Matt Helm on March 6, 2009 at 4:48 PM
We hear about FOCA in Mass all the time, with the understanding that the Church is indeed willing to close its hospitals’ doors before aborting unborn children.
From Rome’s perspective, the sanctity of life is not just a slogan, it’s a way of life, and no amount of government intrusion will force them to change.
Blacksheep on March 6, 2009 at 4:50 PM
FWIW, I think that this approach may make this the new Civil Rights issue of our day…
…& the Catholic Church should really capitalize on that.
bluelightbrigade on March 6, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Excommunication for Pelosi if it gets that far.
At least I won’t have to worry about bumping into her in Heaven.
FireBlogger on March 6, 2009 at 4:52 PM
But the Church must help move the politics, not just withdraw. That’s why they must disobey instead of close doors.
JiangxiDad on March 6, 2009 at 4:53 PM
About half the people who identify themselves as “catholic” do that for social or ethnic but not religious reasons. They might be from a catholic country or their family might have been catholic at some point and maybe they were baptized catholic. But no longer attend mass nor have any connection with the church. These “Catholics”, by their absence from the pews, and rejection of most of the catholic beliefs are really irrelevant to this issue.
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 4:53 PM
If the Church doesn’t do something significant they will lose all moral authority on the abortion issue.
I wonder if they could just stop providing all OB/GYN care. If they have no OB/GYN doctors on staff or with priveleges how could they be forced to provide abortions?
katiejane on March 6, 2009 at 4:54 PM
JiangxiDad on March 6, 2009 at 4:54 PM
I heard the term Cafeteria Catholics.
And beyond that, too many Catholics accept that canard that liberals are more compassionate to the poor than conservatives. Too much liberal generosity is directed to the arts and animal rights. But too many Catholics didn’t bother looking at the tax returns for Obama and Biden. Personal charity–minimal; government charity–limitless and overwhelmingly ineffective.
Kmiec and others like him are idiots.
BuckeyeSam on March 6, 2009 at 4:55 PM
You won’t have to worry about bumping into the mother of the 9 year old rape victim either since the church excommunicated her.
SnarkVader on March 6, 2009 at 4:55 PM
I hope the Catholic Church has some backbone. Please!
jencab on March 6, 2009 at 4:55 PM
No. 48% for McCain, 40% for Obama.
JiangxiDad on March 6, 2009 at 4:58 PM
I don’t think backbone comes into play. The Catholic Bishops cannot give in on this issue and retain any semblance of credibility or integrity in the church. They effectively do not have any other choice than oppose it, perhaps initially with civil disobedience and closing the hospitals if necessary.
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Hmmm.
I work at one of the two largest hospitals in my city (in Southern California). Several years ago, there was serious discussion about closing down our trauma center. We kept it open, partly because of the impact it would have on traume care in the area.
The other major hospital in the city is, I’m pretty sure, a Catholic hospital. I’m not any expert on business or anything (and this is pure speculation), but if they close I don’t see how we could pick up our share of the slack in traumas and still afford to stay open. We would quite possibly close out trauma center.
The smaller hospitals in the area would probably not have the ability to pick up the business from both of our trauma centers closing, and they would close their trauma centers. And, as the old commercial said, “and they tell two friends, and they tell two friends, and so on, and so on…”
Eh, does the Los Angeles area really need any trauma centers anyway? Surely the Age of Obama will cause an end to violence, vehicle accidents, etc., right?
malclave on March 6, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Honestly, I don’t think FOCA can force a hospital to provide abortion services. It just says that the government can’t restrict access to abortion. I guess gvmt could try to tell RC hospitals that they can’t get medicare or medicaid payments if they don’t provide abortions, but I don’t think FOCA mandates that.
funky chicken on March 6, 2009 at 5:01 PM
A very sad episode indeed. The fact that she was so horribly abused and had to go through so much suffering compounded by her mother contributing to the murder of her children (if that is what happened) It will be a very long road to recovery for this child.
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 5:02 PM
As the crosses are taken down off the buildings, the Obahmbo emblems will be hung up. Somehow St.Michelle General Hospital doesn’t have a good ring to it does it?
portlandon on March 6, 2009 at 5:05 PM
As a Catholic conservative that watched the MS gov’t throw the church out of the adoption business, I can tell you I hope the church stand firm when FOCA is signed into law – which I am sure it will be.
