Catholics Against ObamaCare

Pro-Abortion Obama Health Care Bill Takes Major Hit, Proposition C Passes

2010-08-04T10:28:00.000-05:00

Excellent. I hope many states will follow Missouri's lead.

The pro-abortion health care bill President Barack Obama signed received a major blow on Tuesday from voters in Missouri. They voted overwhelmingly to reject a federal mandate to purchase health insurance -- important because some of the plans in the program will pay for abortions with federal funds.

Proposition C passed by almost a 3-1 ratio as Show Me State residents voted to exempt Missouri from the insurance mandate in the new health care law.

Sen. Jane Cunningham, a Republican who was one of the prime sponsors of the measure, lauded the vote afterwards.

"The citizens of the Show-Me State don't want Washington involved in their health care decisions," she said, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I've never seen anything like it. Citizens wanted their voices to be heard."

story

Your federal tax dollars for abortions

2010-07-14T14:53:00.001-05:00

Honorable Henry Hyde, God rest him is known as a great Catholic politician. He is responsible for the Hyde Amendment which bans all Federal Funding of Abortion. Until now.

Now thanks to another so called Catholic politician, Bart Stupak, federal funds will be used to fund abortions. Federal funding of $160 million for a so called "high risk" program will be disbursed from Obamacare to PA abortions.

Though Stupak's support for Obamacare was based on an executive order which supposedly banned the funding of abortions, pro-lifers knew it wasn't real, just a paper promise which has already been broken.

Life Site News says,

"Although an earlier version of the health care legislation prevented federal funds from subsidizing abortion, that protection was not included in the bill signed into law. Although the president's Executive Order regarding funding for abortion was touted as the solution, the White House later admitted the Order simply "reiterated" what was already in the bill. Nonetheless, the mainstream media continues to portray the Executive Order as having effectively blocked federal funds for abortion."

States may opt into this high risk pool which denies that it pays for elective abortions, but fails to define elective. It seems that the only abortions which won't be covered is sex selection abortions. IF the woman says that is why she is seeking abortion. My guess is that counselors will cleverly guide women into saying the right things to get their free abortions. Just like they do in Lila Rose's undercover films at Planned Parenthood, when minors are coached to cover up for statutory rape.

As a result, "Under the Rendell-Sebelius plan, federal funds will subsidize coverage of abortion performed for any reason, except sex selection," said NRLC's Johnson. "The Pennsylvania proposal conspicuously lacks language that would prevent funding of abortions performed as a method of birth control or for any other reason, except sex selection - and the Obama Administration has now approved this."

Don't be fooled by the coverup. If you live in the USA and pay taxes, they are about to go up. When they do, you can be sure that some of that money will be killing babies in Pennsylvania. Thanks to a Catholic politican and Catholic nuns, Sr Carol Keehan and her liberal cohorts who signed the pro-Obamacare petition.

Baby killing made possible by Catholics. Shame on us!

Thankfully Archbishop Burke has been appointed to the Congregation for Divine Worship. This is the Vatican Office which will decide who may receive Communion. I would suggest to His Excellency that the beforementioned Catholics be first on his list of whom to bar from Communion.

Read the entire story at Life Site News.

The Health Care Betrayal

2010-07-14T13:57:00.000-05:00

Sr. Keehan and 60 progressive nuns claim abortion coverage is not in the Obama Health Reform Law, yet the Dept. of Health and Human Services released $160 million for emergency insurance to cover abortions ... UNDER the new law. So who is really to blame for this great expansion of abortion and birth control?

Obama Admin Proposes More Taxpayer-Funded Embryonic Stem Cell Research

2010-06-22T23:33:00.000-05:00

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Obama administration is again proposing that taxpayers foot the bill for more embryonic stem cell research beyond what President Barack Obama's executive order has already funded. That's despite the fact that scientists are no closer to correcting problems with the cells to actually help patients.

Read the rest here at LifeNews

How Bad is ObamaCare? Test Your Knowledge

2010-06-21T22:04:00.002-05:00

Click here

U.S. Bill Would Amend Health Care to Exclude Abortion Funding

2010-04-30T11:08:00.002-05:00

- Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) has introduced bipartisan legislation that aims to apply the Hyde amendment to the recently passed health care law.

Rep. Pitts' bill would amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to prevent federal funding for abortion or abortion coverage through government exchanges, community health centers, or any other program funded or created by PPACA. Additionally, the bill protects the right of conscience for health care professionals and ensures that private insurance companies are not forced to cover abortion.

H.R. 5111, the Protect Life Act, has 57 Republican and Democrat co-sponsors, and reflects the bill-wide ban of federal abortion funding once spearheaded by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), but that was not included in the final version of the health bill.

Stupak and a group of Democrats, after initially vowing to vote down the abortion-expanding law, were persuaded by the Obama administration hours before the final vote to support it in exchange for an executive order that purported to apply the Hyde amendment to the legislation. Various analysts have concluded, and the White House has since admitted, however, that the order merely reiterates what is already stated in the bill.

story

The Great Healthcare Sellout

2010-04-29T15:52:00.000-05:00

After betraying the U.S. Bishops and Catholic principle, several groups of nuns provided the cover some Catholic politicians needed to vote Obamacare into law. So, what did we get?

Governor Brewer Makes Arizona First to Drop Abortion Funding in Health Care

2010-04-27T10:11:00.005-05:00

cross-posted from A Catholic View

KUDO's to Governor Brewer for not allowing taxpayers' money to be used for abortions. Ironically, she's just helping Barry keep his false promise that Obamacare would not fund abortion. It actually does have plenty of abortion funding.

State legislators in Tennessee may have beaten their colleagues in Arizona in passing a law to allow the state to opt out of some of the abortion funding in the government-run health care bill President Barack Obama signed. But Governor Jan Brewer made Arizona officially the first to have the bill become law.

As pro-life advocates in Tennessee wait for Governor Bredesen to decide if he will sign the bill there into law, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer wasted little time signing her state's version.

On Saturday at the Center for Arizona Policy Family dinner before 1600 guests, Brewer signed SB 1305 to opt Arizona out of abortion coverage in any insurance exchanges created by the new federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The first-in-the-nation law further clarifies current Arizona law prohibiting taxpayer funding of abortion by prohibiting state and local governments from offering abortion insurance coverage in employee benefit plans.

story

Terri's Murder: A Foretaste of ObamaCare

2010-03-31T10:00:00.008-05:00

The following was composed as a letter to editors of Kansas newspapers; it combines elements of several commentaries that have been posted to my blog, Veritatis: The Cartoon. For more information about Terri, her family, the appalling injustice they've suffered and to support their efforts against America's culture of death, go to http://www.terrisfight.org/. --JFB

This week marks the fifth anniversary of the court-ordered killing of Terri Schindler Schiavo, an innocent, harmless and defenseless woman who succumbed to two weeks of forced starvation on March 31, 2005.

Make no mistake: The battle to save Terri was a simple matter of right versus wrong. It takes no legal scholar to see this, but a vigorous effort was made to make it seem so. Why? Because our culture of death cannot exist without rhetoric to cloud straightforward issues. Terri Schindler Schiavo was not dying or brain-dead and she wasn't on any kind of life support. Her nutritional needs were being met with the assistance of caregivers, no differently than infants are nursed or toddlers and elderly might be spoon-fed. Despite this, judges, politicians and pundits bent over backward to paint her unworthy of life. Beholden to the all-powerful abortion lobby, they rushed to the cause of an adulterous, impatient and greedy husband who wanted her dead and forgotten.

Indeed, the battle for Terri’s life proved especially nerve-racking for the abortion lobby, its champions in the media and its minions in government. Despite the unqualified success of having created a massive legal altar upon which tens of millions of unborn had been slaughtered, these engineers of industrialized death were well aware of its shaky foundation. So they trivialized, derided, even vilified a disabled woman lying in a Florida nursing home. After all, any legislative action or judicial decision to reinsert her feeding tube might have been viewed as validating her life. And that might have led to validating life in a broader context.

Perhaps none of this should come as a surprise. Even before Roe v. Wade, our society had begun disintegrating, devolving toward a loose association of self-centered individuals who tolerate others only to the extent they prove useful. Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland personifies this utilitarian attitude; late last year, she declared abortion "preventive health care." And thanks to the Democrat majority in Congress, Mikulski's diabolic definition is included in their new health care law, permitting anti-life bureaucrats like Health & Human Services boss Kathleen Sebelius to shunt billions to "community health centers" like Planned Parenthood and other purveyors of contraception and abortion.

In the long run, this means fewer and fewer taxpayers and ever deeper cuts in government services. So, who will future Democrats find to pay for their programs? The answer is clear: no one. Rather than increase revenues, they'll decrease expenditures. For Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and like-minded politicians, killing is once again the answer. Just like they've sold abortion to generations indoctrinated in women's rights, they'll sell euthanasia to a shrinking electorate saddled with trillions in debt and a graying population of unproductive consumers. Just as "reproductive health care" became a euphemism for decapitating children in utero, "geriatric health care" will become the polite term for smothering grandparents in bed. All that's needed is to codify it, as some states have begun doing. And as the Catholic bishops and other observers have pointed out, ObamaCare lays the groundwork for it on the federal level.

If ObamaCare is ever fully implemented, it should come as no surprise to many voters when the fate Terri suffered becomes their final reward for having supported America's party of death.

What goes around does, indeed, come around.

Obama: What a difference a year Makes!

2010-03-30T16:30:00.000-05:00

Michael Voris discusses Obama's Catholic plan and those in the Church who work for him.

See You in November

2010-03-29T14:40:00.001-05:00

Be sure to pay attention at 2:03...

H/T: Jill Stanek

Judas Today!

2010-03-29T14:08:00.000-05:00

While Acts tells us that Judas 'went to his own place', his modern contemporaries are still hanging around the Church, collecting their silver pieces.

