Growing misuse of the Catholic teaching of common ground, common good

    "......the growing misuse of Catholic "common ground" and "common good" language in the current health care debate can only stem from one of two sources:  ignorance or cynicism."  (Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. CAP, Archbishop, Archdiocese of Denver)

In an article written by Archbishop Chaput in August, he explains that any system that will allow or help to fund (subtly or indirectly) discriminiation against those with special needs, the elderly, or the killing of unborn children cannot be called "common ground" and to say that it is, is a lie.

American bishops have supported health care reform for decades, Archbishop Chaput continues, but it is imprudent and dangerous to fast-track a flawed health care reform with so many growing and serious concerns yet unresolved.   The message of the Catholic bishops is to slow down, address the concerns of the people, and in doing so, discover what "common ground" really is.

Sioux City Bishop R. Walker Nickless recently wrote:  "No health-care reform is better than the wrong sort of health-care reform."   (to view his entire column, www.catholicglobe.com )

In another article by Archbishop Chaput in which he asks us to stand up for the sanctity of life in this current health-care reform, he states:

    The “common good” and “common ground” are central messages in Catholic social teaching.  This is why the Church always seeks to work cooperatively with people of other faiths and no faith to secure the basic elements of human dignity for all our citizens—decent housing, a living wage, justice under the law and adequate food and health care.  It’s why America’s Catholic bishops have pushed for national health care reform for the past several decades.  It’s also why the Church, in principle, supports current efforts to craft legislation that would ensure basic health care coverage for all Americans.

    But God, or the devil, is always in the details. As Scripture says, “You will know them by their fruits” (Mt 7:20).  The whole meaning of “health care” would be subverted by any plan that involves mandated abortion access or abortion funding.  The reason is obvious.  Killing or funding the killing of unborn children has nothing to do with promoting human health, and including these things in any “health care” proposal, no matter how shrewdly hidden, would simply be a form of lying.

And so we ask, in the confusion of the health care debate, just exactly what are Catholics expecting,  hoping, and praying  to achieve for the common ground and the common good.  Archbishiop Chaput lines it out perfectly:

     • It should provide access to basic, quality health services for all persons, from conception to natural death, with a special concern for the poor, elderly and disabled, and the  inclusion of legal immigrants;

     • It should protect the conscience rights of individuals and religious institutions;

     • It should exclude all so-called “services” that involve violence against the dignity of the human person, such abortion, physician-assisted suicide and their funding;

     • It should be economically realistic and sustainable, with costs spread equitably across all taxpayers.

Catholics are urged to contact legislators explaining the above "common ground" for the "common good" for the current health-care reform.  If the dignity of life is not part of the health care reform from conception to natural death, it will be inherently flawed.

For more writing on a number of topics by Archbishop Chaput:  www.archden.org/index.cfm/ID/8/ARCHBISHOP-CHAPUT/

Health Care Alert:  www.priestsforlife.org/legislation/health-care-alert.htm