Mary van Balen

“With all its faults, I am still grateful that I live in this country,” my daughter said as we shared breakfast. “I mean, when I wake up I might wonder how hot it is, or what I should wear when I go outside. I don’t wonder if, once I venture outside my house, if I will return safely. Or return at all. Literally.”

Justin, also visiting for the weekend agreed. “Thanks for Justice Roberts. And you likely won’t hear me say that again!” He laughed. Roberts’ unexpected “yes” vote kept Obama’s healthcare reform alive, and despite Republican posturing and promises to overturn the decision or repeal the healthcare act, they will not achieve their end through physical violence. Read More 

In a departure from Lenten reflections, I must address the Federal Budget negotiations. First, cuts to reduce the deficit have been proposed that disproportionately target programs that serve the poor and vulnerable. These programs are not where the big money is found. In the big picture, eliminating them all would do little to reduce federal spending. Many people of many faiths, and some of no particular religious affiliation, are fasting to raise awareness and to pray for responsible decisions regarding the budget.

This morning I read in a NY Times article that one of the sticking points was now a Republican proposals for "...measures that would restrict the regulatory powers of the Environmental Protection Agency, a favorite target of Republicans since they took over the House, by preventing the agency from enforcing significant portions of the Clean Air Act and regulating carbon emissions."

This, after we saw in dramatic fashion in the Gulf oil spill, what can happen when companies are left to regulate themselves?  Read More 

In the eyes of God our Father, pure unspoilt religion is this: coming to the help of orphans and widows when they need it, and keeping oneself uncontaminated by the world.
James 1:27 Afternoon reading (None)




Unlike those who sport yellow, pink, or green varieties,I am not a wearer of plastic bracelets. I have been tempted, though, by Sojourner's WWJC? campaign and confess to donating $3 to send one to my Senate and House representatives.

While not pretending to understand national budget complexities, I do believe that many cuts proposed in the current budget before the Congress are unconscionable to those striving, however imperfectly, to follow Jesus' teachings on caring for the least among us.

Today's reading from Isaiah 58 poses and answers this question: Why fast when God seems oblivious to our efforts?
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The Common Good received a "yea" vote last night when the healthcare bill passed the House. It is a beginning.

One Republican crossed party lines to vote with the majority of Democrats, Anh "Joseph" Cao. Who is he? Why would he make such a courageous move? A little Googling gave me an idea.

He is a Vietnamese who escaped from Vietnam when he was eight years old. Successful in school, he felt called to the priesthood and studied at a Jesuit seminary for six years before discerning that was not his call. He did share the Jesuit passion for social justice, and carried that with him through law school and eventually into a political career.

He is in his first term in the U.S. House of Representatives, the first Republican to be elected in Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District since the late 1800's, representing a predominately Democratic constituency with a large African American population.

Joseph Cao's heart seems to be with those living in poverty, those not well severed by the government or other agencies like those in his own district (including himself and his family) who were devastated by hurricane Katrina, and refugees. I imagine we will hear more about him in the weeks to come. Read More 

Links: Searchable text provided by the Library of Congress Sect. 259: Nondiscrimination on Abortion and Respect for Rights of Conscience Op Ed Nicholas Kristof "Unhealthy America" An interesting article, on "The American Catholic" exploring healthcare and Catholic social teachings Pope John XXIII's Pacem in Terris addresses the right to health care in paragraph 11


Tomorrow is the big day: House Representatives in Washington DC will vote on H.R.3962: Affordable Healthcare for America Act. I pray a sense of the common good will prevail and representatives will pass the legislation that will put America on the path to a long overdue reform of a badly broken healthcare system.

The vote will also put to rest, at least for a precious moment, the outrageous verbiage that has accompanied the public debate. I am weary of hearing that the USA has the best health care on the planet (it doesn't), that the bill is the beginning of a government takeover of healthcare in particular and any variety of freedoms in general, and that it will force providers and hospitals to perform abortions. These are just a few bits of misinformation that have me seeing red and ready for a break from tea parties and hateful speech comparing Obama and this administration to any number of social pariahs including Hitler, Mao, and Communism.

I started responding to the above issues in this blog, but I am still writing an hour and a half later. I will say this: The bill isn't perfect, but it is much better than what we have now. The public option is important because private companies have had decades to do what is right, and in many, many cases they have not. (Simple math: The more premiums, the less care, the more profits.) The poor and marginalized, children growing up in poverty pay a horrible price for our broken system. You may not want to fund abortion with taxes and health premiums (This bill has a non-discrimination clause for those doctors and hospitals that do not perform abortions...see link), but I don't want to fund executions, wars, military research, and immoral denial of services even to those who are insured, with my taxes or health premiums either.

This is not a perfect bill. It is not a perfect world. But, passing this bill is one step in beginning to reclaim in this country a sense of solidarity, a sense of the common good that is essential to a just society. It is also an essential part of the Catholic Church's teachings on social justice.
It is time to do something. On Saturday, for the first time in sixty years the full house will vote on a healthcare reform bill. May the common good win.



11. But first We must speak of man's rights. Man has the right to live. He has the right to bodily integrity and to the means necessary for the proper development of life, particularly food, clothing, shelter, medical care, rest, and, finally, the necessary social services. In consequence, he has the right to be looked after in the event of illhealth; disability stemming from his work; widowhood; old age; enforced unemployment; or whenever through no fault of his own he is deprived of the means of livelihood. (8) from Pacem in Terris
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