Split among abortion opponents widens as Catholic hospitals publicly support health care bill

[grantcart]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A group representing Catholic hospitals Saturday rallied behind President Barack Obama's health care bill ahead of a House vote in which anti-abortion lawmakers could play a decisive role.

The chief executive of the Catholic Health Association, Carol Keehan, wrote on the group's Web site that although the legislation isn't perfect, it represents a "major first step" toward covering all Americans and would make "great improvements" for millions of people. The more than 600 Catholic hospitals across the country do not provide abortions as a matter of conscience.

The association's support widens a split among abortion foes on whether the bill goes far enough to prevent taxpayer funding for the procedure. House Democratic leaders are trying to turn that debate to their advantage as they press for a vote on Obama's bill as early as this coming week. Winning over even a handful of anti-abortion Democrats could help Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., find a clear path to the 216 votes she needs for passage.


Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_OVERHAUL_ABORTION?SITE=INKEN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

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Stupak how stupid are you feeling right now?

[tsuki]

1. Superstitions have no business running health care facilities. nt

[jmowreader]

6. In general, the Catholics do a good job running health facilities

My dad used to have a problem with his lungs collapsing. It would happen, he'd go to the hospital in St. Maries, they'd blow him back up and he'd go on his way.

Finally one collapsed when he was in Avery--47 miles away and up one of the twistiest roads in America. The doctor finally sent him to Sacred Heart in Spokane, where they had a surgeon who knew how to fix the problem. 35 years later and not one collapsed lung.

Abortion is important but it's not overarching; I would choose a Catholic hospital in a second. They do have quality care there.

[tsuki]

7. They took "care" of my mother at a Catholic band-aid station here.

The facility is extremely understaffed. I had to go in every day from 10 to bathe my mom, change her diaper, feed her, get her up, roll her from side to side, make sure she took her breathing treatment and call for her meds. No procedures, just an x-ray once a week.

Husband had an accident with his eye. We went to emergency (on Sunday). The doctor gave him some pain pills and told him to go to an eye doctor the next day. No big deal. We begged for an appointment with a doctor the next day. The eye doctor took one look and started phoning everyone to get him in for an operation immediately. A torn and detached retina over 24 hours old, husband could have lost his sight in that eye. Oh, and not at the catholic hospital, at a hospital in a neighboring county.

They spent a lot of money lobbying the state for a certificate of need, but the best care they can provide is a $16,000 helicopter trip to a real hospital. Oh, and they've already crashed one helicopter.

[saigon68]

8. Bet they support the Status quo on Priestly Counseling of young boys

[DFLforever]

2. I think Stupak went much further out on that limb than

he ever intended.

Edit: I love the way the nuns are outflanking the bishops on HCR.

[LiberalFighter]

3. He wouldn't know stupid if his brain was activated.

[HughMoran]

4. Makes me want to kneecap Stupak all the more

:mad:

[Ian David]

5. See also: Take That, Bart Stupak: Catholic Orgs Rally Behind Reform Bill

Take That, Bart Stupak: Catholic Orgs Rally Behind Reform Bill
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7915186&mesg_id=7915186