Since the beginning of the healthcare debate the Conference of Catholic Bishops speaking through Rep. Bart Stupak have threatend to do all they can to kill the healthcare legislation if it does not contain an abortion amendment with language authored by the Catholic Bishops.
The Catholic Conference of Bishops through their official spokesman had made it clear on a number of ocassions that the abortion language in the senate bill was, in their words, "not acceptable".
Nancy Pelosi rejected the demands of the so called "Stupak 12" which consisted of 12 Democratic congressmen threatening to vote against the bill if it didnt contain the strict anti-abortion language, confident she could get the votes to pass the bill without them.
But now Sister Carol Keehan the head of the Association for Catholic Hospitals has completely undercut Stupak and the Catholic Bishops by throwing her support behind the current healthcare bill without the abortion language sought by the Bishops and the Catholic hierarchy.
This break with the Catholic heirarchy also comes at a time when the church is having their hands full with new child sexual abuse cases committed by priests around the world including Ireland and Germany.
The association represents over 1200 hospitals and clinics many of them in New York.
Keehan's statement made clear she feels than any issues regarding abortion can be resolved and that any qualms over the current language is not enough to justify killing the bill. Keehan also made it clear that she feels the language in the senate bill is enough to satisfy the law against federal funding for abortion.
This puts Stupak and his 11 other House Democrats who threatened to vote against the bill in a precarious position and in fact would leave them open to harsh criticism and worse, including primary challenges if they followed through on voting against the bill when the Association of Catholic Hospitals found the anti-abortion language in the senate adequate.
Keehan's stand puts her in direct conflict with the Catholic Bishops and so far there has been no reaction from them.
. The fact that the bishops are all men and that Keehan is a woman will also not be lost on people on both sides of the debate and will probably spell defeat for the bishops and Stupak politically in the rejection of their amendment.
Comments
Sister Keehan should be ashamed of herself. May God forgive her.
HELP DEFEAT BART STUPAK AND ELECT CONNIE SALTONSTALL TO CONGRESS IN MICHIGAN
My friends, Bart Stupak who announced last week on FOX News that he was willing to "kill" the Healthcare reform bill if facing a primary challenge from Connie Saltonstall.
In an article in Newsweek online, Stupak, a Catholic Democrat from Michigan, admits to crafting a pro-life amendment in the house version of the bill with the Catholic Bishops of America.
On the Saudi Islamist owned FOX News, Stupak is waging Jihad against the bill and boldly stating to his Republican allies that he is willing to kill reform.
Stupak has allowed his religion to cloud his judgment to deny women of America health reform.
It is embarassing to see this sell out pimp a political agenda with Biden standing over her shoulder like some mafia goomba. Good Catholics give testimony to the existance of God and avoid being used as partisian politcal props. What is really depraved is that Keehan is mocking Christ , placing a crown of thorns on His head going into the most Holy days of the Church. Clearly the devil is her master, and with Hell she is in agreement.
Those powers NOT delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or the PEOPLE.
Healthcare is not a right, being armed is a right, so do I get my congress to force everyone to pay for my ammunition?
How about the federal government do what the PEOPLE want like they are supposed to...we fought a revolution for this crap. The feds job is only to protect our rights and defend the borders...not to be in our business..when is enough enough with you wellfare recipients? I work for my family, not for you.
A widely known press quote from Madam Pelosi "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has admitted that the plan to use the controversial “reconciliation” method to ram through health care reform will not be able to resolve the issue of abortion funding in the bill." This quote should suffice to prove Carol Keehan is a two timer LIAR to say there is no abortion coverage in the bill, and that any problems can be "fixed". Tell a third Lie Ms Keehan and listen for the sound of a Cock crowing.
Gutsy nun! Not sure I agree with *everything* she says. But I like her feistiness!
Go Sister!
The sister speaks for the majority of us, including most Catholics. Stand tall, Sister! We are with you>
She is a nun who doesn't bother to wear her habit! That gives a bit of a hint to just how devoted she is. She's sold out the unborn just like all the other fake Obama Catholics. I hope she is excommunicated soon for the scandal she brings upon the church.
ABORTION is NOT HEALTHCARE!!!!! Who would who trust more, this foolish reject of a faithful catholic, or John Paul ll and Mother Tereasa on the truth about abortion? God help this country if they dare try to make us pay for this act of pure evil!
According to their website...Her organisation is "committed to Act in communion with the Roman Catholic Church"
She was bought, and broke her commitment, and should be ashamed.
The administration and the mainstream news are attempting to imply that Christians support this healthcare bill.. We do NOT!
How sad indeed.
First they came for the unborn (because it is a choice) & you did nothing. Then they came for the elderly (because they were too expensive) and you did nothing. Then those with poor quality of life (they have little to contribute to the collective), still you did nothing.
Seems we all have our price Sister -- hope you did better than 30 pices of silver.
