Obama puts social justice in the forefront

Deacon Gordon Richard
Dolen, SD

I am enthused by the recent passing of the Health Care Bill. It has been the dream of may previous presidents and this one delivered. It is not a perfect bill but it is most certainly taking us in the right direction of health care for all. I also feel if it had not passed this president would have been crippled in other legislative efforts. And, I believe, President Obama will move further to help all Americans and not just the well off. He may prove to be one of the most social-justice oriented presidents ever. Those years organizing in poor communities gave him a wealth of human rights experiences and a 'helping the least among us' philosophy.

I wish that the Catholic hierarchy would dialogue with him more and come to a fuller understanding that the Church has many of the same important issues as does the president. With regards to the whole abortion issue: many have said that a potential funding for abortion in the just past bill was a "phantom", plus the political maneuvering of those pro-life Democrats in getting Obama to render that Executive Order was masterful. He will not likely go back on that.

Again, this president has much of our Catholic/Christian social justice belief in his very being and we need to work with him as the best chance to help all people.