The HHS mandate lurches forward

For those who support Obama’s healthcare plan, including the controversial HHS mandate, there appears to be some good news.  Looks like two lawsuits that were challenging the HHS mandate have been tossed out.  Oh well. For me, I see it as the corner America is turning.  I spent most of my life being told that America was only one step away from Big Brother, and that it always had been.  Now, those who were always warning me about Big Brother seem to be the ones chomping at the bit to get us there.

Still, my sympathies are only so-so.  At first, I rallied to the flag, went to HHS opposition rallies, supported my Bishop, prayed, and dived into arguments with those saying they really didn’t care about freedom for stupid and evil religion.

But as I did some research, I found out that the US Bishops had largely supported Obama’s healthcare mandate.  The only thing they apparently opposed was the HHS mandate regarding abortion, contraception  and the like.  Now there are plenty of warning bells about Obama’s plan.  Not that it was all bad mind you. I’m OK with insurance companies not kicking people off the plans when they are too sick, or not denying coverage to people with preexisting conditions   But there were also plenty of concerns, not the least of which was the mandate to force everyone to have health insurance.  Helping to provide is one thing.  But telling us we must have something like health insurance?

But from what I’ve found out and read, the Bishops were A-OK with all of it, as long as there was nothing forcing those against all abortion and contraceptives (read: The Catholic Church) to support such things.  Never mind the other dilemmas and ethical quandaries and possible erosion of our liberties.  That appeared to be their only concern.  So a part of me, a really deep, deep, dark part of me wants to say ‘it serves you right.’  That’s not the first time I’ve seen the Bishops more inclined to support the cause of the progressive over the traditionalist.  They’ve done it in other instances, in some cases showing the same general disregard for legitimate concerns  and more or less throwing their hats into the ring with a  movement known for its general rejection of any traditional Christian understanding of the world.

Don’t get me wrong.  Politically it isn’t as if there are very many places for the Bishops to turn to.  It isn’t as if the GOP is coequal with the Holy Trinity or anything.  But it is to say I notice the Bishops are much quicker to reject outright proposals and positions held by those trying to defend a more traditional American nation, while they seem more than capable of ignoring some glaring and troubling problems within the proposals of those who seek to overthrow and alter the traditional American landscape.

Forgive me if I’m wrong, and if anyone knows of any articles that show the Bishops actually opposed Obama’s troubling healthcare law for reasons other than the HHS mandate, please let me know.  I’ll gladly concede the point.  But based on what I’ve found so far, I have to say, that’s what happens when you decide a single issue is all that matters, and the greater forest is irrelevant next to the cause of the tree.