Stop Abortion Funding in Health Care Reform!

Protect Conscience Ensure Affordable Health Coverage

Allow Immigrants to Purchase Private Health Insurance

As long-time advocates of health care reform, the U.S. Catholic bishops continue to make the moral case that genuine health care reform must protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all, especially the poor and vulnerable. Health care reform should provide access to affordable and quality health care for all, and not advance a pro-abortion agenda in our country. Genuine health care reform is being blocked by those who insist on reversing widely supported policies against federal funding of abortion and plans which include abortion, not by those working simply to preserve these longstanding protections.
•    On November 7, the U.S. House of Representatives passed major health care reform that reaffirms the essential, longstanding and widely supported policy against using federal funds for elective abortions and includes positive measures on affordability and immigrants.

•    On December 24, the U.S. Senate rejected this policy and passed health care reform that requires federal funds to help subsidize and promote health plans that cover elective abortions. All purchasers of such plans will be required to pay for other people’s abortions through a separate payment solely to pay for abortion. And the affordability credits for very low income families purchasing private plans in a Health Insurance Exchange are inadequate and would leave families financially vulnerable.
•    Outside the abortion context, neither bill has adequate conscience protection for health care providers, plans or employers.
•    Congressional leaders are now trying to figure out how the rules of the House and Senate could allow the final passage of a modified bill that would satisfy disagreements between House and Senate versions.

ACTION: Contact Representative Pomeroy and Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan today by e-mail, phone or FAX.

MESSAGE – HOUSE:

“I am pleased that the House health care bill maintains the longstanding policy against federal funding of abortion. On the other hand, the provisions on abortion funding in the current un- amended Senate health care bill are seriously deficient and unacceptable. I urge you to work to uphold essential provisions against abortion funding, to include full conscience protection and to ensure that health care is accessible and affordable for all. I urge you to oppose any bill unless and until these criteria are met.”
MESSAGE – SENATE:
“I am deeply disappointed that the current un-amended Senate health care bill fails to maintain the longstanding policy against federal funding of abortion and does not include adequate protection for conscience. I urge you to support essential provisions against abortion funding, similar to those in the House bill. Include full conscience protection and ensure that health care is accessible and affordable for all. I urge you to oppose any bill unless and until these criteria are met.”

WHEN: Votes in the House and Senate are expected at any time. Act today!    Thank You!

WHERE:

To send a pre-written, instant e-mail to Congress go to www.usccb.org/action.

Representative Earl Pomeroy
Washington: United States House of Representatives
1501 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Telephone: (202) 225-2611
FAX: (202) 226-0893
Bismarck: Telephone: (701) 224-0355
Fargo: Telephone: (701) 235-9760
http://www.pomeroy.house.gov/Contact/

Senator Kent Conrad
Washington: (202) 224-2043
Bismarck: (701) 258-4648
Toll Free: 1-800-223-4457
Fargo: Telephone: (701) 232-8030
Grand Forks: Telephone: (701) 775-9601
Minot: Telephone: (701) 852-0703
http://conrad.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm

Senator Byron L. Dorgan
Washington: (202) 224-2551
Bismarck: (701) 250-4618
Toll Free: 1-800-666-4482
Fargo: (701) 239-5389
Grand Forks: (701) 746-8972
Minot: (701) 852-0703
http://dorgan.senate.gov/contact/

As Congress approaches a decision on health care reform, the basis of the legislation is the bill passed by the senate late last year.  Some people are still claiming that the senate bill does allow for funding of abortion.  This new fact sheet sets the record straight.

Tell Representative Earl Pomeroy to oppose any health care reform package that allows any type of abortion funding.

Representative Earl Pomeroy
Washington: United States House of Representatives
1501 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Telephone: (202) 225-2611
FAX: (202) 226-0893
Bismarck: Telephone: (701) 224-0355
Fargo: Telephone: (701) 235-9760
http://www.pomeroy.house.gov/Contact/

In its present form H.R. 4247, the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act, would impose unprecedented and unnecessary intrusions by the federal government into the operation of nonpublic schools.

What: Call Representative Earl Pomeroy and ask that he oppose H.R. 4247 in its present form.

When: Now.  The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the bill March 4.

Where:

Representative Earl Pomeroy
Washington: United States House of Representatives
1501 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Telephone: (202) 225-2611
FAX: (202) 226-0893
Bismarck: Telephone: (701) 224-0355
Fargo: Telephone: (701) 235-9760
http://www.pomeroy.house.gov/Contact/

Background Information:

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops supports Congress’ desire to protect and enhance the safety and well-being of all students enrolled in both public and private schools.

