17th District Congressional Candidates on Heath Care & the Catholic Church
By: Blake Long
Updated: October 17, 2012
As next month's election draws closer, we're finding out where the
local candidates stand on the issues. In the 17th District Congressional
Race, Republican Bobby Schilling faces Democrat Cheri Bustos. We're asking both candidates about the President's healthcare plan.
The Peoria Catholic Diocese has filed suit to stop some parts of Obamacare, specifically mandated payments for birth control.
We're finding out if the candidates feel the government should work with the Catholic church on this matter.
Bobby Schilling:
"I think any time the federal government comes in and attacks religious organizations it's against their constitutional rights, it is wrong. And any time that the federal government has tried to reach out and tried to force any religious organization to do anything against their church teaching, they've constantly lost. So, I think it's key that the government stays out of the religion sector and let religions do what they believe in in their teaching. "
Cheri Bustos:
"Clearly, we need to have a separation of church and state and my understanding of that is that nobody's telling anybody of the Catholic, that strictly for Catholics. If there are non-Catholics that are employed the, that is covered. But if it's strictly for Catholics, that's not what the mandate is anyway. So, I think that's been discussed. I'm Catholic myself and so I think that's been discussed and I think there's been a compromise worked out."
The Peoria Catholic Diocese has filed suit to stop some parts of Obamacare, specifically mandated payments for birth control.
We're finding out if the candidates feel the government should work with the Catholic church on this matter.
Bobby Schilling:
"I think any time the federal government comes in and attacks religious organizations it's against their constitutional rights, it is wrong. And any time that the federal government has tried to reach out and tried to force any religious organization to do anything against their church teaching, they've constantly lost. So, I think it's key that the government stays out of the religion sector and let religions do what they believe in in their teaching. "
Cheri Bustos:
"Clearly, we need to have a separation of church and state and my understanding of that is that nobody's telling anybody of the Catholic, that strictly for Catholics. If there are non-Catholics that are employed the, that is covered. But if it's strictly for Catholics, that's not what the mandate is anyway. So, I think that's been discussed. I'm Catholic myself and so I think that's been discussed and I think there's been a compromise worked out."
