The Catholic Church’s influence in Congress came in part from its longtime support for improving access to health care for poor and low-income Americans. “Health care has been one of their basic goals out there for years,” said Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., the Democratic sponsor of the abortion amendment.
The church also was able to capitalize on good will amassed from years of working with Democrats on issues such as tax credits for the working poor, Immigration, climate change and nutrition programs. In that regard, it earned a level of trust in way that other anti-abortion groups never could.
The church “played a critical role in a number of initiatives over many years that affect our most vulnerable people,” said Ellen Nissenbaum, legislative director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a group that focuses on policies affecting low-income people.
Lobbying groups working to have their interests included in the provisions of legislation pending before Congress? And Congress listening to them? I’m shocked, shocked.
The real complaint of Planned Parenthood (which, btw, is the nation’s leading abortion provider and not just an abortion rights group) is that it couldn’t muster the support in Congress to overcome the demands of the Catholic Church. How unfair!!
The leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives would never have entertained the objections of the Catholic Church at the eleventh hour unless they perceived that the Catholic Church in fact had the power to take down the health care reform bill. The Church had something the leadership needed, i.e., support vital to the passage of important (to the leadership) legislation. The leadership had to give something back to the Church in exchange. This is how American politics works.
I say, great job, bishops. Keep up the good work!!