Catholic Brian: The S Word? * Is a massive government takeover of health care the right solution to begin with?

 

Dear CatholicVoteAction.org Member,

The stage has been set.

On Monday, the Senate will begin debate on their version of health care "reform." 

The Bishops Conference have called the Senate bill an "enormous disappointment" and "completely unacceptable," and have urged every Catholic and conscientious citizen to speak out.

Call your Senator at 202-224-3121. Send them on Thanksgiving break with a message: "NO taxpayer funding for abortion!"

Second, consider chipping in $20 to help us with our campaign.
https://www.catholicvoteaction.org/donations.php

Here is what we are facing…

The Senate legislation provides federal funding (taxpayer dollars!) for insurance plans that cover abortion.  The plan also includes a mandatory "abortion surcharge" that would force pro-life people like you and me to pay for other people's abortions.

Moreover, if the current legislation is approved, the Catholic Church and other religious institutions could be forced to provide contraceptives and cover other morally unacceptable treatments for its employees.

The bill also does not provide any protections for the elderly and those with special needs. 

Abortion, euthanasia, rationing, threats to conscience and privacy… what are we to do?

Behind the long list of moral problems with the current Senate legislation, a fundamental question remains -- is a massive government takeover of health care the right solution to begin with?

Our view is that an entirely new approach is needed.  And one that involves the 'S word' – subsidiarity.

Subsidi – say what? 

Subsidiarity.  Archbishop Naumann and Bishop Finn explained it best in their joint pastoral letter:

"Subsidiarity is that principle by which we respect the inherent dignity and freedom of the individual by never doing for others what they can do for themselves and thus enabling individuals to have the most possible discretion in the affairs of their lives."

Practically speaking, this means that any health care solution should not begin by asking how government (the largest and most centralized organization) can be the big solution provider. 

Why not focus instead on solutions that respect the freedom and dignity of people, encourage competition, and enable consumers to help drive down costs? These are achievable goals.  But they require a people-first mentality rather than a government-first mindset.

This is why we are now mobilizing the entire CatholicVoteAction network (nearly 500,000 people!) to stop this legislation.

There will be four weeks of intense debate on the Senate legislation with a possible final showdown right before Christmas.

The Time to Act

The issue of abortion funding, the 'public option' or the government insurance plan, rights of conscience, and other important issues will be debated.  It is CRITICAL that every person who receives this email do something. 

Call your Senator, write them a letter, pen an editorial, or visit their local office.  Be respectful and courteous, but firmly tell them that you are opposed to any government funding of abortion, no compromises, period.

Second, urge them to rethink this plan altogether.  Tell them there are better ways to truly reform health care.  And in case they haven't noticed the recent polls, a majority of Americans agree with us!

Finally, make sure to get your friends and family involved in this important fight. When you see them over Thanksgiving, ask them if they've ever heard of 'subsidiarity.' And tell them to call their Senator to oppose any government funding of abortion and any takeover of the healthcare industry.

Let's work together to urge Congress to seek real reforms that will truly heal our health care ills.

Sincerely,

Brian Burch, President
CatholicVoteAction.org



P.S.  While we may be in the throws of this health care debate, we have not forgotten about the great American holiday this Thursday.  Thanksgiving is about giving thanks.  But thanks to whom?

After recounting the many blessings of the previous year, President Lincoln petitioned his countrymen: "I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens."

Thanks be to God for his many, many blessings.  And a Happy Thanksgiving to all.  

NOTE: This message was paid for by CatholicVoteAction.org.  As a lobbying organization, contributions to CatholicVoteAction.org are NOT tax-deductible. Contributions to CatholicVote.org remain tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. 

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