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onehandle

(51,122 posts)
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 08:41 AM Jun 2014

Utah’s Catholic bishop: If you’re pro-life, you’re pro-Medicaid expansion

Source: Salt Lake Tribune

In a sharply worded editorial Friday, the head of Utah’s 300,000 Catholics asked why in "a state that proudly proclaims its pro-life beliefs," political leaders are "frittering away" the chance to expand Medicaid.

"Right now an opportunity to protect the dignity and sanctity of human life in Utah is being squandered by legislators who refuse to act in a morally responsible manner," the Rev. John C. Wester wrote in the Intermountain Catholic, a weekly newspaper published by the Salt Lake Diocese. "Utah cannot proclaim itself a pro-life state so long as it refuses to provide access to basic health care coverage to a significant portion of its citizens."

Wester said he was motivated to speak out after GOP legislative leaders this summer declared there would be no decision on Medicaid until 2015, well after November’s election.

This news came despite two years of studying the matter and public opinion polls showing overwhelming support for Utah Gov. Gary Herbert’s private-market alternative tapping public dollars to buy private coverage for 111,000 working poor and uninsured.



Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/58094847-78/utah-medicaid-wester-health.html.csp

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Utah’s Catholic bishop: If you’re pro-life, you’re pro-Medicaid expansion (Original Post) onehandle Jun 2014 OP
I applaud his consistency. Shrike47 Jun 2014 #1
I agree Fortinbras Armstrong Jun 2014 #2
Quite surprised the Morman church won't take a stand rurallib Jun 2014 #3
Like every other component of the Religiou$ Right, they sold out to the Republican Party. Joe Bacon Jun 2014 #4
They have seen the reception the Pope is getting for his opinions. They can read the handwriting. jwirr Jun 2014 #9
ironic PatrynXX Jun 2014 #11
Very surprised. I think the Church as a whole believes it, but I don't think this will be top down.. marble falls Jun 2014 #14
Well, that wouldn't fit in with the Republican agenda, now would it? Baitball Blogger Jun 2014 #5
Catholic states tend to take the expansion. Baptist states tend to reject it. McCamy Taylor Jun 2014 #6
yes with Shrike47, Joe Bacon, and others rustbeltvoice Jun 2014 #7
Consistent VA_Jill Jun 2014 #8
yep dembotoz Jun 2014 #10
They can an will. ForgoTheConsequence Jun 2014 #12
They're pro-fetus, not pro-life. LoisB Jun 2014 #18
I'll say one thing that's encouraging to me Populist_Prole Jun 2014 #13
The worm is turning. It is put up or shut up time for right wing Catholic politicians. yellowcanine Jun 2014 #15
Wish the head of the Texas Catholic church would do the same Rstrstx Jun 2014 #16
Actually, if you're pro-life area51 Jun 2014 #17

rurallib

(62,344 posts)
3. Quite surprised the Morman church won't take a stand
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 09:16 AM
Jun 2014

one would think that if asomeone were truly religious this issue would be a no-brainer.

Joe Bacon

(5,163 posts)
4. Like every other component of the Religiou$ Right, they sold out to the Republican Party.
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 09:27 AM
Jun 2014

Party loyalty is more important that compassion.

More proof that the Religiou$ Right in America behaves just like the Communist Party did in the Soviet Union.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
9. They have seen the reception the Pope is getting for his opinions. They can read the handwriting.
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 11:06 AM
Jun 2014

PatrynXX

(5,668 posts)
11. ironic
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 12:16 PM
Jun 2014

I was raised from 5th grade onwards Lutheran. They taught both Mormans and Islam as cults. And not Christian in any matter. Yet the one who taught me that voted for one and now considers him Christian. smh. Okay. Ironic. sigh

marble falls

(56,358 posts)
14. Very surprised. I think the Church as a whole believes it, but I don't think this will be top down..
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 04:38 PM
Jun 2014

endorsement. This is certainly the attitude members towards members.

Baitball Blogger

(46,574 posts)
5. Well, that wouldn't fit in with the Republican agenda, now would it?
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 09:53 AM
Jun 2014

At some point you have to realize that the Republican agenda is anything but Christian based.

rustbeltvoice

(427 posts)
7. yes with Shrike47, Joe Bacon, and others
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 10:51 AM
Jun 2014

In the last few years, it has been rare (extra-ordinarily) to agree with an American Catholic bishop on a controversy. Yes, he is stating the necessary consistency of a truly pro-life position.

It also reflects the hypocrisy and self contradictions of the Republican party. "Pro-life" only means anti-abortion to many; and naive, idiot, and pharisaic Catholics have used it as a tool to support the Republican party, which makes bank on it. As much as people argue and fight, the 1973 Wade v. Roe decision has been standard. Pro-life includes many things. To fight relentlessly on a virtually settled issue, and negate and ignore all else, is folly.

VA_Jill

(9,852 posts)
8. Consistent
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 10:51 AM
Jun 2014

You can't call yourself "pro-life" unless it extends to programs that help children (and others) AFTER they are born.

ForgoTheConsequence

(4,846 posts)
12. They can an will.
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 12:29 PM
Jun 2014

Just like they'll support war and the death penalty and still call themselves "pro-life", they have no shame.


Like George Carlin said:

"If you're pre-born, you're ok. If you're pre-schooled, you're fucked"

Populist_Prole

(5,364 posts)
13. I'll say one thing that's encouraging to me
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 02:13 PM
Jun 2014

Finally seeing religion as a wedge issue used against republicans.

Hell, that's like a "man bites dog" type headline.

yellowcanine

(35,692 posts)
15. The worm is turning. It is put up or shut up time for right wing Catholic politicians.
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 06:00 PM
Jun 2014

They bray about Catholic Democratic politicians on abortion, etc. Let's see how the do when the shoe is on the other foot.

Rstrstx

(1,393 posts)
16. Wish the head of the Texas Catholic church would do the same
Sun Jun 22, 2014, 03:49 AM
Jun 2014

There are a lot more Catholics here, yet the silence is deafening from the church here about such issues. This is a place where it could actually make a difference.

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