Bishops have ticked off some GOP solons

The rift began with a March 15 letter to lawmakers from the Missouri Catholic Conference, signed by the state’s five bishops. It was critical of legislation by Republican Rep. Jodi Stefanick, of Ballwin, a Catholic, that would have toughened Medicaid eligibility criteria, required patient co-payments and made such services as optical and dental care subject to yearly appropriation.

House Republicans have argued the state’s Medicaid rolls, which now cover one in six Missourians, have grown too large for a state that has struggled to meet its financial obligations.

But the bishops said the Medicaid bill would “jeopardize access to health care for many of our poorest citizens” and they advised lawmakers: “Let us not be like the rich man who pretended not to know the beggar Lazarus lying at his gate.”

…Stefanick, who believes she closely follows church teachings, said it was frustrating to find herself on the opposite side of the church’s lobbying arm.

“I think everyone was surprised” by the Medicaid letter, Stefanick said. “It seemed to me people were questioning why the Catholic Conference was inserting itself so deeply on this issue.”

Catholic Rep. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, said the Catholic Conference is known for its work with the poor and should have been expected to weigh in on the Medicaid issue. He said the response from Republicans toward the Catholic Conference “was just another example of Republican leadership not getting their way and then railing against someone politically.”

Update: I stand corrected. Turns out (of course) there is more to the story…Popcak uncovers it here.