However, H.R. 4247 in its present form would establish unprecedented intrusion by the Federal government  in some of the activities by nonpublic schools, such as:

Sec. 3 (5)(C) – collecting and analyzing data from private schools;

Sec. 4 (11)(A)(II)(ii) – extending the requirements of this legislation to every private school which has even one student or one teacher participating in a program administered by the U.S. Department of Education (NCLB, IDEA, etc.); and

Sec. 5 (a) – requiring school personnel to be certified in crisis intervention, although federal education law has never before imposed certification requirements on private school educators.

It is clear from the long-standing language of ESEA and IDEA that it has been Congress’ intent, and properly so, to avoid federal involvement in the internal administration of private (nonpublic) schools. By ignoring that principle, H.R. 4247 in its present form crosses a dangerous line, without any demonstrated need to do so.

WASHINGTON—On the eve of the White House Health Care Summit, the U.S. Bishops urged Congressional leaders “to commit themselves to enacting genuine health care reform that will protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all.” In their February 24 letter to Congressional leadership, the bishops also cited their longtime support of adequate and affordable health care for all, calling health care a basic human right.

The letter was signed by Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake City, chairs of the bishops’ committees on Domestic Justice and Human Development, Pro-Life Activities and Migration, respectively.

The bishops urged the House and Senate to adopt legislation that ensures access to quality, affordable, life-giving health care for all; retains longstanding requirements that federal funds not be used for elective abortions or plans that include them; effectively protects conscience rights; and protects the access to health care that immigrants currently have and removes current barriers to access.

“We hope and pray that the Congress and the country will come together around genuine health care reform that protects the life, dignity, consciences and health of all,” said the bishops.

For more information about the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ teaching on health care reform, visit www.usccb.org/healthcare.

Full text of the bishops’ letter follows.

February 24, 2010

The Honorable Harry Reid Senate Majority Leader

Dear Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid:

On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), we strongly urge the congressional leaders from both parties meeting on February 25, 2010 to commit themselves to enacting genuine health care reform that will protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all. It is time to set aside partisan divisions and special interest pressures to find ways to enact genuine reform. We encourage the Administration and Congress to work in a bipartisan manner marked by political courage, vision and leadership.

The Catholic bishops have long supported adequate and affordable health care for all, because health care is a basic human right. As pastors and teachers, we believe genuine health care reform must protect human life and dignity from conception to natural death, not threaten them, especially for the voiceless and vulnerable. We believe health care legislation must respect the consciences of providers, taxpayers, purchasers of insurance and others, not violate them. We believe universal coverage should be truly universal and should not be denied to those in need because of their condition, age, where they come from or when they arrive here. Providing affordable and accessible health care that clearly reflects these fundamental principles is a public good, moral imperative and urgent national priority.

The U.S. Catholic bishops continue to urge the House and Senate to adopt legislation that:

· Ensures access to quality, affordable, life-giving health care for all; · Retains longstanding requirements that federal funds not be used for elective abortions or plans that include them, and effectively protects conscience rights; and,

· Protects the access to health care that immigrants currently have and removes current barriers to access.
For details on the bishops’ positions on health care, please visit www.usccb.org/healthcare.

We will continue to work vigorously to advance true health care reform that ensures affordability and access, keeps longstanding prohibitions on abortion funding, upholds conscience rights, and addresses the health needs of immigrants. Dialogue should continue and no legislation should be finalized until and unless these basic moral criteria are met. Without commenting on specific proposals that may be brought to the summit, we will work to ensure that legislation meets these criteria and will oppose legislation that does not meet them. We hope and pray that the Congress and the country will come together around genuine health care reform that protects the life, dignity, consciences and health of all.

Sincerely,

Bishop William F. Murphy Diocese of Rockville Centre Chairman Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Chairman Committee on Pro-life Activities

Bishop John Wester Diocese of Salt Lake City Chairman Committee on Migration

Pope Benedict XVI recently issued a message for Lent 2010. This year’s message focuses on the theme “The justice of God has been manifested through faith in Jesus Christ.” In the message, Pope Benedict reflects on the “profound link between faith in God who ‘lifts the needy from the ash heap’ (Ps 113,7) and justice towards one’s neighbor.” During Lent, he calls for our “conversion to Christ” which requires us to “exit the illusion of self-sufficiency in order to discover and accept one’s own need – the need of others and God.” Strengthened by this experience, he writes, “the Christian is moved to contribute to creating just societies, where all receive what is necessary to live according to the dignity proper to the human person and where justice is enlivened by love.” The full text of the message can be found at Message of His Holiness Benedict XVI for Lent 2010.