Restoration Not Reformation!

2010-03-26T20:37:00.000-05:00

Are you ready to fight? Let's go! ATTACK!

The Answer!

2010-03-25T22:41:00.002-05:00

It's Time for the Laity!

2010-03-24T23:47:00.000-05:00

House Roll Call: Health Care Overhaul

2010-03-22T17:39:00.000-05:00

FOXNews.com - House Roll Call: Health Care Overhaul

Lists by name, and State, who voted Y and N :

WISCONSIN

Democrats -- Baldwin, Y; Kagen, Y; Kind, Y; Moore, Y; Obey, Y.

Republicans -- Petri, N; Ryan, N; Sensenbrenner, N.

My Thoughts on the Passage of Obamacare

2010-03-22T15:28:00.001-05:00

CNA has the story of Stupak's caving in here and the bill passing by 219-212 margin on Sunday evening.

I have to admit now that I was a little concerned about whether Stupak would stand strong in the midst of the adversity, but he obviously caved into the pressures of the Obama administration. Some are calling him Judas, which seems to be a very accurate description.

I am not as concerned about Obamacare passing as I thought I would be because I know that in the end, God is victorious. I was disappointed that this bill passed, but not outraged. God always has a plan and will provide a way out when we are faced with dilemmas or trials that seem overwhelming.

I believe that this bill will eventually die on the vine. The Republicans, Libertarians, and Independents who are elected into office in November will repeal this. If they are unable to repeal the whole thing, they'll try to reverse much of it via amendments to other legislation they'll be considering. Already, 37 states are in the process of filing lawsuits claiming that it is unconstitutional. Where will the money come from to pay for this? California and New York are already bankrupt! Practically every state is cutting funds for necessities such as education, mental health, etc. as it is. In the next presidential election, I can see everything Obama has done being reversed. The people of this country will be so sick of him by them that his Republican/Independent opponent will win by a landslide!

We have been persistent in prayer and will continue to pray and act to see that the ridiculous bill is reversed and God will act -- in His time -- not ours.

Stupak caves into pressure; will vote YES on health care

2010-03-21T15:16:00.002-05:00

Bart Stupak is giving in to pressure and voting YES to the health care bill, he says he reached an agreement with Obama who will issue an executive order to forbid federal funds being used for abortion, and provide conscience protection for health care workers. I thought that Obama said there was NO abortion funding in the bill. Shows you how reliable his word is.

This executive order is rescindable, and may be declared unconstitutional. It is meaningless.This is a tragedy, Bart Stupak was our last hope to defeat this vote. He is starting to repeat the Democratic talking points that the funds for pregnant women will prevent abortions. It may prevent some, but not as many as the bill will pay for, after Obama goes back on his word.

About Those Fake Catholic Obamacare Endorsers...

2010-03-21T00:24:00.000-05:00

Some fascinating and useful information noted by The Catholic Key Blog:

1. Kevin Lofton, CEO of Catholic Health Initiatives, the hospital conglomerate that chairs Catholic Health Association is a regular contributor to Rep. Diana Degette, co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus. (He praises Barack Obama and HHS Secretary Kathleen (late-term abortionist"Tiller" buddy) Sebelius in this video.)

2. Catholic Health Association's chief public policy advocate, Michael Rodgers, repeatedly gives campaign money to pro-abort extremist Rep. Judy Feder.

3. Catholic Health Association has advocated aborting children with anencephaly.

4. The Leadership Conference of Women Religious has never taken a position on legalized abortion and has never supported pro-life efforts. The only abortion reference on their website, which takes positions on numerous issues, is to support a sister who signed a pro-abortion newspaper ad.

5. NETWORK Lobby has never taken a position on legalized abortion and has never supported pro-life efforts. After a career of studiously ignoring the slaughter of 40+ million innocents, NETWORK head Sister Simone Campbell claims to be more knowledgeable and committed on the subject than the U.S. Bishops and their pro-life support staff.

Roe-Era Snake Oil: Democrats Sell Abortion as "Preventive Health Care"

2010-03-20T14:22:00.009-05:00

Late last year, Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, among the most strident and unabashed leaders of America's culture of death, claimed that abortion is "preventive health care." When I read her remark, this cartoon popped instantly to mind.

In Mikulski's dark and twisted world, abortion is a panacea not just for children, but for parents. No more burdensome daycare costs, monotonous soccer matches, cacophonous piano recitals, gratuitous orthodontist bills, skyrocketing tuition payments. And thanks to the Democrat majority in the US Senate, Mikulski's diabolic definition of preventive medicine is included in their health care bill, giving lackeys like anti-life Health & Human Services boss Kathleen Sebelius the power to send billions to "community health centers" like Planned Parenthood.

In the long run, this means fewer and fewer taxpayers and ever deeper cuts in entitlements like Social Security and the Democrats' health care travesty. But therein lies the lynchpin of socialized medicine. If ObamaCare becomes law, it should come as no surprise to aging voters that there exists a post-natal analogue of abortion. And whether it's called palliative care, cost containment, death with dignity or some other innocuous term, many will find that euthanasia is their reward for having supported America's party of death.

What goes around does, indeed, come around.

Obamacare Gives $11 Billion to Fund Abortion

2010-03-20T10:09:00.000-05:00

Right to Life of Central California Executive Director Jonathan Keller explains how the current health care "reform" legislation pending before Congress provides $11 billion in new funding for "community health groups" like Planned Parenthood to perform abortions.

Prayer to stop the 'healthcare' legislation

2010-03-20T08:34:00.002-05:00

Father, In Jesus' Most Holy and Precious Name, we humbly ask that You step in and intervene at this most critical juncture in our nation's history.

Father, it was YOU who gave our Founding Fathers the wisdom and guidance to assert that our nation would be one nation under GOD, with liberty and justice for all. Our nation's founding documents state that it is from YOU that we receive the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness NOT our federal government.

Father, please stop this 'healthcare' legislation dead in its tracks.
Please frustrate the plotting of the shrewd who seek to alter our
nation into a socialist democracy so that their hands cannot perform
their enterprise or attain success. (Job 5:12-13).

Expose to the light of day the plans of the crafty.
Allow confusion and chaos to reign in their meetings this weekend
and into next week so that no path to reconciliation may be achieved.
Please allow division and rivalry to thwart the plans of those who seek
to override the will of the citizens of the United States so that this entire endeavor fails in utter futility.

Please awaken our citizenry to what is at stake.
Father, we also humbly ask that you will bring good out of this
terrible situation. Please graciously use this whole experience to
draw people to Yourself. In Jesus' name we pray for revival to spread
across our land and to heal our nation so that we once again seek our
liberty from You and not from a government of men.

Thank you for graciously hearing our prayers on behalf of our nation
and our fellow citizens.

In Jesus' Most Holy and Powerful Name We Pray. Amen.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

Catholics against Catholics on life issues is NOT news!

2010-03-19T14:51:00.002-05:00

Pro-life blogger Jill Stanek is right. Its a holy war.
Nancy Pelosi is praying to St Joseph to help her pass the biggest expansion of abortion since Roe v Wade. Bishops are pitted against dissendent sisters, groups of nuns oppose one another, and we won't even get into the Catholic politicians!

Somehow those of us Catholics who adhere to Church teachings on life issues must get through to the members of Network and the Catholic Health Association that this health care bill cannot be supported by Catholics.

For the good of their souls, and of the poor. Yes, the poor, whose children's lives are at stake. Ask abortion clinic escort Dominican Sr Donna Quinn. No amount of health benefits for the poor can eradicate the fact that poor minority women are the ones who have the most abortions. Since the sisters of etwork say they work with the poor, they must know that. Or has their pro-abortion agenda blinded them to the plight of those they claim to serve?

Many of these women religious are high in postions of power in the Church. They, like CHA CEO Sr Carol Keehan who draws a salary of over $400K (she claims its donated to her order, but that is still a lot of money for an order with vows of poverty) They have become too involved in the status quo and those who fear that Catholic hospitals will be forced by this health care bill to perform abortions are a bit late; they already do.

In Catholic hospitals in Connecticut, the abortifacient drug Plan B is distributed to rape victims. Rep Chris Coutu (R) was part of an effort to keep CT Catholic hospitals from being forced into providing the drug which works by preventing an embryo from implanting in the uterus, but he told me that "the bishops undercut our efforts" by accepting this illicit procedure. Remember; they had a way out and chose to allow an abortifacient anyway. http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/connecticut_bishops_urged_to_reverse_plan_b_decision/

In London Ontario, Catholic priest and chief ehticist for the diocese, Fr Michael Prieur, advises women to undergo so called 'early induction' abortions.. These take place when pregnant mothers have their labor induced early to give birth tobabies before the age of viability (22 weeks).Allegedly, the babies for whom Fr Prieur allows abortions have fatal anomalies, in other words, they would not live long outside the womb. Oh, its made so pretty, they have special rooms where the dying child, gasping for air, but given none, is photographed, hand and foot printed and even dressed up in a gown for a family photo. This is a comfort to famlies whose child with a fatal anomaly is born naturally, and I wish I had this comfort with my three miscarriages, but when the parents and the doctors have conspired to kill the 'unacceptable' child then dare to dress it up, it is an outrage, when it is proposed by a Catholic priest it is SCANDALOUS. Read the Life Site News story here.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09031810.html

Is it any accident that Canada, where there has been socialized medicine for 30 years is proposing induced abortion for expensive disabled babies? In September, with Healthcare for Gunner, I spent two days with three Canadians who came to the US to warn us that socialized medicine is dangerous for the disabled, especially little Annie Farlow with Trisomy 18, who at months of age, was in a Canadian hospital and given a fatal dose of morphine without her parents' knowlege. Barb to her credit, has dedicated years of her life to pursue justice for Annie. She has encountered nothing but stonewalling and heartless bureaucrats. The most recent report from thE Coroner said that since Annie (a disabled non-verbal toddler) couldn't make her wishes known, the doctors didn't know she wanted to live. Oh really. This is socialized healthcare at its best, saving the taxpayer money by eliminating expensive patients.

