The Universal Health Care Interdict

Given how the Catechism of the Catholic Church endorses universal health care, what if the Pope threatened to put an interdict on countries that lack such a thing?

I'm thinking primarily the United States, although I'm not aware of the status of UHC in Latin American countries.

In the "abortion interdict" thread, someone suggested the threat of this might cause a Catholic revolt against pro-choice Catholic politicians--could such a thing lead to pressure on Catholic politicians to support UHC?
 
Well, they haven't done it for abortion, and the Catholic Church welcomed one prominent violator of "Just War" doctrine, one Anthony Blair, into their communion recently...
 

wormyguy

Banned
It would appear to be a blatant and obvious attempt to interfere in American politics. More American Catholics are Democrats than Republicans - this could have only negative consequences for the Church.
 
Pope Francesco I

Walter Murphy wrote an interesting though flawed novel called The Vicar of Christ back in 1979. The book had 3 parts and in the third and longest part the former Supreme Court justice protagnist becomes Pope after a conclave that makes the second Die Hard movie look credible. What is sort of interesting is that while the Pope's ends/goals are very liberal his means are downright medieval. At one point he threatens the right wing dictator of a predominantly Catholic country with interdict over some issue.
 

Hendryk

Banned
I think the Church, for all its flaws, is savvy enough to know that wielding such a blunt tool in a delicate political debate would be likely to backfire.
It would appear to be a blatant and obvious attempt to interfere in American politics. More American Catholics are Democrats than Republicans - this could have only negative consequences for the Church.
Denying Communion to political figures in breach of Church dogma on the specific issue of abortion rights is also a blatant and obvious attempt to interfere in American politics.
 
Given how the Catechism of the Catholic Church endorses universal health care, what if the Pope threatened to put an interdict on countries that lack such a thing?

I'm thinking primarily the United States, although I'm not aware of the status of UHC in Latin American countries.
First Problem is the US has Universal Health Care.
By law Emergency Rooms MUST treat anyone that can Crawl to the Hospital. Irregardless of Financial/Legal status.

The Question of buying Better Care is simply a matter of Payment, Which is why the Congress Critters are preparing to Cram a Health Insurance Reform Bill down our throats.
 

wormyguy

Banned
Denying Communion to political figures in breach of Church dogma on the specific issue of abortion rights is also a blatant and obvious attempt to interfere in American politics.
I don't believe I said anything about that, nor would I care, being a pro-choice atheist.

Abortion is a political issue in heavily Catholic areas of South America and Africa, whereas UHC is right now only a major issue in the US (and South Africa, but it has a negligible Catholic population), so it would be more obviously an attempt to interfere in American politics specifically.
 

Hendryk

Banned
I don't believe I said anything about that, nor would I care, being a pro-choice atheist.
You said that the Church weighing in on UHC would be "a blatant and obvious attempt to interfere in American politics". I reminded you that there's a precedent for blatant and obvious attempts by the Church to interfere in American politics.
 
Top