Bishops' Campaign Declares War on Abortion Funding in Health Care [EWTN]

[JReducation]

The bishops don’t like what the Senate passed and Planned Parenthood is livid also. The majority of Americans believe that there should be situations where abortions are allowed and the majority also believe that there should be limits on abortion. I think this is the problem with trying to find a political solution for abortion. The political solution you are going to get is what the Senate bill is now; something that neither the pro abortion nor pro life people are happy about.

As I understand it, States can elect not to have abortion included in the new plans offered to expand coverage. Even if a State elects to have it covered, it is an option someone will have to select seperately and pay extra for this feature. Will someone please tell me why the pro life people came out on the short side of the stick? I don’t agree.

Please realistically look at the picture. In our parish about 1/3 of the envelopes are returned any given Sunday. I’d imagine that a similar situation exists with Catholic legislatures. The bishops do not have as much influence as one might think.

I’m a little confused by your post. I’m not sure if you’re supporting the bishops or not. Second there are many parishes out there where there is a strong support for life and a strong anti-abortion feeling.

Finally, the Catholic Church is the second largest provider of social services in this country. Many of these services are provided for the government. Meaning, the state pays the Church to provide services to: the poor, elderly, disabled, sick, children with special needs, homeless, immigrants, crisis victims, victims of natural disasters, and even education in many states.

I’ll give you an example. I worked with a diocesan organization that provided housing, education, supervision, family support and employment training to over 1,000 adults with disabilities in one city. The city could not afford to take these people under their wing. The organization ran on a very high budget. Almost 80% of the money came from the Catholic community. The other 20% came from a combination of public funding and private grants. The city knew that the Catholic community and other private organizations such as United Way, United Jewish Appeal, Microsoft, Salvation Army, Good Will and so forth were not going to give them a cent if they took over this project. The money would have to come from public funds. It was in the best interest of the city to respect the local bishop.

In the Archdiocese of Boston, the city backed off on mandatory abortions in Catholic hospitals when the Cardinal said that he would close them. They did not want to call his bluff. Because they had tried that before with same-sex adoptions and the Cardinal closed the Church’s adoptioin program and handed the city over 100 cases of children needing adoptions. After that, the City of Boston treats the Cardinal with great respect and the mayor makes it a point to have a regular meeting with the Cardinal to discuss city affairs. This was information that was shared by the major with the press. Of course he disguised it a little differently. He said that the city wanted to work with the Church. Which is true. But the question is why does the city want to work with the Church?

In the Archdiocese of NY, the mayor is very careful not to step on Archbishop Dolan’s toes. Cardinal O’Connor left a legacy in that city. Even non Catholics have great love and support for what the Church in NYC does for the community, which the city cannot do alone. Just a simple example, the Franciscans of the Renewal take care of hundreds of homeless every day. The Sisters of Life provide housing, nursing and other material needs for women in crises pregnancies and their infants in NYC. That’s just two groups of the many that make up the Archdiocese.

That’s why the Catholic bishops are very influential. Because through them, we Catholics provide a lot to this country. In education alone, the country’s public education system would be in a greater crisis than it is now, if we gave them back all the students who attend our schools, colleges, universities, training centers and technical institutes. We should be proud of ourselves, as Catholics, of the contribution that we have made to raise this country.

This is not a time to step back and let the politicians have their way, while we Catholics continue to provide relief to the government. It does not work that way. If they want us Catholics to provide for our community, they must also respect our moral values. They can’t count us as citizens when it comes time to tax us, but not when it comes time to make policy.

We Catholics not only pay taxes, but we also pay for many other services provided through our Church. We deserve respect and it is the Bishops who represent us. Finally, on this moral issue, we’re right and the politicians are wrong. There is not need for us to cave in and negotiate. You can’t negotiate on truth.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[FK04US]

We Catholics not only pay taxes, but we also pay for many other services provided through our Church. We deserve respect and it is the Bishops who represent us. Finally, on this moral issue, we’re right and the politicians are wrong. There is not need for us to cave in and negotiate. You can’t negotiate on truth.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[JReducation]

I hope that I did not come off as rude. If so, please excuse me. I’m a Franciscan Brother of Life and we don’t play these silly games with politicians. One of our missions, in our constitution is to proclaim the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. The other statute in our constitution is very similar,

“The Brothers shall educate the faithful on the truths of Gospel of Life and at all times remain faithful to the bishops and the Holy Father when they speak on this issue. Under holy obedience, no brother shall ever contradict the Gospel of Life or the bishops, as they stand in defence for the life of the unborn. Like our holy Father Francis, the brothers shall live and proclaim the Gospel of Life without gloss and without counting the cost to themselves.”