And then there's Terri Schiavo, whose bishop sent a priest to her hearing to remove the feeding tube to testify on behalf of her adulterous husband Michael Schiavo who wanted Terri dead, to spend her lawsuit money with his new woman and children. Bishop Lynch even had the temerity to blame Terri's devoted family for the 'lack of peace' surrounding the nationwide story. They had offered, at no cost to Michael, to take their daughter home and care for her. He wanted her dead, and the bishop took his side. Not a week after Terri's misrable dehydration/starvation murder, our beloved Pope John Paul II died with a feeding tube. I am convinced he had the tube inserted, not because he needed one (the Church does not insist on forcing burdensome food and water on those actively dyiing, as he was) but to tell American that Terri a young woman with years of life ahead of her should have had one.

Don't forge to commemorate the anniversay of her murder which will be commemorated by a concert on March 31. See the Terri foundation website for details.
http://www.terrisfight.org/

These leaders of the Church have been scadalously disobedient to the 15 year old encyclical Evangelium Vitae, and now, through the public war over health care, the public is becoming ever more painfully aware of what has scandalized the faithful. So, to those of you who are shocked by the contentitous divide in the Church over abortion, and end of life issues for the frail and disabled, I say, "where have you been?"

Important represnetatives of our Church have been betraying the teaching on life issues publicly for years. Now they are about to cash in big time on their shame. Catholic hospitals in the CHA will be on board with the rationing of care to the disabled and the elderly and abortion procedures mandated by Obamacare.

Someday there will be a higher Court before whom those who have distorted Church teaching on life issues must appear. And no amount of backroom deals or arm-twisting will sway this Judge.

May Almighty God have mercy on us.

St Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, pray for us.

Tug of War: 'Do not be Fooled' by Catholic Groups' Health Bill Support, Say Bishops

2010-03-19T09:21:00.000-05:00

How ironic. Just when the Bishops are doing the right thing by opposing this abortion-expanding, healthcare-rationing bill, groups of dissenting nuns and "pretend to be" Catholic groups are supporting it.

The Catholic bishops of Denver have sent out an urgent message to members of their flock, warning that Catholic groups that have come out in favor of the abortion-expanding Senate health care legislation are "undermining the leadership of the nation's Catholic bishops" and "sowing confusion among faithful Catholics" in doing so. The statement came just before White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Thursday used the support of such groups as testimony to the bill's good standing with Catholics.

"In the past two days, congressional leaders and the White House have brought tremendous pressure on prolife Democratic members of Congress to support a fatally flawed Senate version of health care reform," states the brief alert signed by Archbishop Charles Chaput and Bishop James Conley.

"Regrettably, groups like Network and the Catholic Health Association have done a grave disservice to the American Catholic community by undermining the leadership of the nation's Catholic bishops, sowing confusion among faithful Catholics, and misleading legislators through their support of the Senate bill," they continue.

"Do not be fooled. Nothing has changed.

story

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES and SENATORS!!

WWW.HOUSE.GOV

WWW.SENATE.GOV

CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD: (202) 224-3121.

Joke of the Day: Obama Stamp Malfunction

2010-03-18T15:52:00.002-05:00

The Postal Services created a stamp with a picture of President Obama on it. The Postal Service noticed that the stamp was not sticking to envelopes. This enraged the President, who demanded a full investigation.

After a month of testing and $1.73 million in congressional spending, a special Presidential commission presented the following findings:

1. The stamp is in perfect order.
2. There is nothing wrong with the glue.
3. People are spitting on the wrong side.

H/T: Joan

Catholic Bishops Launch Newspaper Ads Attacking Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill

2010-03-18T15:20:00.000-05:00

The nation's Catholic bishops have launched a slew of newspaper ads criticizing the pro-abortion Senate health care bill. Their renewed effort to defeat the legislation and its abortion funding and promotion comes as dissident Catholic groups are confusing House members into supporting the bill.

"Health care reform is about saving lives, not destroying them," the ad featuring a doctor and pregnant woman says.

Deirdre McQuade of the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops tells LifeNews.com the ads are appearing today in the Washington Post, Politico, The Hill, Roll Call, CQ and Congress Daily AM -- all read by members of Congress.

"For over 30 years, the Hyde Amendment and other longstanding and widely supported laws have prevented federal funding of elective abortions," the ad says. "Yet the Senate health care reform bill violates this policy — and fails to protect the life, dignity and conscience of all."

"It will appropriate billions of dollars in new funds not covered by the Hyde Amendment, and subsidize health plans that make their enrollees pay for elective abortions," the ad continues. "Americans would be forced to subsidize other people’s abortions through their taxes and health insurance premiums."

"We need genuine health care reform — reform that helps save lives, not destroy them," the bishops say in the ad. "The U.S. bishops strongly oppose abortion funding and threats to conscience, and call for critical improvements in affordability for the poor and access to health care for immigrants."

Read the rest here.

The Catholic Church Strongly Opposes the US Senate Health Care Bill

2010-03-18T14:52:00.000-05:00

Regardless of attempts by some to cloud the issue, the Catholic Church clearly and unequivocally opposes the health care reform legislation currently pending before Congress. While the Church has long supported the goal of expanding access to health care, it cannot support, and must oppose, any expansion of access to abortion and in particular federal subsidization of it.

For almost a year, the Catholic bishops have worked tirelessly to ensure that the health care reform proposal would not include federal funding of abortion. Indeed, the only reason the House version of health care legislation even passed the House of Representatives in the fall was because it included the Stupak amendment, which applies existing protections against federal funding of abortion to the bill. The votes simply were not there to pass an abortion-friendly bill.

Yet the President and congressional leaders have decided to push ahead with the Senate version of the bill, which lacks the Stupak protections. By doing so, they are jeopardizing passage of their own health care reform bill….all for the sake of expanding access to abortion.

Every Pro-Life group in the country opposes the Senate bill and agrees with the following:

· Federal funds in the Senate bill can be used for elective abortions. The bill appropriates $7 billion for services at Community Health Centers which can be used directly for elective abortions.

· The Senate bill uses federal funds to subsidize health plans that cover abortions. Under the bill, a federal tax credit can be used to pay premiums for health plans covering elective abortions. This violates current and longstanding federal policy on abortion funding which forbids the use of federal funds for any part of a health benefits package that covers elective abortions.

· The Senate bill uses federal power to force Americans to pay for other people’s abortions even if they are morally opposed. The bill mandates that insurance companies deciding to cover elective abortions in a health plan “shall… collect from each enrollee in the plan (without regard to the enrollee’s age, sex, or family status) a separate payment” for such abortions. Everyone purchasing such a plan will be required by federal law to make separate payments solely and specifically for other people’s abortions -- no accommodation is permitted for people morally opposed to abortion.

As one might expect, many deeply misleading statements have been issued in recent days on this subject, some by organizations purporting to represent Catholics or Catholic institutions. Make no mistake: the Catholic Church determinedly opposes the Senate bill.

At a minimum, Congress must fix the Senate bill so that it no longer funds abortion and that missing conscience protections for health care professionals and institutions are provided. Please contact your representative and your senators and give them this message.

Pro-Life Advocates Dismiss Catholic Nuns' Letter Backing Pro-Abortion Health Care

2010-03-18T10:06:00.002-05:00

The "Sisters" are wrong...they are misleading people into thinking it is okay for Catholics to support a bill that WILL fund abortion.

The letter signed by 59 Catholic nuns sent to members of Congress yesterday endorsing the pro-abortion Senate health care bill has been dismissed by several pro-life advocates and organizations saying it doesn't represent an authentic Catholic or pro-life position.

The letter says that "despite false claims to the contrary, the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for elective abortions." YES it WILL fund abortion.

The letter says the legislation also will help support pregnant women and "this is the real pro-life stance."

Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, the president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has already refuted that claim with his own letter opposing the bill.

story

Archbishop Naumann upset with CHA for Senate bill support

2010-03-18T07:40:00.002-05:00

And he is absolutely right. The CHA, specifically "Sister" Keehan, are very wrong to mislead Catholics into voting for a bill that will greatly expand and fund abortion.

The Archbishop of Kansas City has urged Catholics to contact key members of Congress and ask them to vote against the Senate health care reform bill. He also expressed his disappointment with the Catholic Health Association for its apparent willingness to accept government-funded abortion as part of health care reform.

Writing in The Leaven, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann noted specific problems with the health care bill. Its $7 billion appropriations for Community Health Centers can be used directly for elective abortions. It uses federal funds to subsidize health care plans that cover abortions, thus making abortions more accessible.

The bill also uses the power of the federal government to force people to pay for other people’s abortions even if they are morally opposed to it, the archbishop wrote.

Archbishop Naumann said he was “deeply troubled” to learn that Sr. Carol Keehan, the Chief Executive for the Catholic Health Association (CHA), has urged the U.S. House of Representatives to vote for the Senate health care reform bill.

story

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES and SENATORS!!

WWW.HOUSE.GOV

WWW.SENATE.GOV

CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD: (202) 224-3121.

Archishop Naumann calls out CHA; urges Catholics to contact CHA, Congressmen

2010-03-18T01:38:00.000-05:00

This week "Catholic" Health Association president, Sister Carol Keehan, said she and her organization are supporting the Senate version of the Health Care Reform bill, despite the expansion of abortion and other problems in it, and despite the Catholic Bishops being strongly against it. THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS ARE THE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, NOT THE HEALTH ASSOCIATION. This stance by the CHA has given cover to some congresspeople who are voting yes and then pointing to CHA as representing the Catholic Church. They DO NOT.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann made that clear in an online column yesterday in The Leaven Catholic Newspaper that will appear in the print edition Friday. In his remarks he urged that people contact Sr. Keehan of CHA and express their disappointment, and also to be sure to call Congress!

