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Bishop Trautman and The Office of Respect Life Health Care Reform legislation remains fluid and will likely go through considerable changes before it is brought to a vote. Bishop Trautman and the Office of Respect Life are working closely with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to maintain a thorough understanding of the legislation as it develops and to provide a consistent message to our elected officials. Early in the Fall session of Congress, Bishop Trautman will offer to members of the Erie Diocese resources that will to assist Catholics in making their voice heard. During this time of national debate on health care, many individuals are looking to the church for guidance and leadership. As the debate unfolds, the Diocese of Erie is committed to understanding this legislation and advocating for a reform that will be consistent with the teachings of the church. The Erie Diocese published a lengthy overview, “What message should Catholics send Congress on health care reform?” in the Aug. 23 edition of FaithLife, which is available at www.ErieRCD.org/pdf/FL823.pdf. Below are some excerpts from that article as well as new comments that clearly highlight the position of the church. The Catholic Church has advocated for health care reform for more than a decade, with special concern for the poor and the inclusion of legal immigrants, always with the absolute necessity that health care reform must respect the life and dignity of every person, from conception to natural death. While the currently proposed legislation does not mention abortion specifically, our concern remains, because of the inclusion of the “essential benefits package” defined in H.R. 3200. Minimum services to be covered by the public plan in the bill include hospitalization, outpatient hospital and outpatient clinical services as well as professional services of physicians and other health professionals, but a nine-member panel appointed by the president, under the leadership of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, would further define “essential services.” Even if the nine-member panel decides that abortion is not to be covered, history shows that the courts could quickly interpret that abortion—a legal procedure in the United States since 1973—fits the broad definition of “essential benefits” and therefore has to be covered and paid for by the tax dollars of even those who oppose it. In short, our concern is that there is no provision in the proposed legislation that would prevent a government panel or the federal courts from mandating that abortion be included as an “essential benefit.” To date, we are very concerned that several attempts to include the Hyde Amendment, which has always precluded the use of federal funds for abortion, have not even managed to succeed in committee. The Hyde Amendment must remain in place for any type of programs that emerge from health care reform.
Erin Landini, M.S Phone: (814) 824-1254 or (800) 374-3723 x254 |