The Rule of St. Francis is very clear that we do not encourage or join in argumentation with Church authorities on any matter. We obey and we encourage others to do the same, always trusting Christ’s promise to be with the Church until the end of time.

Therefore, when those who want to compromise on truth present themselves, we do not encourage or support them, but we take our lead from the Church and encourage other Catholics to do the same. If the bishops say that healthcare is a human right, however, you cannot include abortion in healthcare, then we stand by them as obedient sons of the Church, as our holy Father Francis did.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[rep140]

we don’t play these silly games with politicians.

In a democratic society we live by the laws the politicians enact. Engagement in politics is critical. The point I was trying to make is that the deal Nelson struck was the best you were going to get. Pope JP2 made a statement that an incremental good was better than no good at all. The pro life side in the U.S. has an all or nothing approach. The result is that from a legislative standpoint we have nothing. Other countries have at least some restriction on abortion. We have none.

 

[JimG]

we don’t play these silly games with politicians.

In a democratic society we live by the laws the politicians enact. Engagement in politics is critical. The point I was trying to make is that the deal Nelson struck was the best you were going to get. Pope JP2 made a statement that an incremental good was better than no good at all. The pro life side in the U.S. has an all or nothing approach. The result is that from a legislative standpoint we have nothing. Other countries have at least some restriction on abortion. We have none.

The reason we have essentially unrestricted abortion is not because of legislatures or Catholic failure to compromise. It is because the Roe v Wade and Doe v Bolton SCOTUS decisions in 1973 allowed for de facto abortion on demand throughout all nine months of pregnancy. Numerous subsequent LAWS passed by legislatures were struck down as being too restrictive to withstand these 2 court decisions. Abortion on demand was imposed on the country, not legislated.

The Stupak amendment language would have been much better from a pro-life standpoint.

 

[estesbob]

I thank God that I wasn’t born a female in a poor environment where I could be exposed to the elements which could lead to an abortion.
I thank God that I never got myself into a the unforgivable sin of divorse
I thank God that I wasn’t born a homosexual

I do remember what Saint Francis said; ‘’ but for the grace of God, there go I ‘’
Why do I miss the love and forgiveness in the Bishops statements?
…

You should also thank God your Mother wasnt as pro-abortion as you are.

 

[johnXXIII]

Abortion funding will continue unless it is included in our wonderful health care plan.
If it is included, then the funds authhorized for abortion RvsW funds will not be released.
Americans are not able to chose the government programs paid for by our income taxes.
The birth of Jesus is not celebrated on the Anunciation.
The Roman Catholic Church is waisting all of its spiritual and political capital on this abortion issue and are losing support of those in the pews. We are all against abortion, but no-funding, or excommunications are not the way to acheive it. You are making my church look silly and raciest. Most of your supporters are evangelical christians who are against our black president.
The devil would pick this abortion issue to destroy the Catholic Church

 

[johnXXIII]

You should also thank God your Mother wasn’t as pro-abortion as you are.

Thanks Peter for bringing that up. My family and I are against abortion and pray every day that it will stop. There has never been, to my knowledge, an abortion in my family.
We just think its stupid for the Catholic Church to try to stop abortions by withholding payments. Girls and doctors are not involved in abortions for the money.
The Catholic Church is trying to hijack the health care plan because of funding of abortions.
Beleive me, Americans have no voice in the projects our government spend our tax money.
How would you stop abortions?

 

[johnXXIII]

Because of faults in the healthcare reform bills, the USCCB is issuing a mandatory bulletin insert for this weekend urging opposition to the current healthcare reform bills.

Bishops Call for Unprecedented, Massive Catholic Opposition to Abortion in Health Care Reform @ Catholic Online (www.catholic.org) catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=34735

Also look up the links in the article for up to the date information.

God bless!

I see no massive Catholic opersition to the health care plan, the abortion issue is not affected by the health care plan. If the funding is not included in the insurance payments for abortion in the health care plan, then it will continue to funded by the Roe vs Wade funding provided.

 

[JimG]

Abortionists are not in it for the money? Really? Perhaps the most active abortion clinics in the country would like to release their profit statements.

Planned Parenthood alone makes millions in abortion profits.

 

[johnXXIII]

The Roman Catholic majority in America support
Senate passes first procedural hurdles en route to dramatic reform of American healthcare

Confronted with a Republican minority that seemed totally unconcerned about the plight of the uninsured, Democrats voted together at 1am Monday to pass dramatic new reforms of the health insurance system. Both sides had pledged to maintain current law with regard to abortion coverage. “This is not about politics,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. “It’s about people. It’s about life and death in America. It’s about human suffering, and given the chance to relieve this suffering, we must. Citizens in each of our states have written to tell us they’re broke because of our broken health care system.”

