President's health care proposal comes up short for pro-life leaders

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Comments: 12

President Barack Obama

Washington D.C., Feb 22, 2010 / 03:23 pm (CNA).- President Barack Obama’s Monday proposal of a revamp of health care legislation drew criticism but also cautious speculation from various pro-life leaders. While some criticized the proposal’s lack of abortion funding restrictions, one commentator from the U.S. bishops’ office suggested the president may want “further discussion” on the issue.

The president did not propose any changes to the Senate health care bill’s restrictions on federal funding for abortions, The Los Angeles Times reports. The bill would require any woman buying a subsidized health plan with abortion services to pay separately for the abortion insurance benefit.

Seeking comment on the president’s proposal, CNA contacted Richard M. Doerflinger of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Secretariat of Pro-life Activities. He responded in an email on Monday.

“We have said that the House bill's position on abortion funding is acceptable and the Senate bill's is not,” Doerflinger told CNA. “The President's proposal, which is really a summary of points rather than a detailed legislative proposal, says he hopes to combine features of the House and Senate bills, but the proposal says nothing about abortion or abortion funding.

“Perhaps he wants to leave this to further discussion.”

Doerflinger reported that his office will have a new letter this week reaffirming the “moral principles” an acceptable health care bill should reflect.

“I don't expect us to comment on proposals until we see something more specific,” he explained.

Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), claimed that the president’s proposal would directly fund elective abortion by providing $7 billion for the 1,250 Community Health Centers in the U.S. without barring these funds from use in abortion on demand.

According to Johnson, the proposal would also fund an “array” of other pro-abortion federal subsidies and mandates.

“None of President Obama's proposed changes diminish any of the sweeping pro-abortion problems in the Senate bill,” he commented in a Monday press release.

He charged that the proposal would increase funds available to subsidize abortion procedures and to subsidize private health insurance that covers abortion through the premium subsidy tax credits program.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, criticized President Obama’s proposal for lacking abortion funding restrictions.

“In the face of obvious bipartisan consensus against abortion funding, the President remains deaf to the voices of American taxpayers,” Dannenfelser commented. “President Obama’s most precious domestic priority is on life support, but he still refuses to jettison abortion coverage. It appears that abortion ideology is more precious to this president than his top domestic priority.”

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) claimed that the Hyde Amendment would be codified in a Republican bill which would also prohibit all federal funds from being used to pay for abortions.

He also noted that pro-life House Democrats have already pledged to vote against the abortion funding provisions in the health care bill.

“Health care reform should be an opportunity to protect human life – not end it – and the American people agree,” he commented.

Comments: 12

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Lorie Hartman
Denver/ Colorado/USA 02/23/2010 07:16 PM EST

During this Season of Lent, we Catholics are to fast and pray,repent and be reconciled to God. "Catholic" Pelosi and Reid and Obama are trying to reconcile the Health Care Bill using a process called Reconciliation needing only 51 votes. If they are successful in the Reconciliation, they will certainly be reconciling to Satan. It is a battle between good and evil. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:12-13

Published by: Starke Irvine
Daphne, AL 02/23/2010 05:38 PM EST

I agree with the point we should not name call. That does no good. What we should do in my humble opinion, pray first,while applying pressure on the bishops to profess the correct teachings of Jesus Christ as represented in scripture and through our traditions.Abraham Lincoln said a house divided can not stand.....we the church have been divided by the liberal thinkers(progressives) who have filtered into the church hierarchy. The USCCB must step forward with a declaration stating they have been wrong in the past by afilliating with pro-abortion/gay rights organizations and they have severed all ties,with no more of our contributions going to said organizations.Once that is done and they begin requiring Joe Biden and the other political leaders either live accordiing to the same standards that Jesus has taught and required or refuse them the Holy Eucharist. At that time we can come together and defeat this group of abortionist who have more strength because they are ruthless!

Published by: DLL
scituate Mass. USA 02/23/2010 03:09 PM EST

Once these vile taxpayer provided abortion policies become law it will be worse than Roe Vs Wade to try to reverse,to protest them will become hate crime and thought crime and the protesters can plan jail time. This is the "Change"! It will become impossible to protest abortion,same sex marriage,euthanasia,infanticide,adoption privileges,eugenic policies etc.In time these policies will attempt to be established through various agendas. Bad becomes good again and again,until there are no religious or human rights. Obama is a great face for our country if he can use the rest of his 2 years and 11 months to work for a nation whose human rights are protected by law and not ruined by law. I pray for him and I realize that all his policies are all agenda based. The more agenda's rule in this country the less that the basic human rights of all are to be protected. The Catholic Church is always going to suffer under these circumstances because this nation will not act in accordance with the Divine laws. Until the nation does respect Divine laws that were the basis of it's formation,the basic foundation that formed it's great heritage will continue to erode. May God be with us so that real change can be a Holy change.