My theory, which I’ve written about before – Catholic hospitals are primarily located in low-income, urban neighborhoods, where large health care conglomerates have closed their hospitals’ doors. When the Catholics shut down their facilities, the Feds will move in al la eminent domain or some such BS and take over operations. This will actually be a PR coup for Obama and his pro-abortion murdering cohorts. I’m even willing to go so far as to believe that they have planned this – Rahm probably already has O’s speech in his notebook.
There is no morality in this administration, no comprehension of right vs. wrong. It is all about power. I will continue to pray that my church will face this evil head on – be a guiding light for the many whose heads are being turned everyday away from this abomination that is Obama. How far will we have to sink before people see the truth?
gopmom on March 6, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Sorry, MA (Massachusetts) government. Surprise, surprise.
gopmom on March 6, 2009 at 5:07 PM
Law of Unintended Consequences…………..
…………. most illegal aliens are against abortion.
Seven Percent Solution on March 6, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Obama will never stand by while the church conscientiously objects. Can’t transform society if the bitter clingers still have something to bitterly cling to.
I predict they’ll have to shut down, and I look forward to it, not because I want it, but because I want somebody to say No to this man, at long last.
Kensington on March 6, 2009 at 5:11 PM
That makes perfect sense to me. Especially with Obama wanting to put caps of charitable giving deductions. The Dems have to know that this would be the death knell to many charities and a bit hit to others, then they can swoop in and “save the day” with federal substitutes.
The State hates competition.
29Victor on March 6, 2009 at 5:13 PM
I feel that if this comes to pass, the hospitals staying open and disobeying the law must be the first option. I believe caring for the sick is a very important ministry and it must be kept up. If the government then starts forcing the hospitals to shut down, I think that will be the signal to stop talking about revolution and act.
Spectreman on March 6, 2009 at 5:13 PM
About half the people who identify themselves as “catholic” do that for social or ethnic but not religious reasons.
This is true: I have an acquaintance whose South American-born live-in girlfriend has one out-of-wedlock child, at least one abortion under her belt, always moves in with her boyfriends, likes to get drunk and make out with strangers (male and female) and never goes to church.
She identifies herself as Catholic.
Kensington on March 6, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Only 48 days into his ONLY term and Obimbo has the masses talking of armed revolution in nearly every thread here.
I say………………..hear, hear!!!
omnipotent on March 6, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Obama would simply order the nationalization of all Catholic hospitals, demand funding from congress and have the first 600 hospitals in the nation as good as FEMA or the post office, lines and all.
pat on March 6, 2009 at 5:20 PM
I wouldn’t be too surprised. And unfortunately there would be a lot of idiots cheering, not realizing that their own liberties are next on the chopping block.
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 5:26 PM
The church is very concerned and is trying to mount a campaign against the proposed legislation. Recently in our diocese there was a mass postcard mailing to our representatives opposing this measure. I suspect that other Catholic diocese are doing the same thing. Not sure what good this will do but it is a message.
I personally am pushing the personhood effort that is sweeping portions of this country. Basically personhood for the unborn grants constitutional rights to the unborn affectively nullifying the womens choice argument.
docdave on March 6, 2009 at 5:29 PM
This will sound really “churchy”, but after attending Mass this AM at our children’s Catholic school, a few moms went for coffee. Our discussion – fox hole friends. We sat there for an hour deciding who we would band together with if/when the revolution comes. Who has guns, who has medical training, who has family and/or property out of state where we could go and who would we take with us – who could we rely on to fight the fight with us.
Ready for the best part – we are conservative Catholics in not-so-blue Wellesley MA.
gopmom on March 6, 2009 at 5:32 PM
Clearly the Obama Administration thinks aborting babies is much more important than the sick people receiving hospital care. Welcome to Obamcare !!
Maxx on March 6, 2009 at 5:32 PM
Obviously, this is the goal by Obama, et al, “to force the Catholic Church out of health care.”
Same as to most all of human society because the Church remains steadfast to morality that the Left hates.
Lourdes on March 6, 2009 at 5:35 PM
IF the Church “gets out of health care,” there’ll go many, many millions if not billions of dollars of charitable medical services that Catholic hospitals provide to the needy, to local clinics especially those that serve the poor and uninsured, exactly the “community” that the Left pretends to care about.
Lourdes on March 6, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Nah. There will be an exception for Christian hospitals.
