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US bishops: Write Hyde Amendment language into health care reform

December 16, 2009

A week after the defeat of the Nelson-Hatch-Casey amendment, which would have prevented federal funds from paying for most abortions in health care reform legislation, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is again calling upon the Senate to incorporate pro-life language into the legislation. The USCCB letter was written after the Senate passed a separate appropriations bill that incorporated the language of the Hyde amendment.

“The central argument against the Nelson amendment, voiced during floor debate by many Senators, was that this amendment goes too far by barring federal subsidies to entire health plans that include abortion coverage,” writes Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, chairman of the USCCB committee on pro-life activities. He adds:

However, yesterday’s overwhelming vote to approve the Consolidated Appropriations Act creates a new situation. In that vote, almost all Democrats, including almost every Senator who claimed the Nelson amendment’s policy goes too far, voted in favor of that exact policy. For these Senators voted to retain the actual current language of the Hyde amendment, and of the parallel provision governing abortion in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program-- and that language clearly requires a policy in all other federal health programs that is identical to that of the Nelson amendment.

“From the outset of the health care reform debate, we have not sought to use this legislation as a vehicle for advancing the pro-life cause,” the cardinal curiously concluded-- “and we have urged others not to use it to advance the pro-abortion cause. The current Senate bill fails to achieve this balance … Before the Senate considers final votes on its health care reform legislation, please incorporate into this bill the longstanding and widely supported policies of current law, acknowledged and reaffirmed by the Senate itself only yesterday.”

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• Cardinal DiNardo: Letter to senators (USCCB)
• Catholic bishops hold the line on abortion language (The Hill)
• With pro-life amendment's defeat, US bishops urgently call for changes in Senate health bill (CWN, 12/9)

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• Posted by: Teachable - Dec. 16, 2009 12:57 PM ET USA

  Cdl. DiNardo reveals USCCB defacto BURIES the PRINCIPLE of SUSIDIARITY, the UNJUST BURIAL putting the REPUBLIC itself at GRAVE RISK. See USCCB’s inconsistent heralding & then removal of subsidairity’s importance within in SAME 9/15 ARTICLE below. At end, “subsidiarity” simply disappears from the TRIO of principles UPHELD in mid-article! No mention of subsidiarity by Di Nardo. INSTEAD he praises House bill which TRAMPLES on subsidiarity! http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2009/09-179EA.shtml

• Posted by: Hal - Dec. 16, 2009 11:56 AM ET USA

  Kind of reminds you of th Gospel: "...and even what he has, will be taken away.." When the ordained leadership learns to speak honestly, much will be accomplished. But, I am not holding my breath.