How dare that nun recommend that millions of sick people be cared for, millions be prevented from dying, and millions be shoved into poverty. FYI, that was sarcasm. You other commentaters are all willing to guarantee death for millions of people, in order to oppose a possibly-maybe-ambiguous statement that only part of the country is convinced that the government may (although most people say will not) fund abortions for people who will find ways to get abortions regardless. Who is it that the Lord needs to forgive?
She is a nun who doesn't bother to wear her habit! That gives a bit of a hint to just how devoted she is. She's sold out the unborn just like all the other fake Obama Catholics. I hope she is excommunicated soon for the scandal she brings upon the church.
ABORTION is NOT HEALTHCARE!!!!! Who would who trust more, this foolish reject of a faithful catholic, or John Paul ll and Mother Tereasa on the truth about abortion? God help this country if they dare try to make us pay for this act of pure evil!
This nun is a disgrace...first of all, the taxpayers paying for abortions at any time of a baby's developement will be a "right".
The radical pro-abortion forces will stop at nothing less. Then, the government will decide who lives and dies. Socialized medicine is government control of our medical care, period. The elderly or handicapped will be easily dispatched by denying medical care of conditions that the bureaucrats deem not cost effective. I noticed a few gray hairs on her head...
We need medical reform but not a government takeover of our entire system, the best in the world. Ask the Canadians who came here for immediate care. There are mover MRI machines on Long Island, NY, than in the entire country of Canada. enough said.
Ahhh. The age of enlightenment. A Catholic nun who makes $850K a year. Please speak for us dear sis...
Ahhh. The age of enlightenment. A Catholic nun who makes $850K a year. Please speak for us dear sis...
Sister Keehan understands that America's women and infants are dying for lack of real health care reform. The US stands behind 40 other nations in the death rate for pregnant and delivering women. The infant death rate is even worse. There are about 45,000 needless US deaths each year for lack of health insurance. We stand 37th among nations in life expectancy. The Senate bill specifically says that there will not be any federal funding of abortions. When those on the front lines of this medical disaster speak out, why should we ignore or denigrate them?
So sad to hear this; we grieve for these little ones. Working with assistance for moms and little foundlings, we just grieve for each little one whose life is snuffed out. Constitutionally, I don't see how the government can force us to pay for a practice that violates our consciences. I believe, I'd have to go to jail -- I couldn't pay to have a baby killed.
Read her statement because she's 100% correct...you already subsidize abortion with your tax dollars. Ever heard of COBRA? It's the law that helps subsidize (and keep!) your health insurance should you lose your jobs. No restrictions are placed on which plan you can keep or what it covers, so quit whining. Put your efforts into preventing unwanted pregnancies in the first place.
Sister Carol Keehan is a true Catholic leader. What is sad is that those that posted here who disagree with her FACTS resort to name calling (just like they have done with any legislation brought forward by the Obama administration or the Democrats in the legislature).
As for the Catholic bishops who oppose this legilation and are using Bart Stupak as their puppet, should probably pay attention to the advice that was given to the USCCB when their John Jay report was presented to their organization on clergy sexual abuse. That advice was "keep your mouths shut on moral issues," you have enough crap of your own you have not dealt with. And now we have allegations of clergy abuse going all the way up to the Pope and his b rother who is also a priest. Funny how silent all of these white haired control freaks that make up the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have kept their filthy mouths shout on this issue.
"CHA is not a repository of Catholic social teaching with regard to health care or an association of moral theologians or a charity in service of the poor. It is a trade association. There is nothing wrong with a trade association, but too many reporters, including members of the Catholic press, have sought comment from CHA without recognizing they are primarily an organization with a vested financial interest in the outcome of the health care debate.
CHA does not represent patients or the poor. Their board is composed of, and Sister Carol represents, the very highly compensated chief executives of large health care conglomerates throughout the country. "
But the biggest fish is Lloyd Dean, former Chair and current Speaker of Membership Assembly on the Board of Trustees at CHA. Dean is head of Catholic Healthcare West In 2006, the last year figures are available, Dean made $4,001,892..."
from The Catholic Key Blog 8/6/2009
COBRA is NOT subsidized by taxes.
Quote "COBRA provides certain former employees, retirees, spouses, former spouses, and dependent children the right to temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates..."
DouglasLive says: "...Ever heard of COBRA? It's the law that helps subsidize (and keep!) your health insurance should you lose your jobs."
Carol Keehan is no religious. She is not even a Catholic. How in the world can the organization be called
"Catholic." No wonder Catholics are diminishing innjmbers with individuals like Carol Keehan who claims
to be a religious and Catholic, and approves of the abortion agenda of Obama and the Democrats. How can she sleep at night with such open defiance of Catholic principles. And WHY IS THE ASSOCIATON ALLOWED TO BEAR THE NAME 'CATHOLIC?'
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