Is there an official Catholic position on government-run health care ?
According to these activists in Michigan, the answer is yes:
Some Catholics in Metro Detroit are organizing a media and Internet blitz against three local members of Congress, saying the representatives’ stand against a Democratic proposal to finance the State Children’s Health Insurance Program — known as MIChild in Michigan — is inconsistent with their vow to oppose abortion rights.
“The important thing to communicate to them is that Catholics regard this as an issue of social justice and basic human rights — this is a life issue,” said Michael Hovey, the director of the Office for Catholic Social Teaching for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
A campaign of radio advertisements and e-mails to the offices of Reps. Joseph Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Township; Thaddeus McCotter, R-Livonia; and Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, is to begin Monday. The advertisements will be broadcast on local Christian radio stations.
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The Catholics who support the SCHIP program say those who oppose abortion rights must also support the welfare and health of living children.
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“Catholic social teaching says that society is judged by how we take care of the least, and poor and low-income children are certainly among that group,” Rouleau said. “How can anyone with a conscience vote against health care for children?
Does the fact that providing health care to anyone is not a proper function of government mean anything ?