Here is the info you need to do that:

CHA President Sr. Carol Keehan's email address is: ckeehan@chausa.org. The PH # is: (202) 296-3993.

When you email Sr. Keehan, or reach someone on the phone, don't just vent. Definitely express your disappointment, but the most persuasive thing you can do is to relate why YOU care about this issue. You may wish to share a personal story, or one about how destructive abortion is, not only to babies, but to their mothers, as well. You may also want to refer them to the Feminists for Life web site: http://www.feministsforlife.org/ or a website about post-abortion syndrome http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/.

Here is Archishop Nauman's article from The Leaven:

I was deeply troubled to learn that Sister Carol Keehan, the chief executive for the Catholic Health Association, has urged members of the House of Representatives to vote for the Senate Health Care Reform Bill. This action by the Catholic Health Association could not come at a more critical time.
As I write this article, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is promising a vote soon on health care reform, even while members of the House leadership admit they do not yet have enough votes for passage. One of the most critical groups standing in the way of passage by the House is pro-life Democrats.

The Catholic Health Association’s position, in effect, provides cover for any member of the House who chooses to buckle under the pressure of the president and the Democratic leadership to accept government funding of abortion. They can now defend themselves by pointing out that Catholic health care leaders recommended they vote for the bill.

The Catholic Health Association’s leadership took this action knowing that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops continues to urge members of the House of Representatives to vote against the Senate bill, unless a way is found to amend the bill to prohibit federal funding of abortion and provide conscience protection for health care professionals as well as health care institutions. The National Right to Life Committee, as well as every other creditable pro-life organization, recognizes that the Senate bill allows for unprecedented government funding for abortion.

Sister Keehan claims: “On the moral issue of abortion, there is no disagreement. On the technical issue of whether this bill prevents federal funding of abortions, we differ from Right to Life.”

I find this statement by Sister Keehan either incredibly naïve or disingenuous. Either the bill permits previously prohibited government funding of abortion or not. This is not a technicality.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in its analysis of the Senate
bill, identifies these specific problems with it:
1) The bill appropriates $7 billion for services at community health centers that can be used directly for elective abortions;
2) The bill uses federal funds to subsidize health plans that cover abortions. By subsidizing plans that cover abortions, the federal government will expand abortion coverage and make abortions more accessible;
3) The bill uses the power of the federal government to force Americans to pay for other people’s abortions, even if they are morally opposed to abortion.

If the Senate had wanted to prohibit federal funding for abortion, all they had to do was accept the language that had been adopted by the House of Representatives by an overwhelming majority. The Senate rejected this language.

Congressman Stupak, who authored the House language, has invited President Obama and/or the Democratic leadership to use the Hyde Amendment language or similar language in several other already-enacted bills that clearly prohibit federal funding of abortion. To date, they have refused to accept language that has been used for decades to prevent federal funding of abortion. The president and the Democratic leadership reject this tried-andtrue language protecting taxpayers from having to fund abortion, all the while claiming that they do not want to change current policy. If this is really the case, why not use the language that has proven effective?

Of course, abortion is not the only problem with the Senate bill. For instance, the bill fails to provide adequate conscience protection for health care professionals as well as institutions. One would think that the Catholic Health Association would be extremely concerned about conscience protection. However, if the Catholic Health Association is willing to compromise on government funding for abortion, then who needs conscience protection?

I do not doubt the laudable intentions of Sister Keehan and the Catholic Health Association. No doubt they want to find a way to extend health care coverage to those who are not being served or not being served well by the current system. Providers of health care see gut-wrenching examples of those that the current health care system is failing. However, it is not permissible to try to improve the quality of life for some by cooperating in the killing of the most innocent and
vulnerable members of our human family.

To believe that President Obama and/or the Senate and House leadership will correct these abortion issues at a later date is foolish. They are the ones responsible for making members of Congress accept government funding of abortion as an integral part of so-called health care reform. President Obama has gone back on many of his campaign promises, but has been scrupulously faithful in his promises to Planned Parenthood and others in the abortion industry to advance their agenda.

I urge you to contact your representative to urge him/her to vote against the Senate bill, unless someone finds a miraculous way to fix all of its problems. Moreover, although there are none in Kansas or Missouri, I encourage you to contact the members of Congress who have been identified as the critical swing votes on health care reform. These House members hold the fate of the entire nation in their hands. They need to hear from Americans throughout the country.

Finally, I encourage you to contact Sister Keehan and the Catholic Health Association expressing to them your disappointment in their willingness to accept government-funded abortion as part of health care reform.

Cast a life-affirming “yes” for Federally funded abortion

2010-03-17T20:27:00.000-05:00

For the life of me I can't remember why the Vatican would have an Apostolic Visitation regarding American religious.

Dear Members of Congress:

We write to urge you to cast a life-affirming “yes” vote when the Senate health care bill (H.R. 3590) comes to the floor of the House for a vote as early as this week. We join the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), which represents 1,200 Catholic sponsors, systems, facilities and related organizations, in saying: the time is now for health reform AND the Senate bill is a good way forward.

As the heads of major Catholic women’s religious order in the United States, we represent 59,000 Catholic Sisters in the United States who respond to needs of people in many ways. Among our other ministries we are responsible for running many of our nation’s hospital systems as well as free clinics throughout the country.

Oh wait, now I remember.

I would like to be able to ask LCWR and CHA if the bill does pass and taxpayer money funds abortion - what they will do in response? Sack cloth and ashes doesn't look good with polyester suits and sensible shoes. I guess we would get the same apology pro-Obama Catholics give for this radically pro-abortion President - no apology at all.

Of course every country except the small majority Catholic country of Malta that had socialized medicine went on to subsidize abortion. But that couldn't happen here - well besides it already happening in the District of Washington D.C. and of course the money that goes to Planned Parenthood (money is fungible people).

Fr. Frank Pavone: Make Your Voice Count on Health Care

2010-03-17T14:33:00.001-05:00

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, urges priests, deacons, religious, and seminarians to speak up for their flocks on health care. The USCCB urges the House of Representatives to vote no on the pro-abortion health care plan and Fr. Pavone provides useful tips on how clergy can lobby so that their representatives count their voices against pro-abortion health care reform.

Kucinich Kaves

2010-03-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

Rep. Dennis Kucinich to vote "yes" on health care

Nebraska got the 'Cornhusker Kickback', Louisiana got the 'Louisiana Purchase', but all it took for little Dennis Kucinich to suport a bill that will bankrupt this country and expand abortion is a ride with Barry on Air Force One.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich waited until Democrats had won last November's health care reform vote before casting his ballot against it on the House of Representatives floor.

This time around -- pressured by everyone from President Obama to Moveon.org -- the Cleveland Democrat had no luxury to dawdle before taking a stance. He just announced at a Capitol news conference that he'll vote yes on the bill's latest draft.

"I have doubts about the bill," Kucinich said. "This is not the bill I wanted to support. . . However, after careful discussions with President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, my wife Elizabeth and close friends, I’ve decided to cast a vote in favor of the legislation."

An Urgent Message Regarding Health Care

2010-03-17T07:59:00.001-05:00

This morning I received this email from our local Bishops:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

After several concerted attempts by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to persuade the leadership of Congress to exclude federal funding for elective abortions as part of the health care reform bill, we have received word that these leaders have formally rejected our moral position and will attempt to push the Senate version of the bill through Congress in the coming days.

This is a grave disappointment and we come to you in union with all the Catholic bishops of the United States asking you to contact your legislators to oppose this funding.
There have been some misleading comments in the media about whether or not the Senate version of the bill allows federal funds to be expended for elective abortion. We wish to make it clear that this version of the bill does fund elective abortions with federal tax dollars. Please see an advisory that has appeared from the USCCB on this issue for verification: www.usccb.org/healthcare/030410facts.pdf.

We ask you to contact your two Senators and your Congressional Representative as soon as possible to express your opposition to federal tax dollars being used to fund elective abortions as part of health care reform. You will find information on how to contact your legislators by going to: www.usccb.org/healthcare/UPDATED-bulletin-insert.pdf. This website provides you with a way to contact your legislators by e-mail or phone. It also provides you with a sample message you may use.

Time is of the essence. Votes in the Senate and House are expected at any time.

We are grateful for your efforts and prayers.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge
Bishop of Raleigh

Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis
Bishop of Charlotte

===========================================================

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES and SENATORS!!

WWW.HOUSE.GOV

WWW.SENATE.GOV

CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD: (202) 224-3121.

Planned Parenthood's Latest Lie about Stupak & Obamacare

2010-03-16T22:29:00.000-05:00

Here's amazing news. Did you know the Stupak Amendment in the House's healthcare bill actually bans private insurance companies from covering abortion?

That's what Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards claimed in an email today:
Now that Congressional leaders and the White House are pushing for a final vote on health care reform, Congressman Bart Stupak and his allies - including the National Conference of Catholic Bishops - are threatening to bring down the entire bill unless it eliminates private health insurance coverage for abortion.

Obamacare Humor – What's Wrong Here?

2010-03-16T22:06:00.002-05:00

Let me get this straight......we're trying to pass a health care plan written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it, to be signed by a president who hasn't read it but is exempt from it, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke.

~ Via Cammie.

John Stossel video destroys Obamacare by explaining Socialism

2010-03-16T18:24:00.000-05:00

Note/Caution: There is praise of the birth control pill development in this reporting.

