Last Updated:Friday - 09/24/2010

An open door for dialogue

John Lynch, coordinator of the archdiocesan Social Justice Commission, deserves credit for inviting Tory MLA Mary O'Neill to speak at a pro-medicare rally sponsored by the commission Feb. 16 and for persevering when many in the audience wanted to deny her the microphone.

Alberta is in the midst of an important debate over private health facilities, but it is a debate that is rapidly turning into a dialogue of the deaf.

Lynch has been forthright about the need to inject Gospel values into this debate. One Gospel value central to the discussion of health care is the need to protect the poor and vulnerable. It is a value that should rule out any two-tiered health system.

Opponents of the government's proposed reforms say those reforms would lead to a two-tiered system; the government has been adamant in saying they won't. One of the Church's main contributions in such a situation should be to allow an open airing of differences in a calm and reasoned atmosphere.

There are many advocates on both sides in this debate. A Church body like the Social Justice Commission does well to promote dialogue when others are so determined to prevent it.

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