Letter from Bishops to congress on abortion coverage and the government health insurance bills

As reported by ABC:

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

3211 FOURTH STREET NE • WASHINGTON DC 20017-1194 • 202-541-3160

WEBSITE: WWW.USCCB.ORG/healthcare • FAX 202-541-3339

October 8, 2009

United States Senate United States House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515

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

Cardinal Justin Rigali

Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Chairman

Committee on Pro-Life

Activities

Bishop John Wester

Diocese of Salt Lake City

Chairman

Committee on Migration