Source here

Stupak standing Firm

2010-03-16T11:12:00.001-05:00

Stupak Says House Lacks Health Care Bill Votes as Committee Rejects Abortion Limits

Congressman Bart Stupak, the leading pro-life Democrat working to stop the pro-abortion Senate health care bill in the House if abortion funding is not banned, says he still doesn't think House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has enough votes to push the measure through the chamber.

His comments come after the House Budget Committee rejected an attempt to add his amendment to the reconciliation bill.

In an interview with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren, Stupak said he and his pro-life Democratic colleagues have not backed down from their position that they will vote against the pro-abortion health care bill unless abortion funding and promotion is removed.

"We're still not planning on voting for health care unless we can address some concerns. As I said before, there's many concerns with this bill, especially with the House -- with our vote, we sort of pass the Senate bill without any amendments," he said.

StandWithStupak.com

Sebelius Claims Senate Health Care Bill Does Not Provide Federal Funds for Abortion

2010-03-16T09:09:00.002-05:00

LIAR.

Yes, Abortion IS covered in Obamacare. They just won't admit it.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, contradicting both the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and members of Congress, said Monday that the Senate health-care bill uses no federal money to pay for health care plans which cover elective abortions.

“There is no federal funding for abortion in either the House or the Senate bill,” Sebelius told CNSNews.com during a telephone news conference on Monday on health information technology.

“Go to the Congressional Research Service, which is the objective research body, for their detailed analysis of how both is handled,” she added.

story

Cardinal George emphasizes: Health reform legislation ‘must be opposed’ in current form

2010-03-16T08:53:00.002-05:00

Reacting to the Catholic Health Association’s endorsement of Senate health reform legislation, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, reiterated in a March 15 statement that the US bishops oppose the legislation under consideration because of its provision for abortion funding and its lack of provision for conscience protection. “The flaws are so fundamental,” he said, “that they vitiate the good that the bill intends to promote.”

“Throughout the discussion on health care over the last year, the bishops have advocated a bipartisan approach to solving our national health care needs,” Cardinal George said. “They have urged that all who are sick, injured or in need receive necessary and appropriate medical assistance, and that no one be deliberately killed through an expansion of federal funding of abortion itself or of insurance plans that cover abortion. These are the provisions of the long standing Hyde amendment, passed annually in every federal bill appropriating funds for health care.”

story

Obamcare, Breast Cancer, Mammograms, and Steve Kagen

2010-03-15T20:09:00.001-05:00

You would think someone with this congressman's background would know better than to support something like this. It makes one wonder about the possible incentives (payoffs) that he was offered or the threats that he faced.

Obamacare + politics Chicago Democrat style = Do whatever it takes to win.

Obama Admin Misleads on abortion funding in health care bill

2010-03-15T14:15:00.000-05:00

Obama is determined to force us pay for abortions and will use whatever deceptive means he can to do it.

The Obama administration has released a new memo that misleads the public on the abortion funding via community health centers found in the Senate health care bill. It takes a shot at National Right to Life, but the venerable pro-life group pushed saying no limits leave open abortion funding.

At issue is a provision in the Senate health care bill that allows $7 billion in funding for Community Health Centers -- something President Barack Obama expanded in his request for changes to the bill.

The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) and other pro-life groups have condemned the provision because the money could be funneled to abortion businesses to pay for abortions and will not be subject to provisions like the Hyde Amendment that stops abortion funding.

Read the entire story here.

Stand with Stupak (Video and Petition)

2010-03-15T12:53:00.001-05:00

Visit www.StandWithStupak.com - take action – sign the petition – and tell all your family & friends!

H/T: American Papist at CatholicVoteAction.org

Archbishop Chaput: health care bill doesn’t meet minimum moral standards

2010-03-15T08:21:00.001-05:00

As usual, the good Archbishop clarifies true Catholic teachings.

In his weekly column on the Denver Catholic Register, the Archbishop of Denver, Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., says the health-care bill does not meet minimum moral standards and therefore, doesn’t have the support of the Catholic bishops.

“The Senate version of health-care reform currently being forced ahead by congressional leaders and the White House is a bad bill that will result in bad law,” says the Archbishop in his column titled “Catholics, health care and the Senate’s bad bill,” published this Monday in the Archdiocese’s website.

“As I write this column on March 14, the Senate bill remains gravely flawed. It does not meet minimum moral standards in at least three important areas: the exclusion of abortion funding and services; adequate conscience protections for health-care professionals and institutions; and the inclusion of immigrants,” Chaput writes.

In reference to pro-Obama Catholic organizations who have been claiming that the bill is “sufficiently” pro-life, the Archbishop of Denver argues that “groups, trade associations and publications describing themselves as ‘Catholic’ or ‘prolife’ that endorse the Senate version – whatever their intentions – are doing a serious disservice to the nation and to the Church, undermining the witness of the Catholic community; and ensuring the failure of genuine, ethical health-care reform.”

Such groups, Archbishop Chaput explains “create confusion at exactly the moment Catholics need to think clearly about the remaining issues in the health-care debate. They also provide the illusion of moral cover for an unethical piece of legislation.”

story

And just when the Bishops are doing the right thing:

Catholic Health Association breaks with bishops, backs Senate health care bill

Battle to Stop Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Begins Monday, Vote Next Week

2010-03-13T13:38:00.002-06:00

The pro-life community has been subjected to a roller coaster week with chaos and confusion on the monumental battle to stop the pro-abortion health care bill. Now, it appears Democrats have solidified their plan on moving forward -- with the battle beginning Monday and a final vote late next week.

That gives pro-life groups just one week to turn out millions of calls and emails to members of the House urging them to vote no on the Senate pro-abortion health care bill and any companion measures.

As Douglas Johnson of the National Right to Life Committee tells LifeNews.com, "What is needed is for the Washington office and district offices of every House Democrat to be flooded from calls from his or her constituents, saying in no uncertain terms, 'Kill the Senate health bill, or we will remember in November.'"

Democrats have examined virtually every possible method of railroading the government-run health care bill through Congress and they appear to have finalized a plan to pass it and leave the abortion funding and promotion in place.

Read the full story here.

Sign the Kill the Bill Petition

2010-03-12T22:33:00.000-06:00

Go to http://www.michellebachmann.com/ and click Help Kill the Bill to sign the petition.

Dems to Stupak: More Abortions = Fewer Babies = Lower Gov' t Costs

2010-03-12T20:04:00.002-06:00

It is disgraceful how little these Dems value life. If you want to talk numbers, the 50 million plus lives lost to abortion have had a financial impact estimated in the trillions.

Democrats explaining their stubbornness to maintain the abortion funding in the Senate health care bill have admitted that a primary motivation for doing so lies in encouraging more abortions, lest more children born put a strain on government funds, said Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) as reported by National Review Online.

"If you pass the Stupak amendment, more children will be born, and therefore it will cost us millions more. That’s one of the arguments I’ve been hearing [from Democrat leaders],” Stupak said in a phone interview published Friday. “Money is their hang-up. Is this how we now value life in America? If money is the issue — come on, we can find room in the budget. This is life we’re talking about.”

story

U.S. Bishops Oppose Senate Health Reform Bill, Clarify Politico Comments

2010-03-12T13:03:00.000-06:00

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has reiterated its opposition to Senate health care reform legislation.

On March 5, Politico reported that “he Roman Catholic bishops signaled Thursday that if agreement is reached with House leaders on anti-abortion language, the church would work to get the votes needed to protect the provisions in the Senate — and thereby advance the shared goal with Democrats of health care reform.”

Responding to questions about the Politico article, the bishops’ conference issued the following statement:

Recently a reporter asked the staff of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops whether, if the House of Representatives sent a health care reform bill to the Senate that includes acceptable pro-life language like the Stupak amendment, the Conference would defend the pro-life language against efforts by members of either political party to strike it from the bill. The staff answered yes. Some took that answer out of context, and misinterpreted it as a commitment by the bishops to endorse an overall health care bill as long as it includes pro-life language. No such position has been taken. The Conference has said the Senate-passed health care bill fails our moral criteria and must be changed; if changes do occur the bishops would study the new bill, then develop a position based on our moral criteria.MORE

Dems Abandon Abortion Deal, Ready Health Vote

2010-03-12T08:23:00.004-06:00

This is the most corrupt Congress I've ever seen. They will stoop to anything to pass Obamacare.

House Democratic leaders Thursday abandoned a long struggle to strike a compromise on abortion in their ranks, gambling that they can secure the support for President Barack Obama's sweeping health care legislation with showdown votes looming as early as next week.

In doing so, they are all but counting out a small but potentially decisive group whose views on abortion coverage have become the principal hang-up for Democrats fighting to achieve the biggest change in American health care in generations. Congressional leaders are hoping they can find enough support from other wavering Democrats to pass legislation that only cleared the House by five votes in an earlier incarnation.

story

Democrats: We Have Votes for Health Care Bill Without Fixing Abortion Funding

Stupak: I Don't Buy Promises for Later Abortion-Funding 'Fix' to Health Bill

2010-03-11T17:00:00.001-06:00

Democrat Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan told the Associated Press this week that he was "more optimistic than I was a week ago" about including an abortion-funding ban in health care reform - sparking speculation by some that his new-found optimism was merely a prelude to his “caving in” or compromising on the issue.

But the lawmaker has clarified that he does not intend to back down on his standard for the language, nor would he be satisfied if that language came in a later "fix" bill, after the Senate bill makes it to the President's desk.

In response to those who suggested that Stupak might have been considering throwing in the towel on abortion funding, the congressman told The Weekly Standard Tuesday, "Obviously they don’t know me."

"If I didn’t" cave in November, he said, "why would I do it now after all the crap I’ve been through?"

