www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Scandal in Scranton and ObamaCare

I am not suprised by the selling of the hospitals, and that the nun is involved. So sad!

hospitals being sold [spectator.org]

What happened to the President's promise of openness and transparency? The "President's Nun" may be costing two Catholic US House Representatives their seats because of their votes for ObamaCare. Its a very interesting, but sad, story. The Catholic hospitals in Scranton, Nanticoke and Tunkhannock will be sold the there is a coverup of the reason.

Political intrigue and ObamaCare [spectator.org]

Hopefully Sen Casey will be the loser in the 2012 election for selling out his commitment to the sanctity of human life.

Also expect more doctors and nurses to go into retirement and create more of a shortage.

Here is another article I posted earlier that relates. It really doesn't supprise me about the sister though.

The President's Nun [spectator.org]

70x7,

Is this event receiving much attention in NE PA? Is it an issue with byzcath posters from that area?

And what's the feeling regarding native son, Senator Casey?

Fr Deacon Paul

It is beginning to gain momentum. I don't think that Casey will play any role in this either way. All Catholic medical institutions are at risk. It will also mean more unemployment, shortages and real health care for those most in need.

I'm sure the feds will institute some government program to "fix" their error. <sigh> You know the cycle. Let's keep on eye on this one.

Ray

IMHO, Sen was in a power position on the Healthcare Committee and could have forced a conscience clause and abortion restriction.

Instead he made a feeble effort and remained the President's "pro-life" point man. Time will tell; he's lucky he isn't up for re-election.

Slava Isusu Christu!!!!
I was raised in Scranton and would have expected nothing different from the local politicians. Those who happen to be catholic are 'CINOs'; Catholics in Name Only!!!! They are committed democrats first and foremost.

Cbpotel:
What does your post actually have to do with the proposed Mercy Hospital sale?
Might it be due to "sour grapes"?

Scranton Times Tribune - Wednesday, October 13, 2010


Mercy sale at center of congressional ad controversy
BY JEREMY G. BURTON (STAFF WRITER)Published: October 13, 2010


When Mercy Health Partners announced last week it was seeking buyers, CEO Kevin Cook knew that would be big news.
But Mr. Cook never thought the sale of three Catholic hospitals would suddenly become a lightning rod in the re-election bids for two prominent Democratic congressmen.

The sale of Mercy is being used against U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski and Rep. Chris Carney, who are the targets of a new radio ad by CatholicVote.org that alleges their votes for health care reform are the reason the hospitals must be sold.

Meanwhile, Mercy officials say the real story is being distorted and lost in the political din. Mr. Cook said he is "disappointed" with the way commentators online have stirred a controversy.

Mercy was forced to consider a sale after numerous failures to consolidate, merge or adapt Northeast Pennsylvania's health care system for the community's 21st century challenges, Mr. Cook said late Tuesday.

National health care reform played virtually no part in the decision to sell, and a small part in five-year planning, Mr. Cook said.

Far from marking an end, the sale of Mercy is a "meaningful and positive" step forward, he added.

The controversy began when Mr. Cook told local media, including The Times-Tribune, that health care reform would bring "financial pressures," and it "absolutely" was a factor in his company's long-term planning.

Critics of health care reform jumped on Mr. Cook's words, which are featured in the ad by CatholicVote.org. In response, counter-statements were issued by Mr. Cook and Sister Carol Keehan, a White House ally for health reform and the CEO of the Catholic Health Association, which owns Mercy.

The last thing Mr. Cook wanted was for the sale to become a "politicized football," he said.

It is not over, either.

Mr. Kanjorski's campaign plans to confront the allegations about health care reform and Mercy, spokesman Ed Mitchell said. He suspects the Catholic radio ad is predicated on concerns about abortion, but to suggest a vote for health care reform was a vote for abortion is a "distortion," he said.

Joshua Mercer, spokesman for CatholicVote.org, said while his group opposes the reform law for its treatment of abortion, that is not the only reason. The bill's mandates and approach to federal reimbursements will make it difficult for many Catholic hospitals to survive, Mr. Mercer said.

The ad also states, incorrectly, that Mercy is closing its hospitals in Scranton, Nanticoke and Tunkhannock. But the language is meant to imply they will be lost as Catholic institutions, Mr. Mercer said.

"Yes, they will still be hospitals, but it's going to be different," he said.

A spokesman for Mr. Carney could not be reached.

Contact the writer: jburton@timesshamrock.com

The hopefully good news, at this time, is that polls show both Carney and Kanjorski running behind. Kanjorski's Republican opponent, Lou Barletta, Mayor of Hazleton, professes to be pro-life. Kanjorski, at one time, had a pro-life voting record, but he voted for Obamacare, which, despite what its proponents say, allows for Federal funding of abortion. Carney's Republican opponent, Tom Marino, claims to be pro-life. However, he is not a great candidate. He has committed several "faux pas". He is in a district which was gerrymandered to include Scranton (where Josef Stalin, Ghenghis Khan, or Al Capone could win on the Democratic ticket), but was surrounded by more rural (and Protestant) Republican areas so as to keep the district Republican. The voter registration in the 10th District is about 60/40 Republican. However, Marino's poor capabilities as a candidate have kept the polls much closer. The Democrat incumbent Carney, only got elected in 2006 because his Republican predecessor had an adulterous affair which was broadcast all over creation by Democrat operatives and the liberal Media. I've been living in the Scranton area for over 10 years. I'm very active with Pennsylvanians for Human Life. This is a very strange area. The area is strongly Catholic. We had a recent Life Chain in Scranton. Almost everybody who drove by honked their horns and gave a "thumbs up" to the participants (I contrast that with my experience with Life Chains in New Jersey in the late '90's, where about 50% of the drivers-by would flash a digit other than their thumbs). But, these same people, almost by rote, will go out and vote straight Democrat without giving it a second thought. The area has a large Irish-American population (that's half of my own ancestry). I've been told by more than one Irish-American NE Pa resident: "You are Democrat first, Irish second, and then Catholic". To say that there is a "disconnect" is an understatement. When Joseph Martino was the RC Bishop of Scranton, he tried to go after the phony-baloney Irish Catholic Democrat politicians, esp. in the area of their pro-death voting records. The Scranton Times (owned by an Irish-American Catholic family tied to the Casey family), unleashed a barrage of vitriolic attacks against the Bishop. I think this had some effect on the laity, because all I heard from that point on was criticism of the Bishop by even ostensibly good lay people. This is what probably drove him to step down. About ten years ago, I attended a pro-life banquet in Wilkes-Barre, just prior to the 2000 election. Bishop Martino's predecessor, Bishop James Timlin, told the crowd: "We somehow have to get across to our people that they are baptized into the Church, and not into a particular political party". Hopefully, at some time in the near future, this message will get across.

Dn. Robert

Fr Deacon Robert,

For a time I received the publication of Pennsylvanians for Human Life, back during the days of Bishop Timlin. Our (mostly former) coal mining area is almost a carbon copy of your hard coal region. However many of our people realize that the Democrats have abandoned our people.

I heard about Bishop Martino, the press about him was really bad, but I heard the problem was political bacause of his non-compromised pro-life stand. My daughter got her degree from the liberal nun owned Misericordia College and I understand the politics; the graduation speaker was Cokie Roberts and her husband!


S'nami Boh!
Fr Deacon Paul

Here is a link to the page on our website where you can download copies of the newsletter.

Dn. Robert

http://prolifescranton.org/ProLifeReporter/