Washington D.C., Nov 6, 2009 / 16:48 pm
A memo from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops says that the Ellsworth Amendment to the U.S. House’s proposed health care reform bill is not a “meaningful compromise” but instead is a “money-laundering system” that does not address pro-life concerns about federal funding of abortion.
The memo, written by U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities associate director Richard Doerflinger, discusses H.R. 3962 and the Ellsworth Amendment.
The amendment claims to prevent federal funds from being used for abortions, CNSNews.com reports. It requires that federal money be segregated from individuals’ premium payments and that abortions can only be paid for by using the premiums and not the federal subsidies.
On examination, Doerflinger wrote, this is “not a meaningful compromise.”