Helps
the parish focus on the ethical issues concerning life, from conception
through
natural death. Activities include
observance of Respect Life Sunday, Annual Baby Shower for distribution
to needy
families in the local community and Pregnancy Crisis Centers and
information on
legislative issues and national events.
Joan
Saoud ... 201-652-1841
Sr.
Mary McFarland . . . 201- 666-2707
Click here for prayer vigils...
BISHOPS
NOTE WAY FORWARD
WITH HEALTH CARE, CLARIFY MISCONCEPTIONS
WASHINGTON—The
U.S. bishops called for steps to protect the lives of the most
vulnerable, provide fairness for immigrants and guarantee conscience
protections for individual and institutions in a statement on health
care reform issued May 21.
The statement was offered
by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Chairman of the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities; Bishop William
Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on
Domestic Justice, Peace and Human Development, and Bishop John Wester
of Salt Lake City,
chairman of the USCCB Committee on Immigration.
“Following enactment
of the health care reform legislation, our challenge remains formidable
but in some ways is simpler,” the bishops said. “Since the
battle over the bill is over, the defects can be judged soberly in
their own right, and solutions can be advanced in Congress while
retaining what is good in the new law. Indeed, any failure to do
so would only leave these genuine problems as ammunition for those who
prefer total repeal of the law.”
The bishops said the
current situation “provides a new opportunity for the Catholic
community to come together in defense of human life, rights of
conscience and fairness to immigrants so we will have a health care
system that truly respects the life, dignity, health and consciences of
all.”
The statement follows.
Setting the Record Straight
As the Chairmen of the three committees most
directly involved in the efforts of the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops on health care reform, we are writing to set the record
straight on some important issues raised during and after final
consideration of the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act” this spring.
From our first statement to Congress a year
ago (http://usccb.org/sdwp/national/2009-05-usccb-health-care-statement.pdf)
to Cardinal George’s March 23rd, 2010 statement about
the enactment of a “profoundly flawed” final bill, the
position of our Conference has been unified and consistent.
Reflecting decades of advocacy on behalf of universal access to health
care, the bishops were clear in calling for health care reform as a
moral imperative and urgent national priority. We called for
reform that would make health coverage affordable for the poor and
needy, moving our society substantially toward the goal of universal
coverage. We were equally clear in stating that this must be done
in accord with the dignity of each and every human person, showing full
respect for the life, health and conscience of all.
Specifically we insisted that the provisions
of the Hyde amendment and other longstanding current laws, which forbid
federal funding of abortion and of health plans that cover abortion,
must be preserved in this or any new legislation. Likewise, we
sought to have longstanding policies of respect for rights of
conscience applied to this legislation. Americans must retain in new
legislation the rights they had before its enactment. These
include the full range of protections regarding the right to provide
and purchase health care in accord with their religious beliefs and
moral convictions. In addition, since access to basic health care
is a right inherent in each human person, as acknowledged both in
Catholic social teaching and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights,
legislation must not unfairly exclude immigrants from health coverage
(January 26, 2010 Letter to the House).
Apparently, because we always presented these
criteria together and insisted that each had profound moral
implications, some thought the bishops might ultimately be persuaded to
abandon one or the other in response to political pressures from left
or right. Some hoped or feared that we would join with those who
reject the need for vigorous government action to reform our ailing
health care system. Others hoped or feared that, for the
“greater good” of making progress on health care, we would
neglect or deny the rights of the most vulnerable members of our
society, including unborn children who have no voice and of
immigrants.
There was never any chance that the bishops
would do any of these things. We will never cease to advocate for
everyone, beginning with the most needy, to have access to health care.
We will never conclude that we must accept what is intrinsically evil
so that some good may be achieved. Specifically we reject the
argument made to us by some Catholics that expanding health care
coverage justified setting aside our longstanding opposition to
government participation in elective abortions or weakening rights to
life and freedom of conscience. Catholic teaching rejects any
idea that the weakest or “disposable” members of society
must be forgotten to serve alleged “greater goods.”
Arguments of this sort undermine the common good. Our vision of
the common good embraces the good for each and every member without
exception, beginning with those who are weakest and most vulnerable.