Fast way to lose the half of the Catholic vote he has.
Sapwolf on March 6, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Wow, I need to get busy! Gotta’ devise a network like that for where I am…
Lourdes on March 6, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Fast Facts Re. Catholic Health Care
http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/Newsroom/FastFacts/
diogenes on March 6, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Lourdes on March 6, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Isn’t that the whole point? Take control by demonizing the church/charity/ non-profit, etc… If they win the PR campaign, who cares if people have to suffer a bit. You didn’t think they actually cared, did you? This was never about “the people” – it’s always been about control and payback and revenge.
But I do believe Obama has no idea how this will go over – how Americans will feel about an attack on the Catholic church, knowing full well theirs could be next. Remember, his church is not your typical church.
gopmom on March 6, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Yes, that is the whole point by Obama and his Left and I’ve always thought so. I never assumed they cared, I’ve seen who this horrible man and his followers are from the start.
Lourdes on March 6, 2009 at 5:43 PM
That’s exactly what it means. The FOCA legislation reads:
“A government may not (1) deny or interfere with a woman’s right to choose – (A) to bear a child; (B) to terminate a pregnancy prior to viability; or (C) to terminate a pregnancy after viability where termination is necessary to protect the life or health of the woman; or (2) discriminate against the exercise of the rights set forth in paragraph (1) in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information.
This act applies to every Federal, State, and local statute, ordinance, regulation, administrative order, decision, penalty, practice, or other action enacted, adopted, or implemented before or after the date of enactment of this act.” Text of H.R. 1964 and S. 1173, introduced on April 19, 2007.
Under our laws, “a government” is defined as a state actor. A state actor means not only someone operating under the authority of the state per se, but also anyone operating under “color of authority,” which these days means anyone taking any money from any governmental source.
This construction is the reason anti-religious groups can target Christian displays in most private schools, gay rights groups can target Boy Scouts using public parks, and so on. Long story short, if the Church accepts any Medicare or Medicaid funding (which they must to survive), then they will also be subject to FOCA.
In addition to the obvious implications of Catholics having to facilitate abortions or be cut off from necessary operating funds, FOCA would also likely overturn:
- State abortion reporting requirements in all 50 states;
- Forty-four states’ laws concerning parental involvement;
- Forty states’ laws on restricting later-term abortions;
- Forty-six states’ conscience protection laws for individual health care providers;
- Twenty-seven states’ conscience protection laws for institutions;
- Thirty-eight states’ bans on partial-birth abortions;
- Thirty-three states’ laws on requiring counseling before an abortion; and
- Sixteen states’ laws concerning ultrasounds before an abortion.
Blacksheep on March 6, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Oh but Ed, that’s exactly where we need to be headed. On this issue, as well as many others.
I think Rahm Emmanuel had it precisely correct in saying “never let a good crisis go to waste”. The crisis that is the unfolding Obama administration needs to be addressed, and they shoudl be defied (civilly) en-masse.
Certainly that’s what Rahm had in mind. Let’s get to it.
connertown on March 6, 2009 at 5:43 PM
gopmom on March 6, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Obama’s, et al.’s, objective is to get Jesus Christ and Christianity out of “Catholic health care.”
His objective for the nation, by the way.
During the last two years, the only time I ever heard Barack Obama get emotionally upset in his “tone” was on a recording of his statements made while advocating if not insisting on infanticide. That SHOULD HAVE told any conscionable person all they needed to know about what darkness lurks beneath that veneer.
Lourdes on March 6, 2009 at 5:46 PM
but listen to what bambi will say when you take your bleeding child who has been hit by a car while running away from his leukemia treatment & dialysis to the Catholic hospital: “i’m trying to keep this hospital open, but the Catholic Church is not cooperating”.
kelley in virginia on March 6, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Yes. How perfectly sublime it would be for religion to take Obama down.
JiangxiDad on March 6, 2009 at 5:54 PM
So that means that “half the people identifying themselves as Catholic” are like your aquaintence’s girlfriend, right? You know one Catholic (that you speak about) and therefore all Catholics are precisely as she is.
Whatever.
zeebeach on March 6, 2009 at 5:56 PM
Like Hell isn’t bad enough without her around?
karl9000 on March 6, 2009 at 5:57 PM
Lourdes on March 6, 2009 at 5:46 PM
I think we are at a point where people have to start choosing – and they are choosing. A mom at our school actually apologized to me last week for voting for him. She answered the question I just couldn’t bring myself to ask – how can you call yourself a Catholic if you voted for this guy? I told her I wasn’t the one she should apologize to.