Published by: Leo Holahan
Covington/GA/ 02/23/2010 02:04 PM EST

I am troubled by the first paragraph of this article that says: "While some criticized the proposal’s lack of abortion funding restrictions, one commentator from the U.S. bishops’ office suggested the president may want “further discussion” on the issue." Over 80% of Americans oppose abortion funding. 100% of Catholics should oppose abortion funding! Find me one US Bishop who is in agreement with Obamacare's approach to abortion funding. The author mentions "The Bishops office" meaning the USCCB. The USCCB currently has many Catholics calling for an investigation into their policies of funding Pro-Abortion, Pro- Gay Marriage IE progressive programs and acting as a left wing front for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Even Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before being elevated to the Papacy as defender of the Faith reported that the USCCB does not have any doctrinal authority to speak for the Catholic Church. I would trust the strong stand of the Pro-Life leaders as opposed to the compromising(lukewarm) stance of the USCCB spokesman. This article subtly lays down a smokescreen that clouds the issue leaving a lethal opening for progressive, pro-abortion IE phony Catholicism. Please CNA get real.

Published by: bjcass
mooresville,nc 02/23/2010 12:56 PM EST

Obama will never compromise with any pro-life position.He will spin great rhetoric about "common ground" and seeking "areas that unite not divide us" and other ploys.In the end,Obama is an ideologue and his pro abortion history is evidence of his dishonesty and lack of integrity.

Published by: Jeff Johnson
Collegeville, MN 02/23/2010 08:55 AM EST

We need to not only pray for the failure of this, we need to pray that the government stops all funding of Planned Parenthood. As it is, abortion is already funded by our taxes, millions every year, and Planned Parenthood would collapse without this money. No business devoted to the murder of children can make a profit.

Published by: JLS
Riverside, CA, USA 02/22/2010 11:11 PM EST

The only solution is more doctors; the govt should attack the cartels preventing the serious increase in the number of doctors being graduated from medical schools. There are several choke holds preventing this from happening. Why does nobody take up the issue? It is a basic supply and demand problem. Years ago this nation began to import doctors. It does not produce enough of its own ... why? These people do not have to be geniuses; thus, there is no rational explanation for preventing the colleges from putting more doctors in service.

Published by: Anne
Florida 02/22/2010 09:16 PM EST

A leopard doesn't change his spots. This is a truly deviant man, and for all those false smiles, stern glares and fingers pointed, there is nothing for those unborn babies but Obama's sentence of death. If nothing else, his body language reveals the true man. You're right Bruce, this man is another Stalin or Idi Amin or Polpot. And this is an american, which is chilling to me. God have mercy on us, have mercy on this nation. I read the book of Isaiah, and I see the fate of arrogant nations that turn away from God. What have we brought upon ourselves?

Published by: robert matzinger
taylor/michigan/usa 02/22/2010 08:21 PM EST

There is nothing in Obamas current health care bill that strictly prohibits taxpayer dollars from paying for abortions. Catholics, do not be deceived. Obama has been, and is still the worlds leading abortionist, by office. He will resist any attempts to prohibit taxpayers from having to directly pay for, or subsidizing abortions.

Published by: Radomysl Twardowski
Bismarck, ND, USA 02/22/2010 07:25 PM EST

Jesus when confronted with the tempter did not vacillate and did not cautiously speculate. Any attempt to reconcile Catholic principles with the Democrat party ideology is bound to be dangerous and unsuccessful.

Published by: Jason
PA/USA 02/22/2010 05:57 PM EST

@Bruce: Invoking the names of "Hitler and Stalin" is an automatic redflag that you have no argument, and likely do not possess the capacity to participate in serious public debate. You'll never persuade a soul with that kind of vile, hate-filled rhetoric. You make it harder for those of us who actually try to put forth intelligent positions in favour of life, because we're lumped in with people like you.

Published by: Bruce
Colorado Springs/CO/USA 02/22/2010 04:52 PM EST

The president will not stop until he fills the pockets of abortionists all across the globe. Its almost like he has a fetish for abortion. He will go down in history as the most blood-thirsty barbarian since Hitler and Stalin.

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