 

[johnXXIII]

Abortionists are not in it for the money? Really? Perhaps the most active abortion clinics in the country would like to release their profit statements.

Planned Parenthood alone makes millions in abortion profits.

These doctors and nurses don’t work for the abortion slinic for the abortion, they work for money just as we all do. They will make their money working some where, the abortion clinic will pay, they will work. Its just a job to them. Their profit statement is open for the public, over one billion dollars per year, hey, its the american way.
You just don’t get it do you, women do have the right to chose an abortion in America, the Supreme Court thought so when they issued Roe vs Wade laws. The funding is legal, the doctors are professional. and they get paid very well for it. Is the American Way.

 

[JimG]

“The manager’s amendment is light years removed from the Stupak-Pitts Amendment that was approved by the House of Representatives on November 8 by a bipartisan vote of 240-194. The new abortion language solves none of the fundamental abortion-related problems with the Senate bill, and it actually creates some new abortion-related problems.
–Douglas Johnson, NRLC”nrlc.org/AHC/Release121909.html

"We call on the leaders of the pro-life movement, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic members of Congress to stop fighting to maintain the abortion status quo, which treats human beings as property; to stand firm against band-aid compromises; and to oppose the entire deplorable health care reform bill.”–Judie Brown, ALL all.org/article.php?id=12412

Senators voted 60-40 to end debate on the amendment, with all Democrats voting for the cloture motion and all Republicans voting against it. The amendment makes major changes to the massive abortion funding already found in the bill.
In a letter to senators urging a no vote on the anti-filibuster motion, the National Right to Life Committee pointed out that the manager’s amendment “is light years removed from the Stupak-Pitts Amendment that was approved by the House of Representatives on November 7 by a bipartisan vote of 240-194.” lifenews.com/nat5800.html

 

[JimG]

The Roman Catholic majority in America support
Senate passes first procedural hurdles en route to dramatic reform of American healthcare

Confronted with a Republican minority that seemed totally unconcerned about the plight of the uninsured, Democrats voted together at 1am Monday to pass dramatic new reforms of the health insurance system. Both sides had pledged to maintain current law with regard to abortion coverage. “This is not about politics,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. “It’s about people. It’s about life and death in America. It’s about human suffering, and given the chance to relieve this suffering, we must. Citizens in each of our states have written to tell us they’re broke because of our broken health care system.”

I get it. The Court imposed abortion on the country. We kill over 1 million unborn children each year, and that’s what this Congress calls health care. It’s about continuing the killing at taxpayer expense.

 

[Tigg]

The Court imposed abortion on the country. We kill over 1 million unborn children each year, and that’s what this Congress calls health care. It’s about continuing the killing at taxpayer expense.

We all knew in the depths of our hearts this would happen. I find it unbelievably ironic that they initiated this fatal legislation on the Winter Solstice, the darkest night of the year. I awoke with such a heaviness! Anyone else see the symbology of Christians anticipating the light of Christ on Christmas Day and the darkness of Satan who will always oppose HIM? What’s next? Well, let’s see the final version, but are we going to “give to Caesar” our tax dollars without protest in this slaughter? This is truly part of our own re-living of the Passion, but take heart - it is necessary for the Glory of HIM, (who is always and still in charge) to be revealed.

 

[estesbob]

I get it. The Court imposed abortion on the country. We kill over 1 million unborn children each year, and that’s what this Congress calls health care. It’s about continuing the killing at taxpayer expense.

And its the Church’s fault becuase they are letting a little thing like taxpayer funded infanticide stand in the way of health care reform-reform that is so crucial that alhtough the taxes to pay for it start now doesnt go into effect for 5 years.

 

[JReducation]

These doctors and nurses don’t work for the abortion slinic for the abortion, they work for money just as we all do. They will make their money working some where, the abortion clinic will pay, they will work.** Its just a job to them**. Their profit statement is open for the public, over one billion dollars per year, hey, its the american way.
You just don’t get it do you, women do have the right to chose an abortion in America, the Supreme Court thought so when they issued Roe vs Wade laws. The funding is legal, the doctors are professional. and they get paid very well for it. Is the American Way.

They kill for money. Killing is just a job for them. And this makes this American way gravely sinful and something that we Catholics should be opposed to. It is an unjust way to make money. We have no right to make money at the expense of a human life. That’s how Judas made 30 pieces of silver.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[johnXXIII]

I get it. The Court imposed abortion on the country. We kill over 1 million unborn children each year, and that’s what this Congress calls health care. It’s about continuing the killing at taxpayer expense.

