Baltimore, Md., Nov 15, 2011 / 12:52 pm
The U.S. Catholic bishops have voted to establish a permanent Subcommittee on Health Care Issues to address ongoing concerns about one of the country’s most politically-charged and debated topics.
The bishops overwhelmingly approved the subcommittee by a vote of 214-15 on Nov. 14, the first day of their fall General Assembly in Baltimore. The new subcommittee will fall under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Doctrine.
As head of the doctrine committee, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl will appoint the chairman of the new subcommittee.
The creation of a permanent subcommittee was recommended by a task force on health care issues, which held its last meeting in June 2011. The task force was mandated with coordinating the conference’s activities on health care and helping decide what kind of structure would best meet the bishops’ needs.