By FR. KEVIN M. CUSICK
“ Genuine health care reform that protects the life and dignity of all is a moral imperative and a vital national obligation” — Bishop William F. Murphy, chairman, USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice & Human Development.
The bishops of the United States recently asked that all Catholics be informed of their position on the current health care reform proposals. Plans being debated by Congress include coverage for abortions. Abortion is not health care; abortion is murder. Any health care plan that includes paying for abortions is not health care and cannot be supported by the bishops or any Catholic in good conscience. The most recent letter from the bishops dated October 8, 2009 is reprinted here.
+ + + Dear Member of Congress: On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), we are writing to express our disappointment that progress has not been made on the three priority criteria for health care reform that we have conveyed previously to Congress. In fact, the Senate Finance Committee rejected a conscience rights amendment accepted earlier by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. If final legislation does not meet our principles, we will have no choice but to oppose the bill. We remain committed to working with the administration, congressional leadership, and our allies to produce final health reform legislation that will reflect our principles.
We continue to urge you to: 1. Exclude mandated coverage for abortion, and incorporate longstanding policies against abortion funding and in favor of conscience rights. No one should be required to pay for or participate in abortion. It is essential that the legislation clearly apply to this new program longstanding and widely supported federal restrictions on abortion funding and mandates, and protections for rights of conscience. No current bill meets this test.
2. Adopt measures that protect and improve people’s health care. Reform should make quality health care affordable and accessible to everyone, particularly those who are vulnerable and those who live at or near the poverty level.
3. Include effective measures to safeguard the health of immigrants, their children, and all of society. Ensure that legal immigrants and their family members have comprehensive, affordable, and timely access to health care coverage. Maintain an adequate safety net for those who remain uncovered. We sincerely hope that the legislation will not fall short of our criteria. However, we remain apprehensive when amendments protecting freedom of conscience and ensuring no taxpayer money for abortion are defeated in committee votes. If acceptable language in these areas cannot be found, we will have to oppose the health care bill vigorously. Catholic moral tradition teaches that health care is a basic human right, essential to protecting human life and dignity. Much- needed reform of our health care system must be pursued in ways that serve the life and dignity of all, never in ways that undermine or violate these fundamental values. We will work tirelessly to remedy these central problems and help pass real reform that clearly protects the life, dignity, and health of all.
Sincerely, Bishop William F. Murphy ( Diocese of Rockville Centre, chairman: Committee on Domestic Justice & Human Development); Justin Cardinal Rigali ( Archdiocese of Philadelphia, chairman: Committee on Pro-Life Activities); Bishop John Wester ( Diocese of Salt Lake City, chairman: Committee on Migration).
+ + + Take Action! Join the efforts of the U.S. Catholic bishops in supporting health care that respects the life and dignity of all people. You are invited to visit the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment web site at http:// actions. nchla. org and use the online form to send a message to your representatives that you stand up for life and against abortion coverage masquerading as health care. Thank you.
+ + + (See coverage of my journey in Italy and my running in the 34th Marine Corps Marathon at apriestlife. blogspot. com.)
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