US bishops’ spokesman presses for new health-care reform
July 28, 2017
The chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development said that “the task of reforming the healthcare system still remains” after the defeat of a bid to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
BIshop Frank Dewane of Venice, Florida, who had spoken out earlier this week in opposition to a Republican plan tor repeal Obamacare, said that new legislation is needed. “The current healthcare system is not financially sustainable, lacks full Hyde protections and conscience rights, and is inaccessible to many immigrants,” he said.
Bishop Dewane said that acceptable legislation would protect Medicare benefits, provide adequate coverage for the poor and immigrants, address the crisis in insurance markets, and protect conscience rights.
“The greatness of our country is not measured by the well-being of the powerful but how we have cared for the ‘least of these,’“ the bishop said, challenging Congress to pass new legislation.
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Further information:
- U.S. Bishops Chairman Responds to Defeat of GOP "Skinny Repeal" Bill (USCCB)
- USCCB: fix Obamacare’s deficiencies, rather than repealing it without a replacement (CWN, 7/24)
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Posted by: Louise01 -
Jul. 28, 2017 7:02 PM ET USA
Where in Constitution (or?) is it that the Government must dictate health insurance? My family purchases auto insurance without any help from the Government. Wonder if the USCCB knows about subsidiarity?
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Jul. 28, 2017 3:29 PM ET USA
This is a step in the right direction. But what business does the federal government have interfering with the ability of churches and other charities to exercise their God-given mandate to serve the widows and orphans (i.e., the indigent and homeless)? Crisis in insurance markets? This crisis was precipitated by federal coercion. Protect conscience rights? The fed ought to recognize and defer to the God of the founding fathers. It ought to protect military personnel from same-sex harassments.
