Archbishop Dolan: No to Health Care that Destroys Life

PHOENIX, AZ (CNA) - �Health care reform is a good thing,� New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan told CNA on Wednesday during in interview in Phoenix, Arizona. However, if it �leads to the destruction of life, then we say it�s no longer health care at all - it�s unhealthy care and we can�t be part of that.�

Responding to a question about the Catholic Church�s view health care reform, Archbishop Dolan explained to CNA that the Church regards health care reform as a good thing. �The Catholic Church has been saying that for a long time,� he explained, adding that because of our human dignity, �means that one has access to quality affordable first rate health care.�

Speaking directly to President Obama�s current initiative to reform health care, the archbishop said that �in principle� the Church says, �bravo!�

�That having been said, the devil is in the details,� he warned. While the Church agrees on the �what,� namely, �on the reform and renewed, reinvigorated health care,� it has some things to say on how it is carried out.

The Archbishop of New York explained that the first thing that needs to be said is that �every health care system exists only to serve human life, not the other way around.�

�Human life is not some commodity, some customer, some cog that is at the service of a bigger system or some bureaucratic network,� but rather, it is �the end in itself and health care is how it is protected."

If health care begins to lead to the �destruction of human life� through avenues such as abortion, end of life care, or the discarding human embryos, then �we say it�s no longer health care at all.

�It�s unhealthy care and we can�t be part of that,� Archbishop Dolan stated.

While some people question the Church�s involvement in the debate surrounding health care reform, Dolan insisted that the Church should have a voice in the health care debate �because nearly one out of every five patients in the United States who is in a hospital is under the embrace of the Church in a Catholic health care network.�

�So please listen to us because we�ve been in this business a heck of a long time,� he said recalling that members of the Catholic Church were the ones who �opened up the first clinics, hospitals and health care networks.�

�Don�t exclude us now because you might be uncomfortable with the very values that gave rise to this magnificent network,� he urged

Mr. Steve Dominguez makes a good point. President Obama has appointed several rogue pro- choice Catholic's to prominent positions in our government. As a christian and a catholic, I do not jugde them. It is important to point out that these officials do not represent the Catholic Church or its teaching. I ask all Catholics to become informed about the plans President Obama has to drive a wedge into our beloved church. President Obama talks a good game yet his actions regarding the rights of the unborn are devastating. We must protect those in our society who cannot protect themselves. The Lord knew us before we were formed in the womb.

Robert Klein | 10/27/2009

Mr. Fisher tell me which scenario is better. First that all are covered but must have their coverage rationed. Especially those who will use the healthcare system most; such as the infirm, sick, and those in their last year of life. Which in respect would do exactly what the current system does by causing supply dislocations to people who, under the current system of medicare, would be covered. The problem is that by pushing in another 40 million people into the system (By the way most of which have the means to attain coverage but choose not to, or are non US citizens- aliens, illegal or otherwise), we do not have enough doctors to supply that many people with care and supply dislocations must follow. Waiting will be standard, coverage will be full, but healthcare, which often depends on timely diagnosis and treatment, will not be as the bishop said above quality or affordable. You see costs are not always monetary in nature and certain costs are deadly. We can see from our neighbors in Canada and England that such a system would cause people to be dying unnecessarily, as tons of articles are published every year about the effect of rationed care on the people in these countries. Under our current system we just do not have people dying in such manners, and hospitals and medical providers are picking up the bill for those who cannot pay in America. Please do not help destroy what we currently have for the ideal of a new and better system run by bureaucrats who will do their best not to be profitable but to find more and more reason for additional bureaucrats to manage this system and make what is viewed as CEO salary excess look like pocket change.

Keith Anderson | 8/29/2009

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