Given its concern for the dignity of the human person, the Church as a matter of justice supports comprehensive health care reform that will expand the number of men, women and children with basic health care coverage. At the same time, it cannot support legislation that would abandon existing policies that prohibit either government funding of abortion or mandatory abortion coverage in health care plans.
As such, Catholics in the six counties of South Jersey that comprise the Diocese of Camden are urged to contact your legislators urging them to include amendments that retain existing restrictions on federal funding of abortion in these health care plans.
U.S. Senators
Lautenberg, Frank R. – (D – NJ)
324 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3224
Web Form: lautenberg.senate.gov/contact/index1.cfm
Menendez, Robert – (D – NJ)
528 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4744
Web Form: menendez.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
U.S. House of Representatives (see map below for Congressional Districts)
District 1: Rep. Robert E. Andrews (D)
2265 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3001
Phone: (202) 225-6501
http://www.house.gov/andrews/contact_form_za.shtml
District 2: Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo (R)
2427 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3002
Phone: (202) 225-6572
http://www.house.gov/lobiondo/IMA/issue.htm
District 3: Rep. John H. Adler (D)
1223 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3003
Phone: (202) 225-4765
http://forms.house.gov/adler/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm
USCCB Position on Health Care Reform
- a truly universal health policy with respect for human life and dignity
- access for all with a special concern for the poor and inclusion of legal immigrants
- pursuing the common good and preserving pluralism including freedom of conscience and variety of options
- restraining costs and applying them equitably across the spectrum of payers
Resources on Health Care Reform
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New USCCB website: http://www.usccb.org/healthcare/
- For more information on the USCCB position on Health Care Reform, visit www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/healthcare and www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/health1.shtml.
- To read the letter (PDF format) to Congress from Bishop William Murphy, Chairman of the USCCB’s Domestic Justice and Human Development Committee, click here.
USCCB pro-life chairman urges pro-life amendments for Health Care Reform Bill
WASHINGTON— Cardinal Justin Rigali, Chairman of the U.S. Catholic bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, wrote on July 29 to the members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee urging them to amend “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act” (H.R. 3200) to retain longstanding government policies on abortion and conscience rights.
Cardinal Rigali reiterated criteria for “genuine health care reform” set forth by Bishop William Murphy, Chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Domestic Policy, in his letter to Congress on July 17. He described health care as “a basic right belonging to all human beings, from conception to natural death” and said that “the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is working to ensure that needed health reform is not undermined by abandoning longstanding and widely supported policies against abortion funding and mandates and in favor of conscience protection.”
The Cardinal enumerated several problems with the bill as introduced: It would be used to mandate abortion coverage in private health plans, expand abortion funding, override state laws that limit or regulate abortion, and endanger existing laws protecting the conscience rights of health care providers.
“Much-needed reform must not become a vehicle for promoting an ‘abortion rights’ agenda or reversing longstanding current policies against federal abortion mandates and funding,” he wrote. “In this sense we urge you to make this legislation ‘abortion neutral’ by preserving longstanding federal policies that prevent government promotion of abortion and respect conscience rights.”
“Several federal laws have long protected the conscience rights of health care providers,” Cardinal Rigali added. “President Obama recently stated that he accepts these current laws and will do nothing to weaken them. Congress should make the same pledge, by ensuring that this legislation will maintain protection for conscience rights.”
The Cardinal closed by urging the House Energy and Commerce Committee to support amendments by Reps. Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Joseph Pitts (R-PA) to address these problems in H.R. 3200. The full text of his letter is available at: www.usccb.org/prolife/CardRigali-AbortionNeutralReform-7-29-09.pdf.