A conservative commentator says Christians should consider several arguments before they determine whether President Obama's new healthcare plan should be repealed.
Mark Tooley, president of The Institute on Religion & Democracy (IRD), says Christians should remember that religious institutions have a long history of developing healthcare programs that date back at least to the Middle Ages, but he warns them to be wary of a strong centralized government.
"Christians should be suspicious of any kind of government monopoly and every kind of accumulation of coercive power, however well-intentioned," he contends. "The prophet Samuel warned Israel about its desire for a king, and he told them accurately that they would lose many of their liberties if they insisted on having a king."Tooley predicts a government-controlled healthcare system will eventually compromise the consciences of Christians on issues like abortion, embryonic stem-cell research, birth control and treatment of the disabled and terminally ill.
"Increased federal government control over healthcare inevitably will decrease the distinctiveness of Christian and other religious hospitals and healthcare facilities," the commentator warns.
He points out that significant issues exist with mandating that all individuals purchase a state-approved health insurance policy, so he questions giving the federal government "the power to compel purchases."
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