Joseph Cao and Bart Stupak

I should really be writing a post in honor of All Saints' Day, and the beautiful reading that the lectionary devotes for it, from the Book of Revelation, describing the City of God. But it's late, and I want to go to bed. I will get to that soon.

But first, a word on last Saturday's passage of the Health care bill in the House of Representatives, and the Stupak-Pitts amendment that passed at the last minute, with support from 64 Democrats, banning public subsidies to any insurance plan that includes coverage for abortions except when the mother's life is at stake.

This was a great day, indeed. For those of us who believe in the right to life, for those of us who believe in socialised medicine (or at least steps towards that goal) and especially for those people like me who believe in both.

I'd like to praise especially all the 64 Democrats who voted for the anti-abortion amendment. Largely though not entirely Catholics, they included Democrats from some very liberal states- Neal and Lynch from Massachusetts, Langevin from Rhode Island- as well as Stupak himself and his Michigan fellow representative Kildee. They voted their conscience, not the party line, and they deserve our admiration for so doing. They cast votes for the protection of human life, and against the pro-choice mentality that's so prevalent in our society.

But most of all, I'd like to praise two people. Bart Stupak, D-MI, and Anh Joseph Cao, R-LA. Both crossed party lines: Cao to vote for a bill that would provide government subisidized health care to poor and struggling Americans, and Stupak to strip federal money from insuring abortions. Both of them resisted the pull of their party, and voted according to their conscience. Both, in other words, chose the way of Christ over the temptation of the World. And both of them did a great and honorable thing.

COngratulations to everyone who voted for this health care bill, but thanks especially to these two courageous and righteous men.