USCCB rues rejection of pro-life amendments to health care reform bill

October 05, 2009

Richard Doerflinger, associate director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ secretariat of pro-life activities, has criticized the Senate Finance Committee for rejecting two pro-life amendments offered by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT). “One amendment would write into this bill the abortion funding policy that has long governed all federal health programs: no federal subsidies for benefits packages that cover abortion, with rare exceptions; insurers could offer supplemental abortion policies if they were funded solely by the private premiums of those choosing to purchase them,” according to a USCCB press release. “Another amendment would forbid federal agencies, and state and local governments receiving federal funds under this bill, to discriminate against health care providers that decline to perform, refer for, or pay for abortions.”

“The bill remains deeply flawed on these issues and must be corrected,” said Doerflinger. “It is especially disheartening that the Senate committee would not even support longstanding conscience language on abortion that has already been accepted as part of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s health care reform bill.”

Other officials of the bishops’ conference called upon lawmakers to make health care premiums more affordable to poor families and more accessible to legal immigrants, who currently are barred from most federal medical benefits during their first five years in the United States.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Senate Committee Addresses Some Issues On Affordability, Fails To Correct Abortion Problems And Immigration Concerns, Say USCCB Officials (USCCB)
• Catholic senators cast key votes to preserve abortion funding in health-care proposal (CWN, Oct 2)
• US bishops reiterate health-care priorities, criticize Senate Finance Committee plan (CWN, Oct 1)