Health care legislation still ‘deeply flawed’ on pro-life concerns, U.S. bishops’ officials say
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Kathy Saile / Richard Doerflinger

Washington D.C., Oct 6, 2009 / 06:31 am (CNA).- Officials with the U.S. bishops’ conference said that proposed health care reform legislation remains “deeply flawed” on pro-life issues, though they praised the bill for making health care more affordable to at-risk families.

The Senate Finance Committee rejected pro-life amendments proposed by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), which the U.S. Conference on Catholic Bishops (USCCB) had supported.

One proposal would have forbidden federal subsidies for benefits packages that cover abortions, with rare exceptions. Insurers could have offered supplemental abortion policies if they were funded solely by private premiums of those choosing to purchase them.

Another amendment proposed by Sen. Hatch would have forbidden federal agencies and state and local governments receiving federal funds under this bill to discriminate against health care providers that decline to perform, refer for, or pay for abortions.

“The bill remains deeply flawed on these issues and must be corrected,” Richard Doerflinger, Associate Director of the USCCB’s Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, said in a statement.

He said it was “especially disheartening” that the committee did not support “longstanding conscience language” on abortion that has been accepted as part of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s health care reform bill.

In a recent letter to the Senate, the USCCB said that the various health care reform bills have not met President Barack Obama’s pledges to bar federal dollars from paying for abortions and to maintain current conscience laws.

Kathy Saile, USCCB Director of Domestic Social Development, said the bill took steps towards making health care more affordable, but explained that many families are still vulnerable to high health care costs.

“As Congress continues to debate health care reform, it should take further steps to help at-risk poor and low-income families and implement access as soon as possible,” Saile commented, suggesting that access to programs like Medicaid should be expanded as soon as possible.

The Senate Finance Committee also defeated amendments which would have placed additional restrictions on health care access for legal immigrants and their families.

“Legal immigrants, who work hard and pay taxes, should be treated equally with U.S. citizens,” stated Kevin Appleby, Director of Migration Policy and Public Affairs for the USCCB. Appleby said it was “counterproductive” for the public health system to leave immigrants outside the system and thereby making them dependent upon emergency care and unable to access preventive treatment.

“The U.S. bishops will continue to push for affordability grants to legal immigrants and their families and a removal of the five-year waiting period for legal immigrants to access Medicaid,” he added.

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Subscriber comments:
Published by: robert matzinger
taylor/michigan/usa 10/06/2009 09:04 PM EST
"Deeply flawed?" Do not be deceived: there was nothing in Obamas original health care bill that prohibited "our" taxpayer dollars from supporting abortion clinics and outright paying for abortions! And there is nothing in the current health care bill put together by this committe in the senate that specifically prohibits "our" taxpayer dollars from supporting abortion clinics and abortions (murdering of children) upon demand! And there is nothing to indicate that Obama, who is by his office is the worlds foremost abortionist, has had any change in his heart on the issue of abortion: he's in favor of it! As Catholics who believe in the sanctity of all life, we must diligently pray that those in power who write these "heath care bills," that their hearts and spirits will be touched by her, and they will understand the error of their ways, and exclude abortion from any national health care bill! But as Catholics and guardians of the unborn, we must be observant and question any national policy that may advocate the murder of the unborn - and we must be willing to actively oppose it!
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Published by: Michelle McCafferty
Gulf Breeze, Fl/US 10/06/2009 08:44 AM EST
I wish that I understood what is actually on the table. I am a health care professional, and I work in a Catholic Hospital, where Sister Carol Keenan is speaking to the physicians about "Obama Care" in the coming weeks. She thanked Obama in her last press release for keeping his promise of not funding abortion , and maintaining freedom of conscious clauses, but what I keep hearing is that there is not actually a bill fully laid out and that these items are indeed not in the bill. It seems like all smoke and mirrors to me, and that is what I took out of my American Government classes in college. Politics is just a distraction from reality. It would be refreshing to know what the reality for the average citizen will be with Obama Care.
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Published by: DLL
scituate Mass. USA 10/06/2009 07:48 AM EST
President Obama's campaign promise regarding health care was that it was supposed to be exactly the same insurance as the President and all the politicians in Washington DC get. I remember exactly what he promised,so what gives with all these proposed plans. Simply give all US citizens the plan that the President currently has. Apparently it is an excellent plan. Who's mentioned this GREAT plan????????????????????NO ONE!!! Only penalties to poor people that for what ever reason,have NO reasonable health insurance plan,that is a goal for a penalty system. Limiting care to the elderly is another,by limiting Medicare Advantage,fining Doctors for ordering too many tests and the promoting abortion is another goal. No one seems to know what they are doing,or they know exactly what they are doing,the public can only guess and fret over it. One thing is for sure,as the time for political apathy is over,so everyone watch your back and pray for mercy. There is no miracle health plan proposed now ,if ever.
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