Catholic Bishops: Healthcare Bills Still Unacceptable on Abortion
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
After alleging that the House healthcare bill includes an abortion mandate and taxpayer-funded abortion, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have kept quiet as the Senate Finance Committee has wrestled with its version of healthcare reform these last couple of weeks. But in a letter to House leaders today, the bishops make clear that they're opposed to both bills as they currently stand—and skeptical that their grievances will be addressed.
Abortion continues to be the top concern. Here's an excerpt:
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....
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.
Read full letter here.
- Read more by Dan Gilgoff.
- Read more about abortion.
Tags: abortion | healthcare | religion
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Reader Comments
man's law over God's law
misconceptions: man knows more than God,abortion is nothing more than a piece of meat taken from life just like a dog, that the nazis. were the only ones trying to have a perfect looking society. You people might want to look at this from a different perspective?
to Rosalinda
Try listening to other view points and possible situations/problems liek the one I posted below. It's not as simple as you put it. Abortions are not just accidental pregnancies, they are sometimes (and often) very NECESSARY medical procedures. It needs to be covered like any other life saving procedure should be.
Also, "god's will" and "god's great plan" are terms to be left out of political decisions for a plan that covers citizens of a SECULAR COUNTRY. It doesn't mean its wrong to feel those feelings, but they can't be the basis for governmental policies for the shear sake that we allow all religions and non-religions here, so there are endless interpretations of "god's will".
Bishops Speak for Themselves, not Cathoics
It sure looks like Catholics don't agree with their bishops:
http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/documents/PollSummary.pdf
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