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By Daniel Vojir (about the author) Page 1 of 1 page(s)

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For OpEdNews: Daniel Vojir - Writer

The Christofascists Want In On Healthcare!

LA Times

Reporting from Washington - 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 measure would put Christian Science prayer treatments -- which substitute for or supplement medical treatments -- on the same footing as clinical medicine. While not mentioning the church by name, it would prohibit discrimination against "religious and spiritual healthcare."

Sometimes progressives are TOO open-minded. Wanting to appease everyone, Senators John Kerry (D - MA) and (the late) Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) attached a small phrase to the healthcare reform bill that may become a BIG bone of contention and a BIG BOON to Benny Hinn.

OK, so Christian Science has not acted in Christofascist fashion in many years, but think of the opportunities for "healers" like Benny Hinn and even Pat Robertson.

Huh? Medical doctors and psychologists agree that a good spiritual attitude has a positive effect on one's health both physically and psychologically. At least that's what aggressive (and smart) religious leaders will say. Right Wingnuts should be coming out of the woodwork to take advantage of this loophole.

So if you touch your TV screen during The 700 Club to cure that brain tumor, don't be surprised if Pat Robertson finds out and sends the "medical" bill to Medicare!

Just imagine the number of "Healing Power of Prayer" centers that will crop up (attached, of course, to your less respectable local church).

All this is wild, hypothetical assumption, of course, but have Christofascists ever shied away from the outrageous? If you've got "pastors" famous for inciting racial tension, preaching that the President must die, and telling congregations that Halloween candy is cursed by demons...yes, anything's possible.

Ed. Note: The above theory is only a theory and slightly hyperbolic and satirical (sort of)

Dan Vojir is a San Francisco writer and raconteur. His latest attempt is "Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger - How to becaome a lion and devour the Christian Right."

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