I cannot bring myself to even speak to people who voted for him – I do it on the net via blog, but I can’t even look them in the eyes – afraid of what I might see. I have lost the ability to be civli, nevermind gracious. I was on talk radio in Boston the other day discussing FOCA and I not-so proudly told the host that I never before considered myself an active, demonstrating pro-life advocate – Barack Obama has turned me into one. I suppose I should be grateful for this.
The debacle that is Obama is an opportunity for conservatives and Americans to decide where they stand, where the lines in the sand are, what is unforgivable. It’s going to be awful but I can’t help but look forward to the outcome.
gopmom on March 6, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Unfortunately those idiots see no problem with eliminating the rights of any group they disagree with. Your positions are bigoted, racist, evil or just simply wrong – only their beliefs are “rights.”
katiejane on March 6, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Yes, again. I think the same thoughts. I’ve severed ties completely with some people over this. In my mind, they crossed a line that was not to be crossed, and in so doing, relieved my of any responsibility I had for them. Your last sentence is powerful, but I concur.
JiangxiDad on March 6, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Wow…. had not considered this whole scenario… but it fits.
He will create a Crises, and then use it to Federalize those Hospitals… THEN use that crises to force his health care agenda forward…
Just like the banks, he will Nationalize hospitals in order to “save them”…
So… Banks, Mortgages, GMC, and Hospitals Federalized due to “crises”… and Energy controlled through Cap and Trade…
Wow… just wow…
Romeo13 on March 6, 2009 at 6:09 PM
I see one hell of a Supreme Court case in the future if this abhorrent legislation passes.
I’ve criticized the Catholic Church plenty of times, particularly on their mishandling of predatory priests. However, the Church deserves credit for standing on the side of the most vulnerable humans, those completely unable to speak for themselves or defend themselves.
This battle also demonstrates the power of true charity (like hospitals funded by private donations) as opposed to government welfare.
OscarSchneegans on March 6, 2009 at 6:12 PM
I have to agree with the civil disobedience approach on this one. As much press as the RC church has gotten in the last decade for the horrible things they’ve done wrong, they also continue to do many things right. And their continued operation of Catholic Charities and hospitals is one of the biggest.
Let’s face it, the for-profit hospitals are growing in the suburbs, not in the inner cities where the older charity hospitals are. And if these inner city hospitals close, there will not be any large healthcare organization who wants to step in. The only choice then will be healthcare provided by local governments. Not a great option, but perhaps then these folks will rethink their support of Obama.
gobblemom on March 6, 2009 at 6:13 PM
JiangxiDad on March 6, 2009 at 5:54 PM
It would definitely make it into the history books.
I look at it this way – no economic downturn, no depression, no bankruptcy takes away from me what matters – my family and friends. I’m happy that I have what I have but I’m not so stupid as to wrap up my entire self-esteem and self-worth into my material possessions. That is who has taken over – the peole who value things. They outnumber us but they have no staying power.
The note on the S-bucks door this am said “Please use other door. When this door is opened it cause a cold breeze that is unpleasant for our customers.”
I commented to my friends, “They aren’t going to survive the revolution.” And I’m grateful for that.
gopmom on March 6, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Ed if Allah had done the headline it would have been : Unreformed Church could be shut down be Enlightened One. Obligatory could have been added somewhere.
Fuquay Steve on March 6, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Another front on this battle will be states rights. Many states are growing very concerned about the power grab the federal government is undertaking through legislation like the porkulus bill, and have started taking legislative action to try to fend it off. FOCA is another major power grab away from the states.
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 6:36 PM
They could always be like Brazil and insist that a nine year old girl carry twins that were conceived during a rape by her stepfather.
SnarkVader on March 6, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Yeah, if only she could have those two unborn babies killed in an abortion so she could get back to being raped by her stepfather and nobody the wiser. Because she is only nine, she should be good for many more years of abuse and aborted pregnancies at the hand of good ole stepdad. Keep rooting for the wrong team, GoofVader.
tigerlily on March 6, 2009 at 6:41 PM
I’m just saying that there are a lot of Catholics (not just this one person) whose professed Catholicism is essentially meaningless. I’m not Catholic bashing. I am Catholic, and I take it seriously, such that people like my acquaintance’s girlfriend (and my Obama-voting brother and nephew) make me want to pull my hair out.
