On November 3, the Los Angeles Times wrote an article on a health care bill in the Senate. The following quote appeared in that story:
“Backed by some of the most powerful members of the Senate, a little-noticed provision in the healthcare overhaul bill would require insurers to consider covering Christian Science prayer treatments as medical expenses. The provision was inserted by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) with the support of Democratic Sens. John F. Kerry and the late Edward M. Kennedy, both of Massachusetts, home to the headquarters of the Church of Christ, Scientist.”
The following are past quotes from Sen. Kerry:
“There is a separation of church and state in America and we have prided ourselves about that all of my lifetime, all of our history.”
“I believe that I can’t legislate or transfer to another American citizen my article of faith.”
The following are past quotes from the late Sen. Kennedy:
“The separation of church and state can sometimes be frustrating for women and men of deep religious faith. They may be tempted to misuse government in order to impose a value which they cannot persuade others to accept.”
“I do not assume…that my convictions about religion should command any greater respect than any other faith in this pluralistic society.”
Though it wasn’t their Catholic faith, it seems that finally Kerry and Kennedy found a religion they could publicly endorse and whose beliefs they find worthy of a federal subsidy.
