O'Brien: Can back health reform, with safeguards
Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien is calling on Maryland’s representatives in Congress to ensure that health care reform does not lead to taxpayer-funded abortion.
In a column this week in the Catholic Review, the spiritual leader of the area’s 500,000 Catholics writes that “access to basic, life-affirming, quality health care is a universal human right, not a privilege,” and it “should not depend on an individual’s stage in life, where or whether he or his parents work, how much he earns, where he lives, or where he was born.”
O’Brien writes that the church stands ready to be “an active health care reform supporter,” but only if “lawmakers … preserve the tradition of federal laws and policies that have barred federal funding and promotion of abortion in all major health programs for more than three decades.”
“Sadly, the current version of the House reform bill, H.R. 3200, begins to dismantle the ‘abortion neutral’ tradition,” he writes. “Amendments approved just before the summer recess weaken the Hyde Amendment, which prevents federal funding of abortion, by allowing federal subsidies to help pay premiums for health benefits that include abortion. In fact, the current House bill goes so far as to require that the “public option” include abortions. This is contrary to the practice of every other federal health program.”
The question of whether tax dollars would be used to fund abortion has been a matter of contention throughout the debate over health care reform. President Barack Obama has said they would not, a statement backed up by the non-partisan Web site Politifact:
While there are several versions of the health care plan floating around Congress, and it seems that full abortion coverage would be permitted in the government-sponsored program, we didn't see anything in them that would put taxpayers on the hook for subsidizing abortions.
Elsewhere on the Catholic Review Web, the Catholic News Agency reports that officials of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic Health Association are encouraged by Obama’s pledge this week to continue the ban on the use of federal funds for abortion and to maintain conscience protections for health care workers in any health reform legislation.
O’Brien says he is wary of loopholes in present drafts that he says would allow for abortion at taxpayer expense.
“The attempts of several pro-life democrats in the House of Representatives explicitly to outlaw taxpayer abortions have been roundly defeated by the majority, with seeming tacit approval on the part of the Obama administration,” he writes. “Without a change in this approach, it will be impossible for me to justify Catholic health care organizations supporting the presently proposed legislation.”
He calls on the Maryland delegation to work to reverse “this troubling development,” because “to overturn the longstanding status quo on abortion would be morally wrong and politically unwise, and would risk losing the support of a longstanding ally in the effort to achieve genuine health care reform.”
O’Brien writes also that Congress should maintain coverage for legal immigrants, and ensure that pregnant women, who will be giving birth to U.S. citizens, are eligible along with their unborn children for health care.
“In sum,” he writes, “a truly universal health policy must respect all human life and dignity, from conception to natural death. It must provide access for all, with a special concern for the poor and inclusion of legal immigrants. It should embrace the common good and preserve pluralism, including freedom of conscience and a variety of options. Solutions must be found that restrain costs, and that apply them equitably across the spectrum of payers.”
Comments
Why A Strong Public Option Is Essential - By jacksmith — Working Class
Robert Reich explains the pubic option: http://bit.ly/19tHF4
It's not just because more than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% republicans). Basically everyone.
It's not just because according to a new AARP POLL: 86 percent of seniors want universal healthcare security for All, including 93% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans. With 79% of seniors supporting creating a new strong Government-run public option plan, available immediately. Including 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans, STUNNING!!
It's not just because it will lower cost. Because a strong public option will dramatically lower cost for everyone. And dramatically improved the quality of care everyone receives in America and around the World. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
It's not just because it will save trillions of dollars and prevent the needless deaths of millions more of YOU, caused by a rush to profit by the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX!
It's not just because every expert in every field, including economist, and Nobel laureates all agree that free market based healthcare systems don't work. Never have and never will. The US has the only truly free market based healthcare system in the World. And as you all know now, IT IS A DISASTER!
It's not just because providing or denying medically necessary care for profit motivations is wrong. Because it is WRONG! It's professionally, ethically, and morally REPUGNANT!, Animalistic, VILE and EVIL.
THE REASON THE PUBLIC OPTION IS ESSENTIAL:
The public option is ESSENTIAL because over 200 million of you are trapped in the forest of the wolves. Which is the forest of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! With no way out except through needless inhumane suffering, and DEATH. While the wolves tear at your flesh, and rip you limb from lib. Then feast on your lifeless bodies like a dead carcase for transplant parts.
At the most vulnerable times of your lives (when you were sick and hurting), millions of you have had to fight and loose cruel, but heroic battles. Fighting against the big guns of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! in the forest of the wolves. All because you have no place else to go. You have no other CHOICE!
But the PUBLIC OPTION will give you someplace safe to go. And it will give us someplace safe to take you. The public option will be your refugium (your refuge). Where the wolves cannot get at you when your down, hurting, and vulnerable. Where everyone who needs it can find rest, security, comfort and the care they need. Protected by the BIG GUNS of We The People Of The United States. THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE AND COUNTRY ON EARTH.
This is why it is so critical that we do not lead another 50 million vulnerable, uninsured Americans into the forest of the wolves, without the protections of a Strong Government-run public option. We The People Of The United States MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN to any more of our fellow Americans. If healthcare reform does not contain a strong public option on day one. YOU MUST! KILL IT. Or you will do far more harm than good. And millions more will die needlessly. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
To those who would continue to obstruct good and true healthcare reform for the American people, and who seek to trap millions more vulnerable Americans in the forest of the wolves. We will continue to fight you. We are prepared to wage all out war against you, and will eagerly DESTROY! you. Time...is...UP! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! No Co-op's! No Triggers!
Healthcare reform can be the GREATEST! Accomplishment of our time and century. A time when future generations may say of us, that we were all, AMERICAS GREATEST GENERATIONS.
BUT WE MUST ACT!
I therefore call on all my fellow Americans and the peoples of the World. To join us in this fight so that we may finish becoming the better America that we aspire to be for everyone.
SPREAD THE WORD!
I have been privileged to be witness as many of you fought, and struggled to take your first breath, and your last breath on this earth. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Life is precious.
Whatever the cost. WE! MUST SUCCEED.
God Bless You My Fellow Human Beings
jacksmith — Working Class
Senator Bernie Sanders on healthcare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)
Posted by: jacksmith | September 11, 2009 2:14 PM