What the U.S. bishops should be doing ...

Maryland's General Assembly has overridden the governor's veto of a bill requiring Wal-Mart to spend more (8% of payroll) on its employees health care. Maryland has realized, evidently, that one of the social costs of low low Wal-Mart prices is an increase in Medicaid and other subsidies for Wal-Mart workers. (Some Wal-Mart stores have given workshops for employees on how to utilize the state Medicaid system.)

Catholic social teaching is clear that health care is a human right. One wonders why the Catholic Hospital Association and the U.S. bishops are not more voiciferous advocates of health care reform in this country; if they put half the money and energy into that as into ballot measures opposing gay marriage, who know what they might accomplish. If you want to reduce poverty and strike a blow for justice, curtailing the abuses of for-profit health care in this country is one sure way to go.