Updated Bulletin Insert – Healthcare
Posted on January 7th, 2010
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has been very supportive of health care reform but has expressed disappointment at the direction that the current legislation is taking.
USCCB Position on Health Care Reform includes the following:
- a truly universal health policy with respect for human life and dignity
- access for all with a special concern for the poor and inclusion of immigrants
- pursuing the common good and preserving pluralism including freedom of conscience and variety of options
- restraining costs and applying them equitably across the spectrum of payers
The USCCB has issued an updated bulletin insert and is encouraging parishioners to get involved and contact their Representatives and Senators.
As long-time advocates of health care reform, the U.S. Catholic bishops continue to make the moral case that genuine health care reform must protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all, especially the poor and vulnerable. Health care reform should not advance a pro-abortion agenda in our country.
- On November 7, the U.S. House of Representatives passed major health care reform that reaffirms the essential, longstanding and widely supported policy against using federal funds for elective abortions and includes positive measures on affordability and immigrants.
- On December 24, the U.S. Senate rejected this policy and passed health care reform that requires federal funds to help subsidize and promote health plans that cover elective abortions. All purchasers of such plans will be required to pay for other people’s abortions through a separate payment solely to pay for abortion.
- Outside the abortion context, neither bill has adequate conscience protection for health care providers, plans or employers.
- These two bills must now be combined into one bill that both the House and Senate will vote on in final form. Provisions against abortion funding and in favor of conscience protection, affordability, and immigrants’ access to health care must be part of a fair and just health care reform bill, or the final bill must be opposed.
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