Ultimately the House of Representatives
approved a health care reform bill that the bishops welcomed for
substantially meeting most of the principles and goods we were
espousing. We hoped to address final concerns as the legislation
moved forward. However, the Senate rejected the House
legislation, including the key elements that we supported, and produced
a bill that abandoned the very principles that we espoused: no
expansion of abortion, protections for freedom of conscience and the
rights of immigrants. With these foundational principles
rejected, it was then announced that no further substantive changes
were possible. From that moment on, the bishops were clear and
consistent in saying that this “take it or leave it” offer
was morally unacceptable and politically divisive. Whatever might
be the positive aspects of the Senate bill, we had no choice but to
oppose the Senate version as a matter of principle. As bishops we
must faithfully proclaim the truth. We must defend the rights of
the unborn and the weakest and most vulnerable among us. We must
oppose the advance of elective abortion in our society, especially the
use of government authority and funding to advance it, and we must
speak out in favor of the rights of freedom of conscience for persons
and institutions. We urged Congress to vote against this version
of the bill, with the hope that together we could find a way to address
our legitimate concerns in a bill which would thus have broader appeal
and greater support. Unfortunately, the political will to do so
did not emerge.
The final result is legislation that expands
health care coverage, implements many needed reforms, and provides
welcome support for pregnant and parenting women and adoptive
families. Unfortunately it also perpetuates grave injustices
toward immigrant families and makes new and disturbing changes in
federal policy on abortion and conscience rights. We have
documented the legislation’s serious flaws in several analyses
available on the bishops’ web site, www.usccb.org/healthcare.
Since final passage of the legislation, we
have been disturbed and disappointed by reactions inside and outside
the Church that have sought to marginalize or dismiss legitimate
concerns that were presented in a serious manner by us. Our clear
and consistent position has been misrepresented, misunderstood and
misused for political and other purposes. Our right to speak in
the public forum has been questioned. Our teaching role within
the Catholic Church and even our responsibility to lead the Church have
come under criticism. All of us must be open to different points
of view and recognize the legitimacy of serious criticism.
However, whether from within or without the Catholic community, very
often these critics lacked an understanding of these particular issues
or of the moral framework that motivated our positions. Others
did grasp the seriousness of the issues we were attempting to
address. Yet other priorities, in our judgment, led them to
accept an inaccurate reading of the proposed legislation. They gave
credence to analyses by those who were likewise dedicated to minimizing
important concerns so as to pass the legislation. In the end,
they made a judgment that the moral problems in the new law – for
example, the fact that the federal government, for the first time in
decades, will now force Americans to pay for other people’s
elective abortions – simply are not serious enough to oppose a
particular health care reform bill.
We regret that this approach carried the day,
as some overlooked the clear evidence or dismissed careful analysis and
teaching on the morality of these matters. But making such moral
judgments, and providing guidance to Catholics on whether an action by
government is moral or immoral, is first of all the task of the
bishops, not of any other group or individual. As Bishops, we
disagree that the divergence between the Catholic Conference and
Catholic organizations, including the Catholic Health Association,
represents merely a difference of analysis or strategy (Catholic Health World, April
15, 2010, “Now That Reform Has Passed”). Rather, for
whatever good will was intended, it represented a fundamental
disagreement, not just with our staff as some maintain, but with the
Bishops themselves. As such it has resulted in confusion and a
wound to Catholic unity.
Following enactment of the health care reform
legislation, our challenge remains formidable but in some ways is
simpler. Since the battle over the bill is over, the defects can
be judged soberly in their own right, and solutions can be advanced in
Congress while retaining what is good in the new law. Indeed, any
failure to do so would only leave these genuine problems as ammunition
for those who prefer total repeal of the law. In this context we
do not need agreement among lawmakers that the problems are serious
enough to oppose the legislation – we only need agreement that
the problems are real and deserve to be addressed. This provides
a new opportunity for the Catholic community to come together in
defense of human life, rights of conscience and fairness to immigrants
so we will have a health care system that truly respects the life,
dignity, health and consciences of all. We urge Catholics,
members of Congress of all parties and others of good will to join us
in advancing this worthy goal.
SAFE HAVEN
INFANT PROTECTION ACT
One of the first
states to have a baby abandonment law, New Jersey’s Safe Haven
program says that a baby
can be surrendered at a police station or hospital
emergency room without fear of prosecution-provided that the baby is
less than
30 days old and has not been abused or neglected.
So spread the
“No
shame. No blame. No
names.” Message about Safe Haven.
24/7 national toll-free help Pregnancy
Helpline 800-723-8331
or via email (help@goodcounselhomes.org)
HEALING
AFTER ABORTION
For more information or to
register call 866-575-0075 (toll
free) or email hopeandhealing@sistersoflife.org.
To register for men
please call (toll free) 877-586-4621 or
email Lumina@postabortionhelp.org
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