Healthcare and Bishops Plea to Laity: Act Now; Our Catholic Duty for Posterity


“The only think necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” —English philosopher Edmund Burke

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a nationwide bulletin insert this Sunday.  The message was clear:  Tell Congress to remove Abortion Funding and Mandates from the health care reform measures.

Currently, all — every single one –of the healthcare proposals under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives and in the U.S. Senate include abortion funding and mandates that violate our Catholic ethical stand on life!  This is our moment in history to stand with Christ and his Church.

At the most basic level, if we lose this battle for robust and clear language that eliminates abortion funding and mandates, then the dignity and respect of human life and the full and unfettered practice of our Catholic faith will be abolished — in hospitals and healthcare facilities, including Catholic hospitals and facilities, and for all Catholic and other Christian healthcare professionals who stand on the side of life in their conscientious objection to abortion, euthanasia, contraceptives and other life issues.

Put simply, our freedom to practice our faith in the United States is at stake.  Nothing less. That’s why it is our duty as Catholics and as principled business leaders to call, fax or email our legislative representatives and make a clear the need to stand for life, to insist that at the very minimum our political representatives remove abortion funding and mandates from health care reform.  Without question, this is our immediate Catholic duty in this moment in history, for ourselves and for prosperity and, ultimately, for the sake of our eternal happiness in the next life!

ACTION: Contact U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators by phone, email or Fax letters:

  • To send a pre-written, instant email to Congress, go to www.usccb.org/action
  • To Call your legislators through the U.S. Capitol switchboard, call 202.224.3121 and connect with your legislators.
  • To Call your legislators local offices, check your phone book or
  • Find full contact information onlegislators’websites at: www.house.gov (for congressmen) and www.senate.gov (for senators)

SAMPLE Note to SENATORS:

During floor debate on the health care reform bill, please support an amendment to incorporate longstanding policies against abortion funding and in favor of conscience rights.  If these serious concerns are not addressed, the final bill should be opposed.

 SAMPLE Note to HOUSE Representatives:

Please support the Stupak Amendment that addresses essential pro-life concerns on abortion funding and conscience rights in the healthcare reform bill.  Help ensure that the Rule for the bill allows a vote on this amendment.  If these serious concerns are not addressed, the final bill should be opposed.

WHEN?  NOW! TODAY!  Both U.S. House and Senate are preparing for floor votes on the healthcare bill(s) now.

For the full text of the U.S. Bishop’s letter and more information on  proposed healthcare legislation and th bishops’ advocasy for authentic health care reform (that respects and includes the rightful and essential dignity of the human person), go here:  http://www.usccb.org/healthcare.