Satire by John W. Lillpop
Demonstrating that the “separation of Church and State” is not absolute when it comes to progressive ideas, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has invoked her religious faith into the brutal debate over health care reform.
As reported throughout the media, Pelosi did so with the following announcement:
“Today is the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, particularly important to Italian-Americans. It’s a day where we remember and pray to St. Joseph to benefit the workers of America, and that’s exactly what our health-care bill will do. … Every order that you can think of was there [on a list of endorsements], saying they wanted us to pass this life-affirming legislation”
The House bill is Life affirming? For who—abortion doctors and ambulance chasing lawyers?
Well, that is Nancy Pelosi, for you!
We have no way of knowing with any degree of certainty just how St. Joseph would react to Pelosi’s prayer, if at all.
However, it is not inconceivable that he would reply to the Speaker in the following manner:
Dear Speaker Pelosi:
We are in receipt of your impassioned plea for divine intervention in order to pass the health care reform bill in the United States House of Representatives so that a final bill can be forwarded to President Obama for signature.
As we understand your prayer, it is essential that this legislation be passed before the upcoming Easter break so that members of the House are not forced to confront their constituents before voting.
This exposes a serious question concerning your commitment to upholding the U.S. Constitution and serving the will of the people, as you and your colleagues have sworn to do.
Madam Speaker, if this health care reform bill would, in fact, benefit people, as you have stated, and if it is truly “what the people want,” as President Obama has stated, why is it necessary to dodge those people before the votes are cast?
Other concerns arise as well, including:
* We understand that the president and Members of Congress would be exempt from the provisions of the proposed reform. If reform is the right thing to do, why are powerful government officials exempt, when the meek and powerless are forced to participate?
* The bill reportedly provides government funding for abortion, the taking of the most innocent and vulnerable of all human life.
We understand that you are a member of the Catholic Church. May we remind you that abortion is considered a grievous sin, a position that the Fathers of the Church have made abundantly clear time and time again?
* Much of the funding needed to implement the bill is based on granting government the power to unilaterally seize wealth from one man in order to enrich another. That practice, known as “soaking the rich,” is the immoral equivalent of forced servitude or slavery, a practice long ago outlawed by U.S. law.
* We understand that the bill forces American citizens, except for the president and the Congress, to purchase health insurance or face severe financial consequences and possible incarceration.
Madam Speaker, how is such heavy handed government involvement consistent with the concept of free agency? Moreover, is it not true that this is a violation of the U.S. Constitution?
* We understand that the proposed reform would diminish services and options to senior citizens, those who have the greatest need for health care. Where is the hope in that, Madam Speaker?
* We understand that the bill would increase America’s federal deficit and raise taxes, both of which would break campaign promises made by President Obama and which are otherwise unwise.
In addition to the specific concerns identified above, we note that according to independent opinion polls, the proposed reform is opposed by a significant majority of the American people. How, then, is the bill a reflection of a free and democratic people?
Finally, we note with distress that the bill was crafted by conducting negotiations in secret, another broken campaign promise, and that bribery and deceit appear to have been rampant throughout the process.
Given the concerns identified above, Madam Speaker, we believe that the bill must be abandoned in total, and that the issue be revisited in an open and honest manner, one that satisfies both the spiritual and ethical standards one would expect from a blessed America.
Accordingly, your request is hereby denied, and you are advised to cast a NO vote yourself.
Spiritually Yours,
St. Joseph
