Catholic Nuns Lead Schism in Heath Care Vote

RedTracker| As one who objects to American media’s loose use of the term ‘war’ to even describe a cupcake competition, I’ll leave it to readers to determine whether a Holy War Erupts Among Catholics Over Abortion Language in Health Care Bill, via FOX News, is an exaggeration of the facts.

All I can say is that the existing investigation of American nuns just went into high gear.

“Despite false claims to the contrary, the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for elective abortions,” the letter says, adding that the legislation also will help support pregnant women and “this is the real pro-life stance.”

The National Council of Major Superior of Women Religious, which represents 129 orders and nearly 10,000 nuns, say the bishops’ position is “authentic” and expressed outrage that the liberal social justice advocacy group Network is attempting to speak on behalf of the Catholic nuns.

“Protection of life and freedom of conscience are central to morally responsible judgment,” the group said. “We join the bishops in seeking ethically sound legislation.”

Stopping to do the math, the supporters of the bishops’ ruling are only 16% of the 59,000 nuns who went against the bishops. Now you understand why American nuns are under investigation. Catholic women aren’t supposed to go against Catholic bishops.

The Rev. Frank Pavone, national director for Priests of Life, blasted the liberal nuns, saying their statement in support of the bill “does not represent 59,000 nuns; it represents approximately 59 nuns who signed it.” Presumably, Pavone is prescient in his knowledge of what’s in the minds of the nuns.

The ‘liberal’ nuns aren’t alone in supporting passage of the bill. We posted last night the National Catholic Reporter’s editorial backing it. The Catholic Health Association is also backing the bill.

On Saturday, the chief executive of the Catholic Health Association, which represents more than 600 hospitals that do not provide abortions as a matter of conscience, 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. via FOX News

On Monday, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops pushed back against the hospitals.

Other Catholic groups supporting the health care bill now include the Catholic Health Association, NETWORK, Catholics United, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, Catholics for Choice, and Catholic Democrats.

For a well-written, objective anlysis of the situation from a pro-lifer, read ObamaCare, Abortion and the Reagan Democrats via Kaiser Health News