To aid your reflection on the theme of love of God and neighbor during Lent, we are pleased to share the following resources:

·         USCCB Lent calendar and reflections: www.usccb.org/lent/ The USCCB Lent page will feature justice-related items for most days during Lent.

·         Questions to examine conscience in light of Catholic social teaching: Meant to be used as a supplement to your traditional examination of conscience, this resource can be distributed for use during Penance services and private confession. This resource is at www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/examine.shtml.

·         Podcasts: Way of the Cross toward Justice and Peace: This new resource, available on the CCHD homepage (www.usccb.org/cchd) in the near future, includes scripture, prayers, and reflection on issues facing communities across the United States.

WASHINGTON—In a letter to three Cabinet secretaries February 4, the heads of five major Catholic agencies serving Haitian earthquake victims outlined steps that should be taken to ensure the protection of unaccompanied Haitian children in the aftermath of the January 12th earthquake.

The leaders of Migration and Refugee Services of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Charities USA, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., and the International Catholic Migration Commission wrote on the topic of Haitian children, February 4, to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

“The compassion of the American people has been evident in their response to Haitian children who have been left alone after the earthquake,” the executives wrote. “As social service providers with experience in handling unaccompanied children, we believe that certain processes should be established before such children are brought to the United States and placed in adoption proceedings.”

The letter outlined the following procedures to protect Haitian children: • The establishment of safe havens in Haiti so children would have security and proper care; • The assignment of child welfare experts to make best interest determinations for each child, including the best placements for children;

• Family tracing efforts so that children could be reunited with their parents and families; • Placement in foster care with refugee benefits for those children whose best interest is served by relocation to the United States; and

• Expedited consular processing for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with minor children in Haiti, as well as for those with approved petitions for family reunification.

The agency heads stressed that Haitian children who are not already matched with adoptive parents in the United States should only be brought to the United States after it is determined that it is in the interest of the child.

“Family reunification is an important goal and must be protected to the greatest extent possible, while placement with a guardian within Haiti will sometimes prove to be the appropriate course,” they wrote. “If no family or appropriate guardian is found, and if it is further determined that it is in the child’s best interest not to remain in Haiti, the child should be considered for international placement.”

The executives concluded that, in the long-term, reconstruction funds should include resources to the Government of Haiti to provide protection to unaccompanied children who remain in Haiti.

Health Care Reform and the Pro-Life Agenda
By Richard M. Doerflinger

Due in part to a Senate seat switching parties in a recent special election, health care reform legislation may be stalled in Congress for now.  Many had hoped that long-overdue reform, extending affordable health coverage to tens of millions of people who lack it now, was on the horizon.  And some, disappointed at the current impasse, are looking for scapegoats.

One charge is that the Catholic Church doomed health care reform by its opposition to federally funded abortion coverage.  One New York Times reporter, commenting on the bishops’ new letter urging Congress not to give up on authentic reform, described the bishops as switching to the “other side” of the issue after helping to bring the legislation near death.

The charge runs counter to a number of well-established facts.

First, the Catholic bishops have supported national health care reform for decades.  Catholic teaching sees health care not as a commodity, but as a support for life and health that every human being deserves as a matter of right.  The bishops wrote to Congress numerous times in the past year, urging progress toward authentic reform – reform that would make health care more affordable, ensure access to health care for immigrants, and respect life from conception to natural death while upholding rights of conscience.  They urged that the legislation comply with policies on abortion and conscience rights that have long governed other major federal health programs.  Making this bill into a vehicle for weakening or changing federal policy on abortion, they warned, would threaten the real goal of expanding access to basic health care.

Second, opinion surveys showed that others agreed.  Most American women and men don’t want abortion in their health coverage, and don’t want the government funding or promoting abortion. Legislation ignoring this strong sentiment would garner public distrust.

Third, the inclusion of clear language against federally funded abortion coverage is what saved health care reform legislation in the House of Representatives.  The bill did not have the votes to pass, until the last-minute approval of the Stupak amendment allowed pro-life Democrats to support the bill in good conscience.  The Senate refused this language, instead crafting a “compromise” that has failed to win support from groups on either side of the issue.

Fourth, it is the pro-abortion movement that has announced opposition to all current health care reform bills.  The National Organization for Women, for example, opposes even the weak and loophole-filled Senate language on abortion, accusing Congress of “throwing women under the bus” to pass health care reform legislation.  It is not difficult to see which groups want to hold reform hostage to impossible demands.

