Catholic Bishops Clarify Desire for Religious Liberty While Achieving Ideal Society

Let's think about this statement by Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. in his recent article, "Clarifying what's at stake in the health care debate":

Since 1919, the Catholic bishops of the United States have taught that universal access to basic health care is a component of the common good in a fair society.

There is a difference between "universal health care" provided by the government, and "universal health care" provided through volunteer organizations and churches.

I think the confusion for these Bishops (USCCB) is forgetting that when someone else is paying, whether we like it or not, someone else is making the decisions.

Before supporting the idea that the federal government has the moral authority to force people to support the ideal of "universal health care," they should have considered the problem they are now trying to clarify:

Will universal health care cost us our religious freedom?

But there is no such thing as a free lunch.

When someone else is paying, whether we like it or not, someone else is making the decisions.

I can see how the Catholic Church could be for "universal health care"--as all of the early hospitals were started by Catholic Churches!!! They did not turn people away. They were in charge.

The lynchpin for all of noble goals always seems to be forced "giving." God forbids "stealing."

Which begs the questions: at what point is a tax moral? When 50% plus 1 say so?

Frederic Bastiat answers this question in "The Law" in the chapter, "What is Law."