Stupak asserted that "there's no such thing as a compromise" on the abortion-funding language in the bills. Stupak, the author of the Hyde-amendment restriction on abortion funding in the House health care bill, has repeatedly confirmed that he and a cadre of about a dozen pro-life Democrats would vote down the Senate health bill if it did not include the same language.

story

Must -See Video: Democrats reveal facts about Obamacare

2010-03-11T16:04:00.000-06:00

Video: Urge Rep. Kildee to Stand Strong Against Senate Bill

2010-03-11T14:50:00.000-06:00

From Catholic Vote Action, a radio ad in Saginaw and Flint that encourages Rep. Dale Kildee, D-MI, to ppose the pro-abortion Senate healthcare bill:

Related Information:

Breaking Exclusive: Rep. Dale Kildee *not* a vote for pro-abortion Senate language

Our radio ad urges Rep. Kildee to stand strong against the Senate pro-abortion bill

It's Time to Get Real About Obama-Care

2010-03-11T12:37:00.001-06:00

Filling up my email inbox are huge numbers of requests from various pro-life organizations to sign petitions which demand removal of abortion from health care.

Very briefly, this is the explanation for an inability to sign on to most of these.

The premise from so many groups is that the problem of the Democrat health care plans will be solved with language removing abortion funding from the bill.

Many people incorrectly assume that removing funding will remove the abortion mandate. This is not so. Mothers will be coerced to abort unborn babies with untoward fetal diagnoses in any government run system, because there will be the threat of no health coverage for such kids. Health care professionals will still be coerced to participate in this and other unethical activity. This is the reality in other socialized medicine systems which lack funding for the care of premature infants, and those with significant congenital disabilities.

Denial of care at other points in development, with respect to early diagnosis using imaging, severe illnesses, and terminal illness, is also a sad reality in other government run health care systems, as well as the one planned for America.

Finally there is the problem of turning over our health care autonomy to an entity which is known to be corrupt. This is not a smart move. The control over our health care will be used by the federal government to control other aspects of our lives, including expression of religious beliefs.

Sorry to the pro-life liberals, this pharmacist (whose insights stem from health care experience), is ethically constrained from signing on to any aspect of the killer-government controlled health care.

~Karen L. Brauer MS, RPh is president of Pharmacists for Life International, the most fully pro-life pharmacists' organization. Find our politically incorrect site at www.pfli.org, and KB's personal blog at http://themorningafter.us. Pharmacists for Life International truly makes no profit, and all officers and staff are volunteers.

Via Christian Newswire.

Video: Bishop Cordileone on Health Care

2010-03-11T10:50:00.002-06:00

This was discussed on Catholic Connection this morning. The good Bishop provides much-needed clarity on the Catholic position.

Democrats May Use Slaughter Rule to Pass Pro-Abortion Health Care Without Vote

2010-03-11T10:17:00.000-06:00

As Democratic leaders in Congress plot their next move on how to get the pro-abortion Senate health care bill through the House, a new strategy has developed apart from the reconciliation plan that has pro-life advocates concerned they could pass the bill without taking a vote on it.

House Rules Chairwoman Louise Slaughter has developed an idea she has not yet presented to Speaker Nancy Pelosi but is one that received considerable attention from political observers yesterday.

When the House considers any legislation on the floor, it first adopts a Rule for debate that sets the parameters for debate, amendments and other procedures.

The problem Democrats have in the House is that pro-life Democrats are joining with Republicans to hold up the Senate bill because it contains massive abortion funding and other pro-abortion problems.

To get around that, Slaughter has mentioned proposing a Rule that would "deem" the Senate bill having already passed the House without an actual vote by members of the House.

The Rule would apply to the reconciliation package that makes the changes Democrats need to secure enough votes.

Under the Slaughter Rule, a majority would be needed to approve it and the idea behind adopting it is to give Democrats in tough re-election campaigns the ability to say they didn't vote for what is an unpopular pro-abortion health care bill. Instead, they can say they merely voted on a procedural rule.

story

Senator explains how Obamacare will include tax-funded abortions

2010-03-10T15:09:00.000-06:00

In this must-see video, Senator Mike Johans from Nebraska explains exactly how tax payers in every state will be funding abortions and how the reconciliation process will not fix this problem. He also warns pro-life House Democrats not to be deceived by the Senate, who will change their position and allow federal funding of abortion.

See Stupak: There's No Deal, And I Won't Agree to a Promise to Fix the Bill in the Future.

H/T: Values Voter News

Catholic Families for America Initiates Novena to St. Joseph to Protect American Families from Obamacare

2010-03-10T13:58:00.000-06:00

"While we will continue to fight hard in the legislative process to stop the pro-abortion, anti-family Obamacare debacle, we also understand that we should not forget the 'spiritual warfare' that is equally important. Appealing to St. Joseph, patron of families, especially as we lead up to his feast day on March 19th, makes perfect sense," said Dr. Kevin Roberts, Executive Director of Catholic Families for America.

Today a leading organization of lay Catholics announced its sponsorship of a Novena to St. Joseph in order to defeat the radically pro-abortion, anti-family health care legislation being debated in Congress. With St. Joseph's feast day on March 19th, and plans in the House to vote on the legislation at approximately the same time, Catholics should turn to the patron saint of families for his intercession.

"At this point, we believe we are winning this debate, whether we consider the bungled legislative process or the public's awareness of the bill's problems," said Dr. Kevin Roberts, Executive Director of Catholic Families for America. "But as faithful Catholics we must not miss the chance to invoke the intercession of the second most important saint, St. Joseph, considering that his feast day coincides with the voting schedule, and that he is the patron saint of families."

Those interested in joining CFA's network of several thousand members can access the novena prayers at www.catholicfamiliesusa.org.

~ Via Christian Newswire.

Will He or Won't He?

2010-03-10T08:46:00.000-06:00

If the House passes the Senate health care bill, we will have Obamacare. There will be NO reconciliation after Obama signs it.

Stupak Says No Abortion Funding Deal in Place, Won't Back Down on Health Care

Bart Stupak, the Michigan congressman whose pro-life Democratic colleagues have the ability to determine whether the Senate health care bill that contains massive abortion funding lives or dies, said in a late Tuesday interview that no abortion deal is in place and he won't back down.

Stupak sparked some concerns with comments that he was optimistic that a deal could be reached on a sidebar bill that concerns some pro-life advocates.

They worry such a bill would enable the pro-abortion Senate bill and Obama would sign it but not the abortion funding limits.

Charles Krauthammer thinks Stupak will cave:

Optimistic Stupak Thinks Dems Will Actually Include Abortion Ban in Health Bill

2010-03-09T18:39:00.000-06:00

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) now says he is "more optimistic" that negotiations with top Democrats in the House could lead to adequate language banning abortion funding in health care reform, the Associated Press reported Monday.

"I'm more optimistic than I was a week ago," Stupak told the AP in an interview in Michigan.

"The president says he doesn't want to expand or restrict current law (on abortion). Neither do I," he said. "That's never been our position. So is there some language that we can agree on that hits both points - we don't restrict, we don't expand abortion rights? I think we can get there."

Stupak, the author of the House health bill's abortion funding ban, maintains that leaders will not have enough votes to pass the Senate bill if it is not fixed to ban government funding of abortion with language reflecting the famous Hyde amendment, which includes an exception for rape and incest.

Although Stupak claims that at least a dozen House Democrats will also vote "no" on a bill without the Hyde-like language, it is unclear how such language could be brought to bear on the measure. In order to avoid sending another version of the bill back to the Senate, where Democrats no longer maintain a supermajority, House leaders have been pursuing avenues to pass the Senate bill in the House unamended.

story here

Obama's Abortion Mandate in Healthcare Would Increase Breast Cancer Deaths, Premature Births

2010-03-09T14:04:00.000-06:00

The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer today sharply rebuked President Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and others in Congress for aggressively pursuing an effort to include an abortion mandate in healthcare reform, despite having been informed of overwhelming evidence showing the U.S. National Cancer Institute deliberately misled women with its 2003 workshop that purported to conduct a "comprehensive review" of an abortion-breast cancer (ABC) link. [1] On January 20, 2010, the Coalition sent a letter to Obama and members of Congress which notified them of the NCI's misconduct and called for a Congressional investigation of the agency. [2]

"It is despicable that Obama and others in Congress are striving to force taxpayers to pay for abortions, even though an abortion mandate would result in more breast cancer deaths and premature births among women with abortions," said Karen Malec, president of the Coalition. "Obviously, they don't care if women die and babies develop cerebral palsy.

"The NCI has declared the ABC link 'non-existent,' but research last year by NCI branch chief Louise Brinton revealed that she and her colleagues at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center are convinced the link exists (and they found that women using oral contraceptives have a four-fold increased risk of the deadly triple-negative breast cancer). [5] Three studies last year (and dozens of studies since 1957) reported an ABC link. [3-5] Additionally, medical texts admit that childbearing sharply reduces breast cancer risk. No one can deny that abortion causes women to lose that protective effect.

"Three systematic reviews and meta-analyses last year confirmed a link between abortion and premature birth. [6-8] The Institute of Medicine identifies abortion as a risk factor for premature birth. [9] Premature birth puts babies at risk for neonatal death, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, epilepsy and difficulties walking, seeing and hearing."

"Why do Obama, Reid and Pelosi hate women and children? Terrorists have not caused as many injuries and deaths among the American people, as have abortion enthusiasts in our government and the abortion industry," charged Malec.

Source

CONDITION RED CONGRESSIONAL ALERT

2010-03-08T16:08:00.000-06:00

THIS IS A "CONDITION RED" CONGRESSIONAL ALERT FROM THE NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE COMMITTEE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

ISSUED MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2010

PLEASE ACT IMMEDIATELY ON THIS ALERT.

