Alberta Catholic leaders are against Ralph Klein's plan to reform the provincial health-care system. Calgary Bishop Fred Henry expressed that the third way debate is like a dead end with suggested reforms being degrees worse than he had ever imagined.
Archbishop Tom Collins is disappointed that quick access to healthcare is highly dependent upon the patient’s financial condition. He said, "Access to health care should be dependent on the need of the person that is suffering -- and not upon wealth. Health care is really more like a service -- like the fire department or the police department --rather than an actual commodity." According to them, the catholic opinion looks at healthcare as an act of mercy from God to heal the sick. It’s absolutely mercenary to view it just by pure economics alone. Incidentally, the Catholic Church has founded the first hospital in the province. The Health Minister Iris Evans has said that she wishes to talk with the church leaders and hear their concerns in person.