What does the future hold?  To Catholics, abandoning helpless unborn children is not an option.  Nor is abandoning millions of people who lack access to health care.  Members of Congress made some progress last year toward reform that respects the life, health and conscience of everyone.  They should not abandon the task, but try to work together on authentic reforms that can earn the support and trust of Americans who appreciate the dignity of each and every human life.  The bishops would be the first to applaud that effort.

Mr. Doerflinger is Associate Director of the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will hold a series of joint public workshops to explore competition issues affecting the agricultural sector in the 21st century. Officials will engage with the public to examine the appropriate role for antitrust and regulatory enforcement in the agri-food industry.

The first forum is scheduled for Ankeny, Iowa (just outside Des Moines) on March 12. Stay tuned to NCRLC for updates, side events and how to become involved.

For more on the USDA forums, visit http://www.justice.gov/atr/public/workshops/ag2010/index.htm

WASHINGTON—The U.S. needs “a long-term coherent strategy for recovery, development and poverty reduction in Haiti,” helping Haiti rebuild and get back to the path of long-term sustainable development, said the chair of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace in a January 26 letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk.

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, New York, said such a strategy for rebuilding Haiti in the wake of this month’s devastating earthquake needs to coordinate “different U.S. government agencies in a comprehensive approach, engaging other groups with expertise and experience with Haiti.” Bishop Hubbard recommended that the strategy include: debt relief, trade preferences, extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians living in the United States as needed, and sustained reconstruction and development assistance to Haiti.

Bishop Hubbard expressed gratitude for President Obama’s response to the earthquake in Haiti and added, “When the international community and Haitians move beyond the most urgent aspects of the emergency, we urge a substantial and sustained commitment by the U.S. Government to provide long-term funding for reconstruction and poverty reduction.” Highlighting the importance of working with Haitians, Bishop Hubbard wrote, “At the same time, our nation should work to support and strengthen the role of the Haitian Government and institutions in the reconstruction and long-term development of their nation.”

The letter from Bishop Hubbard can be found online at: www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/2010-01-26-let-clinton-napolitano-geithner-kirk-haiti.pdf

Urge Congress Today to Continue to Work on Genuine Health Care Reform!

Brief Update: On January 25, 2010 USCCB leaders sent a letter to Congress encouraging Congress to begin working in a bipartisan manner providing political courage, vision and leadership. The bishops emphasized that We must all continue to work towards a solution that protects everyones lives and respects their dignity.

Passage of a health care reform bill is uncertain, but the need for reform remains a national priority and moral imperative. Health care is a basic human right. Yet, there are nearly 50 million Americans who do not have access to health care. Now is not the time to abandon this task, but rather to set aside partisan divisions and special interest pressures to find ways to enact genuine reform. The entire letter can be found at www.usccb.org/healthcare/HC-Letter-to-Congress-012610.pdf

Bishops to Congress: Set aside partisanship for genuine health reform

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Three leading U.S. bishops called on members of Congress Jan. 26 to “set aside partisan divisions and special-interest pressures” to achieve genuine health reform. “The health care debate, with all its political and ideological conflict, seems to have lost its central moral focus and policy priority, which is to ensure that affordable, quality, life-giving care is available to all,” said a letter signed by Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and Bishops William F. Murphy of Rockville Centre, N.Y., and John C. Wester of Salt Lake City. The three chair the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committees on Pro-Life Activities, on Domestic Justice and Human Development and on Migration, respectively. Although the letter did not refer specifically to the Jan. 19 election of Republican Scott Brown of Massachusetts to the U.S. Senate, the bishops said, “Although political contexts have changed, the moral and policy failure that leaves tens of millions of our sisters and brothers without access to health care still remains.”  by Catholic News Service

Take Action Now!

Contact your Senators and Representative today (For contact information, visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov). The Capitol switchboard number is 202-224-3121.

Urge Congress to work in a bipartisan manner toward achieving affordable, accessible health care for all that protects life and does not threaten life.

Tell your Senators and Representative that health care reform must include the following criteria:

1) Ensure access to quality, affordable, life giving health care for all;
2) Retain longstanding requirements that federal funds not be used for elective abortions or plans that include them, and effectively protects conscience rights;
3) Protect the access to health care that immigrants currently have and removes current barriers to access; and,
4) Restrain costs and apply them equitably across the spectrum of payers.

Prayer for the Uninsured

Father of goodness and love, hear our prayers for the uninsured members of our community and for all who are in need.
For those who seek care but find that it is out of reach, may they find consolation in your healing presence.
For all who are blessed with health and security, may they strive to fulfill the needs of those who are sick and insecure.
For leaders who make decisions that affect the health and well-being of others, may they work to ensure the fundamental right to health care.
We ask this through Christ our Lord who healed those who believed. Amen.

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