Denver, Colo., Nov 2, 2009 / 16:39 pm
Stressing that “there is very little time to act,” Bishop James Conley, the Auxiliary Bishop of Denver, told CNA in an exclusive interview on Monday that now is the time for President Obama to prove his critics wrong and show them that he really meant it when he said abortions would not be funded in the health care reform bill.
Bishop Conley added, “If we don't demand honesty from our public officials and responsiveness to the serious concerns of the Catholic community, nobody will do it for us -- and we, our beliefs and our institutions will be the losers.”
The full interview between CNA and Bishop Conley follows.
CNA: The U.S. bishops are now calling on Catholics around the country to immediately contact their federal representatives and senators to demand changes in the health-care bill. Why the urgency?
Bishop Conley: There's very little time to act. Congress could try to push legislation to a vote within days. All of the five main proposals currently under congressional discussion as of today, November 2, are fatally flawed.
CNA: Why did the bishops wait so long to act?
Bishop Conley: It depends on what you mean by "wait." Keep in mind that the bishops have been urging health-care reform for decades. And they've been vigorously engaged, personally and through their staffs, with informing their people about the key issues involved in reform this year. They've also been active in trying to collaborate with Congress and the White House. The Church wants to work with the president and Congress in ensuring basic health care for everyone in our country. I think the bishops waited so long to turn to their people because they believed Congress would act responsibly. They believed the president would keep his word about excluding abortion and abortion funding from any plan he signs. That may still happen. But I wouldn't count on it... It's clear that not everyone we tried to work with in Washington was acting in good faith.
CNA: How could you summarize the USCCB's position on health care in general, and on the bills currently being discussed in Congress?