President Obama, Speaker Pelosi pull out all stops to pass massive pro-abortion health care bill -- the days immediately ahead will decide the issue

WASHINGTON -- President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are making a final, all-out push to ram through a massive health care restructuring bill that the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) has branded "the most pro-abortion single piece of legislation that has ever come to the House floor for a vote."

The health care bill (H.R. 3590) has already passed the Senate, on December 24, 2009. In order to enact it, however, Obama and Pelosi must convince a majority in the House of Representatives to also vote for the bill.

The Associated Press reported on March 7: "In private pitches to Democrats, President Barack Obama says he will persuade Congress to pass his health care overhaul even if it kills him and even if he has to ask deeply distrustful lawmakers to trust him on a promise the White House doesn't have the power to keep. . . .The party's strategy calls for House Democrats, despite many misgivings, to go along with a health care bill the Senate passed in December [HR. 3590]. Obama would sign it into law, but senators would promise to make numerous changes demanded by House Democrats."

"House members who vote for the Senate bill will be accountable to their constituents for what the Senate bill contains, including its pro-abortion mandates and subsidies, without regard to . . solemn assurances that Congress will revisit the issue in future legislation, or any other artifice or gimmick," said NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson, in a detailed statement on the Senate bill issued by NRLC on March 5. "Any House member who votes for the Senate health bill is casting a career-defining pro-abortion vote."

The NRLC statement describes seven separate pro-abortion components in the 2,407-page Senate bill, including provisions that would allow direct federal funding of abortion, federal subsidies to help purchase private insurance that covers abortion, and federal regulations that would expand access to abortion. NRLC noted that these problems could have been prevented only by a comprehensive pro-life amendment such as that authored by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mi.). The House passed the Stupak Amendment on November 7, 2009, but the pro-life amendment was opposed by President Obama and later rejected by the Senate, so it will not be part of the health care bill that the House actually votes on.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Time is short. Most political observers agree that if Speaker Pelosi does not succeed in ramming the Senate bill through the House by the time Congress goes into recess for Easter on March 26, the bill is effectively dead. Pelosi wants to force the vote by March 19. But, she does not yet have the votes. "I think we can get there, but I'm going to need help from any place I can get it," Pelosi told one group, according to the Los Angeles Times (March 8).

Whether she succeeds or not depends on what House members hear from their constituents during the next two weeks.

Please immediately TELEPHONE the Washington, D.C. office of your U.S. House member. Any U.S. House office can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121. But better yet CLICK HERE and enter your zip code into the "Call Now" box, and you will be shown a direct-dial phone number for your representative in the U.S. House, along with helpful short talking points that you can use during your call. You will also be shown a "Your Feedback" form, which allows you to easily send a short e-mail report to NRLC about how your conversation went, if you wish to do so. This feedback is very helpful to NRLC's lobbying efforts against the health care bill.

The best time to call is between 9 AM and 6 PM Eastern Time. If you call during the evening, you are likely to get a recording machine or a message asking that you call again during office hours.

Even if you previously have called your representative to oppose the health care bill -- please do it again! And ask any like-minded friends and relatives to do the same. Remember, President Obama and Speaker Pelosi are putting all their muscle into this, and they are getting plenty of help from the mainstream news media. It is critical that your representative gets loud and clear guidance from the people who he or she actually represents.

AGAIN please immediately TELEPHONE the Washington, D.C. office of your U.S. House member. Any U.S. House office can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121. But better yet CLICK HERE and enter your zip code into the "Call Now" box, and you will be shown a direct-dial phone number for your representative in the U.S. House, along with helpful short talking points that you can use during your call.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Misleads on Abortion Funding in Health Care Bill

2010-03-08T14:31:00.001-06:00

She's repeating the lies of Obama and Pelosi. They know that most people don't want to fund abortion with taxpayer money.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius contradicted herself on abortion funding in the Senate health care bill in a Sunday interview on NBC's "Meet the Press." Sebelius applauded the Senate language before and talked about mandatory abortion fees, but now she claims there is no funding.

Sebelius also appeared to contradict herself within the interview, saying at one point that abortion funding is a part of the government-run health care bill.

Sebelius was asked whether the Senate bill would be fixed to top the massive abortion funding it contains and other pro-abortion problems.

"There is no federal money paying for abortions," President Barack Obama's top health care spokeswoman maintained. "That's just not my statement, it is what, you know, a legal analyst who has looked at the Senate bill, it's what the fact checkers who look at the statements say."

Yet, when she spoke with ABC's "This Week" program yesterday, she said "Yes, abortion services are provided" under the Senate health care bill.

story here

TROUBLESOME: THE U.S.C.C.B.’S EMBRACE OF OBAMACARE

2010-03-08T14:28:00.000-06:00

For the past couple of days, we have heard rumblings from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, starting with a very curious article in Politico. David Rogers interviewed Richard Doerflinger, the USCCB’s associate director of pro-life activities, who apparently made the comment that if the House of Representatives agrees to what Stupak is asking for in the Obamacare bill, then the USCCB will work on the U. S. Senate to go along with the same language. The report does not say that the USCCB will generate advocacy from the Catholic laity, but rather that the organization itself will throw its weight around, which sounds a whole lot like lobbying and not much like holding the line for truly Catholic principles in health care reform.

The story continues,
“With a large network of Catholic hospitals and the [C]hurch’s gospel of social justice, the bishops have long called for expanded health coverage. As Kathy Saile, director of domestic policy for the conference, said last fall, ‘The bishops see it as a moral imperative and national priority.’

“But abortion has been a stubborn dividing point with the two sides fighting over how tight to make the ban on federal funding.”
It is of the utmost importance to clarify for the unsuspecting or uncatechized that the Catholic Church does not teach that the killing of a child prior to birth by an act of abortion is the only intrinsically evil way to rob a person of his or her life. There is also human embryonic stem cell research, many types of contraceptives, euthanasia and infanticide … each of which is equally evil, equally deadly and equally unmentioned by the USCCB in connection with Obamacare.

That is perhaps troubling enough, but there is more. We cannot help but think that the politics of so-called progressivism has become more important at the USCCB than the wishes of the Catholic faithful, who like the majority of Americans, don’t want Obamanomics shoved down their throats. Why is there such a rush to sate the liberal elements of the Democratic political machine and so little time to consider what is (as one Catholic cardinal explained to me) the job of the laity, not the hierarchy? As I recall, he told me that bishops are charged with preaching truth, and it is the people in the pew who are supposed to do the political work. However, apparently he, like so many of his peers, does not really believe that for a second. What a shame.

Entire article here.

Humor: SNL on ObamaCare

2010-03-08T14:03:00.000-06:00

With pro-life amendment, US bishops would push for health-care approval

2010-03-05T14:17:00.000-06:00

The US bishops' conference will push for the approval of sweeping health-care reform legislation if the current Senate bill is amended to include the pro-life language contained in the version passed by the House of Representatives.

President Obama and Congressional leaders of the Democratic Party have indicated that they will push for House approval of the Senate bill. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USSCB) has signaled that the Senate bill is unacceptable because it allows for abortion subsidies and fails to protect the conscience rights of health-care personnel.

However Richard Doerflinger, the assistant director of the USCCB pro-life office, told Politico that the bishops' conference would push for adoption of the Senate bill if it were amended to eliminate those problems, by adoption of the "Stupak amendment" approved in the House or a similar amendment.

story here

Sidebar Bill Discussed to Ban Abortion Funding in Health Care Bill, Prospects Dim

If White House Walls Could Talk...

2010-03-05T13:26:00.004-06:00

Obama, Democrats Set March 18 as Date for Pro-Abortion Health Care Vote

2010-03-05T08:41:00.002-06:00

NOW is the time to contact your Representatives and Senators. Barry and the Dems are going to ram Obamacare down our throats; They clearly don't care how many people DON'T want this.

www.house.gov

www.senate.gov

Mark your calendars for March 18 as that is the target date President Barack Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress have set as the target date for a vote on the pro-abortion Senate health care bill. That means pro-life advocates have two weeks to contact lawmakers and urge them to vote no.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said today that Obama hopes to get the bill approved by that date.

March is when Obama leaves for an international trip and Gibbs told reporters at a briefing this morning that it makes a convenient target.

"We're leaving on March 18 and we believe that we're on schedule, based on our conversations with the Speaker and the majority leader, to get something done by then," Gibbs said Thursday morning on MSNBC. "I think this is going to get done in the next couple of weeks."

With the reconciliation bill that will follow not making any changes to the massive abortion funding and pro-abortion problems the Senate bill invites, stopping the Senate bill in the House is the main priority.

Thanks to the opposition from pro-life Democrats, pro-life advocates may be able to complicate the numbers game for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. But Gibbs thinks there will be enough votes for the bill.

story here

Urgent Message from AUL Action on ObamaCare

2010-03-05T00:44:00.000-06:00

Austrian Kitty Werthmann's Warning to America

2010-03-04T13:34:00.000-06:00

The author of the following article, Kitty Werthmann, grew up in Austria and lived through the Hitler regime both before and after WWII, and the suppression of human rights and freedom by the Nazi Party. She moved to the USA and became a citizen in 1962. She is 83 years old and lives in Pierre , South Dakota where she has written and spoken extensively about the danger of loosing our freedoms. The following article is one of many that she has written.

...Health Care and Small Business Suffer Under Government Controls:

...Before Hitler, we had very good medical care. Many American doctors trained at the University of Vienna .. After Hitler, health care was socialized, free for everyone.. Doctors were salaried by the government. The problem was, since it was free, the people were going to the doctors for everything. When the good doctor arrived at his office at 8 a.m., 40 people were already waiting and, at the same time, the hospitals were full. If you needed elective surgery, you had to wait a year or two for your turn. There was no money for research as it was poured into socialized medicine. Research at the medical schools literally stopped, so the best doctors left Austria and emigrated to other countries.

As for healthcare, our tax rates went up to 80% of our income...

