Catholic hospitals support health care bill

[cal04]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100313/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_overhaul_abortion

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.

(snip)
"We are trying to respect other people's conscience and views," she said. "But we also weigh in with our conscience and views. We think this bill is a good first step to health care reform." (Keehan)

[saracat]

1. Of course they do. It doesn't take much to figure why.

[patrice]

3. Right, saracat is the only person anywhere who acts out of conscience.

[saracat]

4. It has nothing to do with concience.They are a hospital. This is about MONEY.

[Dinger]

7. You Are Correct (nt)

[patrice]

2. True Pro-Life knows that lack of Health Care causes Abortions.

[saracat]

5. True , or the reality of the Prolife movement as it currently exists, also

knows contraception prevents abortions, and yet they do not support it. This isn't about limiting abortion .This is about MONEY.

[ColesCountyDem]

6. "I'd rather have them inside the tent pissing out, than outside pissing in"

Welcome aboard!

:thumbsup:

[saracat]

8. Yeah well, they have more control inside. Just like the GOP.

[ColesCountyDem]

9. So?

We don't have the luxury of excess support, in case you haven't noticed.

[saracat]

10. In case you haven't noticed, there is a reason for that.

[ColesCountyDem]

11. By all means, let's let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

I'm sure the 46 million uninsured will appreciate the purity of your stance....

:eyes:

[saracat]

13. It won't matter to them either way.

[ColesCountyDem]

14. Have you asked them? n/t

[saracat]

15. I read the bill and know what it will and won't do.

[ColesCountyDem]

16. So have I. n/t

[laughingliberal]

12. The Hospital Industry does very well under this bill

They gave up a really paltry sum of money when you consider they are gaining like mad from the specter of almost no uncompensated care once the mandate kicks in. The one thing they absolutely do not want is for a Public Option to, somehow, find its way back into the bill especially one with rates tied to Medicare. We talk a lot about a backroom deal with AHIP but it is true this deal was just as much a promise the the hospital lobby that the public option would not pass as it was to the insurance industry.