Let’s lift the Wizard’s curtain and take a peek behind the barrier of noise. There is a division within the Catholic Church regarding the healthcare insurance reform bill about to be passed by Congress.

For every Catholics United type group which opposes the legislation, there is a Catholic organization such as the one representing 59,000 nuns and the one representing Catholic hospitals, both of which announced its support FOR the legislation during the past week. Individual members of the Catolic Church likewise are split on the legislation. Even those groups opposed are in favor of many of the provisions of the bill, such as aid to pregnant girls and women who wish to have their babies but need financial help.

The issue that splits the Church, of course, is whether this bill changes the current law prohibiting federal funding for abortion procedures. To some of us, it is incredulous that so many people can read the same legislation and reach complete opposite conclusions. Why would Catholic hospitals, who refuse to do abortions, or Catholic nuns, who are as opposed to abortions as anyone in the Church, say that the bill makes no change in existing law, if it was not so?

That’s a difficult question to answer. On the other hand, it seems more plausible that conservative factions within the Catholic Church, who perhaps favor the Republican Party, can see the presence of a phantom change in the law so that they can attempt to gain an electoral advantage over the Dems.

The Catholic Church involved in partisan or ideological politics, you ask? You bet your sweet soul it is, and it always has been. I attended 12 years of Catholic school. I saw it first hand. It’s all part of democracy. But let’s see it as it is.

Groups like Catholics United don’t speak for all Catholics and Catholic voters will not all be swayed by the extremists within the Church on elction day.

What a disgusting ad. Where are all the anti-religion democrats now? Apparently it’s only ok for religion and politics to come together if it pushes the lying liberal agenda. As far as Dahlkemper goes, if she values her cushy job she will vote against this Obamanation of a bill. Altmire has already decided that it’s not worth losing his career over. Smart decision on his part.

Not surprising this website would lean anti-Catholic…