Kensington on March 6, 2009 at 6:56 PM
And this sort of “casual Catholicism” doesn’t seem as widespread in other denominations. You don’t see a lot of people claiming to be Orthodox Jews munching on a pork sandwich on their way to work on Saturday, for example.
But pro-abortion Catholics? Whole bunches of ‘em!
Kensington on March 6, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Ever hear of “eminent domain”?
For the betterment of society, for the safety of the nation’s least…hospitals will just be absorbed into the bureaucracy.
right2bright on March 6, 2009 at 7:05 PM
Apples and Oranges…an Orthodox Jew, and a faithful Catholic, maybe similar.
But I know a lot of “Jews” that eat pork, don’t follow the traditions…
right2bright on March 6, 2009 at 7:06 PM
They will shut down hospitals for the sake of power and to further the killing of the unborn. These people are despicable.
JellyToast on March 6, 2009 at 7:16 PM
Imagine if the rape-baby was snarky’s mom.
jimmy2shoes on March 6, 2009 at 7:23 PM
But, correct me if I’m wrong, you can choose the form of Judaism you subscribe to. If you choose to be observant or Orthodox, you’re expected to follow the stricter rules.
There are not supposed to be such choices available to Catholics. If you’re going to be Catholic, you have to be Catholic, and that includes things like not having abortions.
Kensington on March 6, 2009 at 7:24 PM
My point is that there is no such thing as a pro-abortion Catholic. That’s just people like Nancy Pelosi being blasphemous.
Kensington on March 6, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Catholics have varying views on abortion. Some are cultural rather than doctrinal in their relationship to the Church. Others are opposed to abortion but weight it against other issues when voting for a politician. Still others are opposed to it but see a line between this issue of faith and public policy.
dedalus on March 6, 2009 at 7:29 PM
I don’t think this has been mentioned, but aren’t most abortions performed at clinics and out-patient surgery centers? It seems to me that hospitals would be very minimally affected by this, if at all.
califcon on March 6, 2009 at 7:34 PM
I hope that the Browns didn’t give the Obamas any tomes on the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
andycanuck on March 6, 2009 at 7:37 PM
Please explain to me how she would have be saved from the abuse of her stepfather, who is in jail, if she had survived the birth of those babies.
SnarkVader on March 6, 2009 at 7:43 PM
As a Catholic…… I support the closing of them…. Obeyme… ask and you shall receive…. people who voted him in…. pay the price… my back is turned to you.
MNDavenotPC on March 6, 2009 at 8:00 PM
I think you are leaving out the damage the judiciary could do here. Woman walks into hospital and wants an abortion. Hospital says “no, it’s against our policies”. Woman sues hospital for damages — actual and punitive. Court finds that hospital denied woman her civil rights under FOCA.
Court must find so, because if the court found otherwise, it would be denying and interfering with that basic “right”.
unclesmrgol on March 6, 2009 at 8:01 PM
If one wants to think about how much impact could fall upon a single community, or in this case an entire region, google Duluth, MN, and hospitals.
Then think about the hits you get tying together the entire region’s medical care: St. Marys Hospital, St. Lukes Hospital and The Duluth Clinic Complex (all one family now).
Yoop on March 6, 2009 at 8:02 PM
Catholic healthcare is not limited to hospitals.
unclesmrgol on March 6, 2009 at 8:05 PM
In addition to the obvious implications of Catholics having to facilitate abortions or be cut off from necessary operating funds, FOCA would also likely overturn:
- State abortion reporting requirements in all 50 states;
- Forty-four states’ laws concerning parental involvement;
- Forty states’ laws on restricting later-term abortions;
- Forty-six states’ conscience protection laws for individual health care providers;
- Twenty-seven states’ conscience protection laws for institutions;
- Thirty-eight states’ bans on partial-birth abortions;
- Thirty-three states’ laws on requiring counseling before an abortion; and
- Sixteen states’ laws concerning ultrasounds before an abortion.
Blacksheep on March 6, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Whatever happened to the 10th amendment?
conservativecaveman on March 6, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Of Course this makes perfect sense with an aging population of baby boomers needing health care more then ever shut down health care providers. Stupid is as Stupid does. Who is John Galt….
Dr Evil on March 6, 2009 at 8:10 PM
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