The US Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati are sending an urgent appeal to all parishioners to speak up in favor of amending the current health reform proposals to address essential pro-life concerns.  Please read their Nationwide Bulletin Insert and Pulpit Announcements and take action as they have requested.  None of the current bills retains policies against abortion funding or abortion coverage mandates, and none fully protects conscience rights in healthcare.  Our nation is at a crossroads concerning the issue of health reform; the Bishops are asking us to speak out and to pray that Congress will act to insure that necessary health care reform will truly protect the life, dignity and health care of all.  We must raise our voices to protect the unborn and the most vulnerable and to preserve our freedom of conscience. 

HEALTH CARE REFORM UPDATED LINKS 11/15/09

 

The following links support Father Watkins 11/15/09 pastor's corner regarding the recent passage of Health Care Bill 3962:

 

 Stupak amendment: 'Terrible defeat' for pro-lifers

 http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=762846

 

 Interview with the President: Jail Time for Those without Health Care Insurance?

 http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/11/interview-with-the-president-jail-time-for-those-without-health-care-insurance.html

 

 Recent articles about problems with nationalized health care in other countries:

 

 Life Issues Institute October 2009:

 http://www.lifeissues.org/connector/pdfs/oct09.pdf

 

 The babies born in hospital corridors: Bed shortage forces 4,000 mothers to give birth in lifts, offices and hospital toilets

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1209034/The-babies-born-hospital-corridors-Bed-shortage-forces-4-000-mothers-birth-lifts-offices-hospital-toilets.html



As the nation continues to try to resolve the pressing issue of a need for health care reform in earnest, we ask you to pray for a just and equitable solution to the problems, with a full regard for the right to life and the dignity of the human person.
We hope that these resources below will be helpful for you to educate yourself as to how the Church views these issues, and how we should become involved as Catholics.
May the Holy Spirit continue to guide our nation with wisdom as we work through these issues.
·        United States bishop conference – special page on the health care issues  www.usccb.org/healthcare
·        The text of the currently proposed health care bill   http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3200ih.txt.pdf
·        Responses from specific bishops on the current health care bill
o       Cardinal Justin Rigali, Chairman of U. S. Bishops Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities http://www.usccb.org/prolife/CardRigaliHealthCareReformLetter-08-11-09.pdf

o       Archbishop Chaput, archbishop of Denver http://www.archden.org/index.cfm/ID/2380/Archbishop's-Column/%20aug%2012

o      "Bishop Nickless of Sioux City - A Catholic perspective on the rights and duties of society to provide health care

·        Some informational resources on what the likely effects of the current health care bill would be. [NOTE: These resources are not official sites of the Church, but claim to try to analyze the truth in a non-partisan fashion. They are listed as informational websites only]
o       Would the bill mandate taxpayer funding of abortions? [factcheck.org, Annenberg Public Policy Center] http://www.factcheck.org/2009/08/abortion-which-side-is-fabricating/
o       Information regarding end-of-life provisions in the bill [Bioethics Defense Fund]http://www.bdfund.org/obamacare.asp

·        Links to contacting your congressmen (for Delhi residents)      
The Honorable Sherrod Brown 455 Russell Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable George V. Voinovich

 524 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510                                 http://brown.senate.gov/contact/
The Honorable Steve Driehaus United States House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515 https://forms.house.gov/driehaus/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm

·     Additionally, recommended viewing is the EWTN [Catholic cable channel] program, “World Over Live,” aired 8/28/09. This includes a very thorough discussion of the potential consequences of the bill on the life issues, with Fr. Robert Sirico of the Acton institute, and Dorinda Bordlee, of the Bioethics Defense Fund. Watch the show streaming over the internet: http://www.ewtn.com/WorldOver/index.asp

·        Some bullet point reminders of what the Church teaches about health care [for much more detailed information, see the U.S. Bishops website]
o       The church supports universal access to health care, including for the poor. [She does not take a position on who should pay for it. That is a prudential judgment.]
o       The Church holds that the dignity of the human person must always be upheld
o       The Church holds that the right to life is inviolable, from conception to natural death.
o       The Church holds that abortion, euthanasia, and assisted suicide are always and everywhere gravely wrong; and that the government should not participate in any funding of these. To the extent reasonably possible, Catholics should even avoid participating in private plans that cover the above.
o       The Church upholds the right of conscience for patients and doctors not to participate in any morally evil procedure which others may label “health care” (distribution of abortifacient drugs, condoms or contraceptives, sterilization, abortion, etc.)

Reprinted with permission from http://www.olv.org. 

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