Catholics United praises Sen. Snowe vote while U.S. bishops express concern

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Washington D.C., Oct 14, 2009 / 12:04 pm (CNA).- Chris Korzen, Executive Director of Catholics United, a non-profit organization that has consistently supported President Obama's policies, released a statement yesterday thanking Senator Olympia Snowe for being the only Republican to vote in favor of the Finance Committee health care bill. However, the U.S. Catholic bishops remain far from comfortable with the legislation.

Early on Tuesday afternoon, the self-proclaimed pro-choice Snowe (R-Maine) announced she would vote "yes" to send Senator Baucus' health care reform bill to the floor for a vote by the full Senate. The bill was approved in committee by a 14-9 margin.

Nevertheless, the Maine senator maintained that she may not support the bill in its final version and that her vote was unnecessary for the Finance Committee’s measure to progress. Unlike other bills, the Baucus bill has no government-sponsored insurance plan and no requirement that employers must offer health coverage.

The Finance Committee bill has come under fire, like the other reform proposals, for its lack of clarity on issues that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) considers deal breakers. The bishops' conference insists that no one should be forced to pay for or participate in an abortion, that health care should be affordable and available to the poor and vulnerable and that the needs of legal immigrants are met.

However, Catholics United said in its statement, "We wish to offer our sincere gratitude to Senator Snowe for her courageous vote. By her actions today, Senator Snowe has shown once again that she believes making sure all Americans have access to quality affordable health care is more important than engaging in the politics of obstruction and division."

"People of faith in general, and Catholics in particular, believe that universal health care ranks among the [sic] our nation's most urgent moral priorities. Throughout this debate, Senator Snowe has proven a crucial ally in the fight for health care reform – especially in the area of health insurance affordability," Korzen wrote.

Because of her position on the matter, Catholics United said, "We applaud Senator Snowe for her ongoing efforts, and are proud to stand behind her as we move toward passage of this historic legislation."

Last week, and again yesterday afternoon, the USCCB reaffirmed its commitment to "working with Congress and the Administration toward genuine health care reform," but stated that if final legislation does not meet our principles, we will have no choice but to oppose the bill."

According to several USCCB spokespersons who analyzed the bill yesterday, the Finance Committee bill praised by Korzen still fails to allay their concerns. In fact, the bishops have noted, "amendments protecting freedom of conscience and ensuring no taxpayer money for abortion are defeated in committee votes."

Comments: 5

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Linda
Sioux Falls, SD,USA 10/16/2009 11:51 AM EST

This report only confirms an encyclical that I read in the last part of 1969 which stated that the Blessed Mother cautioned that the Devil will infiltrate the highest ranks of the church!!!!! Alas, much of the information contained on this paper has already come true and the part that has not already happened is not something that we want to entertain. She also cautioned that "good" people must get better. I really do not see an overall pattern to believe that this has happened....I wish I could say otherwise. The scenario that she painted is not going to be enviable. This group that supports the so called "Health" plan that credits Snowe with her support of the Democratic plan is, to say the least, misguided. This plan is about "control" of the American people. Too bad this catholic group doesn't see the "big" picture. This group is not really a "Catholic" organization. This is "NOT" the message of the church which I grew up with and certainly "NOT" the policy of the church to support payment on demand from the government for "Abortion". The souls of the truly innocent will be factored in when it comes to retribution.

Published by: B. F.
Omaha, NE 10/15/2009 12:23 PM EST

Sounds like Catholics United is yet another renegade so called "catholic" group, "catholic" only in name (small "c" intentional). I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt that their (Catholics United) misguided support for a healthcare bill, that will not protect our freedom of conscience, nor protect us from paying for abortions with our tax dollars, is well intended to give the poor a chance at having health care. But seeing that this group consistently supports a person whose ideologies go against all that is moral and good, I cannot help but think they, like so many groups, have been duped by the devil. May God have mercy on them and on all of us for giving moral evil a more prominent seat in our society.

Published by: Jerry rehanek
united States 10/14/2009 09:50 PM EST

Shame on you. I am a catholic and you should be ashamed for promoting bills that will not only kill babies but older citizens who have worked and fought for this country for years. You do no belong to the same catholic church that have for many years. Also wake up. This is about power over people. Please use the brains God supposedly gave you. God bless you because i'm having a hard time thinking nice thoughts about you.

Published by: Radomysl Twardowski
Bismarck, ND, USA 10/14/2009 02:17 PM EST

Congratulations to fellow democrats Snowe and Korzen for fearlessly advancing the interests of their party and their ideology.

Published by: Michael
Omaha, NE, USA 10/14/2009 01:39 PM EST

I sincerely hope that your promoting Obama's massive spending is right. But history has repeatedly shown that the government, when they try to run something, costs more and fails more often than private industry does. We are going further and further into debt with no end in sight of government over-spending. Most people I have spoken to, whether we agree about Obama and the current administration or not, believe this country is currently headed in the wrong direction. More and more liberties we have enjoyed over the years are being removed and taken over by the government. We need less government, not more.

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