Blaming the Bishops for the life-threatening healthcare legislation

While they're finally voicing their concerns about life-threatening flaws in the healthcare bill, for at least a decade, the Bishops Conference has been lobbying for socialized medicine.

A lot is being said and written about why national health care legislation is becoming a reality. The simple fact, available for all to see, is that the U.S. Catholic Bishops ensured passage of the bill in the House, enabling the Senate to move forward with its version.

Like "progressive" strategist Robert B. Creamer, the Bishops believe that health care is a right to be guaranteed by government. This position has driven the debate and has rarely been challenged by Republicans. The debate over abortion has been mostly a diversion. Perhaps it has been planned that way

As we were the first to disclose, Creamer, an ex-con and husband of Rep. Jan Schakowsky, emphasized using "the faith community" to mobilize support for universal health care by highlighting the morality of providing medical care to people in need. His book, Stand Up Straight! How Progressives Can Win, emphasized that "We must create a national consensus that health care is a right, not a commodity; and that government must guarantee that right."

Now compare this to what the Bishops have said.

"Our approach to health care is shaped by a simple but fundamental principle: 'Every person has a right to adequate health care,'" they say. They go on, "For three quarters of a century, the Catholic bishops of the United States have called for national action to assure decent health care for all Americans. We seek to bring a moral perspective in an intensely political debate; we offer an ethical framework in an arena dominated by powerful economic interests."

Reform, the Bishops said, would "require concerted action by federal and other levels of government and by the diverse providers and consumers of health care. We believe government, an instrument of our common purpose called to pursue the common good, has an essential role to play in assuring that the rights of all people to adequate health care are respected."

Also this: "For three quarters of a century, the Catholic bishops of the United States have called for national action to assure decent health care for all Americans."

What makes this particularly interesting in Boston, is Cardinal O'Malley's treatment of his own priests. Several months back, he circulated O'Malley's new policies. If an active or retired priest gets too sick to work full time - his income will be reduced to $300 a month and he will be kicked off the diocescan insurance.

Claiming the Cardinal is all for decent treatment and insurance for everyone, when his own policies are cruel and indecent to the sick and elderly in his own employ, is intellectually dishonest.

But, there you have it.