No, Jim, you don’t get it, the health care bill only clarifies how the funds will be dispersed. We may not like this but legal abortions are the law of the land. Without any reference to abortion funding in the health care bill, payments will be made through the already approved funds of Roe Vs Wade. The language i the health care plan directs the procedure of payments which will releive the funds approved in Roe vs Wade. This way there will be one fund instead of two funds for abortion.
Jim, it took court orders and appeals to the Supreme Court to get this Abortion Legislation approved for America. If we want to intelligently, and successfully abolish abortion, it won’t be by cutting the funding. American Catholics represent about 20% of the American voters.
Jim, this is not true, and could even considered a lie.
‘’‘The Court imposed abortion on the country. We kill over 1 million unborn children each year, and that’s what this Congress calls health care. It’s about continuing the killing at taxpayer expense’’’

 

[RHC]

Abortion funding will continue unless it is included in our wonderful health care plan.
If it is included, then the funds authhorized for abortion RvsW funds will not be released.
Americans are not able to chose the government programs paid for by our income taxes.
The birth of Jesus is not celebrated on the Anunciation.
The Roman Catholic Church is waisting all of its spiritual and political capital on this abortion issue and are losing support of those in the pews. We are all against abortion, but no-funding, or excommunications are not the way to acheive it. You are making my church look silly and raciest. Most of your supporters are evangelical christians who are against our black president.
The devil would pick this abortion issue to destroy the Catholic Church

Please provide proof for your claims.

What “funds” are to be released for Roe v. Wade? And what does that even mean? And please provide data to back up your assessment that “your supporters” (is this pro-life supporters? or…?) are “evangelical Christians who are against our black president.” Two things: (1) data please for these claims and (2) what does Obama being black have to do with healthcare reform and funding of abortions?

I can answer #2 for you: absolutely nothing. This is simply a red herring argument and is a non-issue. His ethnicity is not the problem; his radical pro-abortion stance and policies are the problem. Disagreeing with someone is not racism…last time I checked the definition.

I am interested to see what information you have to back up your claims.

 

[johnXXIII]

Our Glorious Leader President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party of the American People have overcome the obstructionist of America and prevailed in giving us affordable safe health insurance, thanks be to God.

• Ends discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions. Over the last three years, 12 million people were denied coverage directly or indirectly through high premiums due to a pre-existing condition. Under the President’s plan, it will be against the law for insurance companies to deny coverage for health reasons or risks.
  • Limits premium discrimination based on gender and age. The President’s plan will end insurers’ practice of charging different premiums or denying coverage based on gender, and will limit premium variation based on age.
  • Prevents insurance companies from dropping coverage when people are sick and need it most. The President’s plan prohibits insurance companies from rescinding coverage that has already been purchased except in cases of fraud. In most states, insurance companies can cancel a policy if any medical condition was not listed on the application – even one not related to a current illness or one the patient didn’t even know about. A recent Congressional investigation found that over five years, three large insurance companies cancelled coverage for 20,000 people, saving them from paying $300 million in medical claims - $300 million that became either an obligation for the patient’s family or bad debt for doctors and hospitals.
  • Caps out-of pocket expenses so people don’t go broke when they get sick. The President’s plan will cap out-of-pocket expenses and will prohibit insurance companies from imposing annual or lifetime caps on benefit payments. A middle-class family purchasing health insurance directly from the individual insurance market today could spend up to 50 percent of household income on health care costs because there is no limit on out-of-pocket expenses.
  • Eliminates extra charges for preventive care like mammograms, flu shots and diabetes tests to improve health and save money. The President’s plan ensures that all Americans have access to free preventive services under their health insurance plans. Too many Americans forgo needed preventive care, in part because of the cost of check-ups and screenings that can identify health problems early when they can be most effectively treated. For example, 24 percent of women age 40 and over have not received a mammogram in the past two years, and 38 percent of adults age 50 and over have never had a colon cancer screening.
  • Protects Medicare for seniors. The President’s plan will extend new protections for Medicare beneficiaries that improve quality, coordinate care and reduce beneficiary and program costs. These protections will extend the life of the Medicare Trust Fund to pay for care for future generations.
  • Eliminates the “donut-hole” gap in coverage for prescription drugs. The President’s plan begins immediately to close the Medicare “donut hole” - a current gap in its drug benefit - by providing a 50 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs for seniors who fall into it. In 2007, over 8 million seniors hit this coverage gap in the standard Medicare drug benefit. By 2019, the President’s plan will completely close the “donut hole”. The average out-of-pocket spending for such beneficiaries who lack another source of insurance is $4,080.