...“Mercy Killing” Redefined:

In 1944, I was a student teacher in a small village in the Alps . The villagers were surrounded by mountain passes which, in the winter, were closed off with snow, causing people to be isolated. So people intermarried and offspring were sometimes retarded. When I arrived, I was told there were 15 mentally retarded adults, but they were all useful and did good manual work. I knew one, named Vincent, very well. He was a janitor of the school. One day I looked out the window and saw Vincent and others getting into a van. I asked my superior where they were going. She said to an institution where the State Health Department would teach them a trade, and to read and write. The families were required to sign papers with a little clause that they could not visit for 6 months. They were told visits would interfere with the program and might cause homesickness.

As time passed, letters started to dribble back saying these people died a natural, merciful death. The villagers were not fooled. We suspected what was happening. Those people left in excellent physical health and all died within 6 months. We called this euthanasia...

Read this article in its entirety Here

Bart Stupak: Sidebar Bill Could Cut Abortion in Health Care, Prospect Unlikely

2010-03-04T08:31:00.002-06:00

Rep. Bart Stupak, the leading pro-life Democrat in the House, said in an interview with MSNBC today that pro-life Democrats are holding fast against the Senate health care bill. He also mentioned the possibility of a sidebar bill that could cut abortion in health care but its prospects seem unlikely at best.

With President Barack Obama and pro-abortion Democrats moving ahead with their reconciliation plan to push the pro-abortion Senate health care bill, all eyes are on pro-life Democrats like Stupak and others.

He confirmed today that there are enough votes from pro-life Democrats to potentially kill the bill -- something everyone in the abortion debate is closely watching.

"It's accurate to say there are at least 12 of us who voted for healthcare that have indicated to the speaker and others that unless you change this language, we will vote against it," Stupak told MSNBC.

With the reconciliation process not able to stop the abortion funding in the Senate health care bill, Stupak said there is only one other idea House Speaker Nancy Pelosi can run with that would salvage the 13-15 votes changing from yes to no because of abortion funding.

story here

The bishops are Being Betrayed

2010-03-03T17:30:00.002-06:00

Obama, Democrats Make it Official: Reconciliation to Push Pro-Abortion Health Care

2010-03-03T14:17:00.002-06:00

Barry and the Dems are going to ram this Obamacare down our throats.

Call your Senators and Representatives today!

President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress made it official today -- saying they will use the controversial reconciliation process to railroad the pro-abortion health care bill through Congress. Under the process, the House will attempt to pass the pro-abortion Senate health care bill.

Then, both the House and Senate will go back and approve the reconciliation bill that will make changes to the Senate measure designed to ensure House Democrats will support the bill. In the Senate, Republicans will not be able to filibuster it.

The reconciliation bill will not revoke the massive abortion funding under the Senate measure not correct any of the other pro-abortion problems with the bill.

In a speech at the White House, Obama launched his final push to get the pro-abortion health care bill approved and unveiled more changes for the reconciliation bill to twist arms for votes for the bill.

"The American people want to know if it's still possible for Washington to look out for their interests and their future," Obama said, despite polls showing Americans oppose the pro-abortion health care bill and abortion funding. "They are waiting for us to act. They are waiting for us to lead. And as long as I hold this office, I intend to provide that leadership."

"This is our proposal. This is where we've ended up. It’s an approach that has been debated and changed and I believe improved over the last year," Obama added, despite his own pledge not to have a bill that funds abortions.

"This is where we've ended up," he said about the final status of the Senate bill.

story here

Message from Father Eunteneuer: Reform the CCHD Now!

2010-03-03T12:17:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends in Christ,

Please join me in signing the Reform CCHD Now (RCN) petition here.

The language of the petition is very simple: "To ensure no more Catholic dollars are spent to support organizations advocating abortion or same-sex marriage, I respectfully request the bishops suspend all national CCHD grants until the grants process has been reformed."

Read the rest HERE

Pelosi, Democrats Twisting Arms for Obama Care "Suicide Mission"

2010-03-02T11:23:00.000-06:00

And they don't seem to care how much people DON'T want it.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top Democrats are now in the process of trying to twist enough arms in the House and Senate to railroad the pro-abortion health care bill through Congress. The vote-gathering process is derided by some Republicans as a mission of political suicide because it is so unpopular.

Democrats are bent on using the controversial reconciliation process to get the bill approved.

That's where they use a procedural trick normally reserved for important bills funding the federal government that prohibits a filibuster in the Senate -- where Democrats would otherwise not have the 60 votes needed to get the bill approved.

In an effort to gain traction in the messaging war on television and with Americans who oppose the bill by more than 20 points, they're tacking a new tack of calling the process getting a "simple majority." Reconciliation is only for budget bills.

story here

Obama dismisses pro-life concerns about health care reform

2010-02-26T12:15:00.003-06:00

cross-posted from A Catholic View

President Barack Obama brushed aside pro-life concerns about health care reform legislation during a bipartisan summit devoted to the topic. Bipartisan? What a joke. It was nothing but an effort to 'sell' Obamacare.

“The Stupak-Pitts amendment-- which reflects the will of the American people on the issue of federal funding of abortion-- is supported by a bipartisan majority in the House, but was excluded from the president's proposal,” said Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), a Catholic who serves as House minority leader.

“Pro-life Democrats in the House have already pledged to vote against this provision,” he added. “Health care reform should be an opportunity to protect human life, not end it.”

“John, you know,” the president responded, “the challenge I have here, and this has happened periodically, is every so often we have a pretty good conversation trying to get on some specifics, and then we go back to, you know, the standard talking points that the Democrats and Republicans have had for the last year. And that doesn't drive us to an agreement on issues.” Being pro-life and not wanting to pay for abortion is a 'talking point'? LOL classic Barry!

story here

Nancy Pelosi Misleads Health Care Summit, Says Bill Has No Abortion Funding

2010-02-25T20:10:00.000-06:00

CINO Pelosi is lying. There IS massive abortion funding in Obamacare.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi mislead participants at the White House health care summit today by making the false statement that the Senate health care bill she, President Barack Obama and Democrats are pushing through Congress contains no abortion funding.

Pelosi's comments came in response to pro-life House Republican Leader John Boehner telling President Barack Obama that Americans don't want to be forced to finance abortions under the government-run health care bill.

“I think it’s really important to note, though, and I want the record to show, because two statements were made here that were not factual in relationship to these bills,' Pelosi claimed.

"My colleague, Leader Boehner, the law of the land is there is no public funding of abortion and there is no public funding of abortion in these bills and I don't want our listeners or viewers to get the wrong impression from what you said," Pelosi asserted. She's Lying.

However, the Senate bill that is the basis of the reconciliation push in Congress contains massive abortion funding and has other pro-abortion problems.

story here

Go to 2:50 in the video

Obamacare Summit

2010-02-25T10:35:00.002-06:00

Poll: 51 Percent of Americans More Afraid of Government Making Health-Care Decisions than Private Insurance Companies

Obama's Health Care Summit Unlikely to Produce Bipartisan Plan

Americans Oppose Reconciliation, Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill as Summit Begins

Rep. Stupak calls Obama health care proposal 'unacceptable' on abortion

2010-02-24T08:12:00.002-06:00

I feel that Stupak has been the most consistent pro-life voice from the Democrats in regard to healthcare.

Pro-life Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) released a statement on Tuesday morning, calling President Obama's latest health care proposal “unacceptable” on the issue of abortion.

Rep. Stupak, who has been outspokenly opposed to abortion during his political tenure, said on Feb. 23 that he “was pleased to see that President Obama’s health care proposal did not include several of the sweetheart deals provided to select states in the Senate bill.”

“Unfortunately, the President's proposal encompasses the Senate language allowing public funding of abortion,” the Michigan representative stated. “The Senate language is a significant departure from current law and is unacceptable,” he added.

“While the President has laid out a health care proposal that brings us closer to resolving our differences, there is still work to be done before Congress can pass comprehensive health care reform.‬”

Rep. Stupak stepped into the national political spotlight when he introduced an amendment to the House health care reform bill that maintained the Hyde Amendment ban on using federal funds to pay for abortions. The Stupak Amendment passed in the House by a vote of 240-194 last November.

President Obama's health care proposal comes at a time when congressional leaders are still divided on the issue. The recent election of Republican Senator Scott Brown to an historically Democratic seat in Massachusetts has added to the complexity of the situation and has caused some to claim it unlikely that there are enough votes to pass health care reform legislation in either the House or the Senate as it currently stands.

story here

Pro-life groups oppose new Obama plan for health-care reform

2010-02-23T13:52:00.001-06:00

We all need to oppose this horrible proposal that promotes the murder of our children. Abortion is not health care! Passing this legislation will only make matters in our country worse and lead to the demise of our nation. Please contact your congressmen today and let them know you oppose Obama's death care legislation. See below for more information on how to do this.

Pro-life activists in Washington, DC, have reacted strongly against a new health-care reform proposal unveiled by President Barack Obama, noting that the legislation would provide government support for abortion.

Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan, the sponsor of a pro-life amendment that was included in the version of the legislation passed by the House of Representatives, called the Obama version "unacceptable" because it adopted the approach of the Senate version. Douglas Johnson, the legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, went further:

None of President Obama's proposed changes diminish any of the sweeping pro-abortion problems in the Senate bill, and he actually proposes to increase the funds that would be available to directly subsidize abortion procedures (through Community Health Centers) and to subsidize private health insurance that covers abortion (through the premium-subsidy tax credits program).

In a separate statement the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) echoed the opposition to support for abortion, but said that there are other reasons to oppose the latest proposal, including the need to arrive at bipartisan solution that is economically viable and protects the integrity of the doctor-patient relationship. The CMA called attention to the numerous polls showing that most Americans oppose current plans for health-care reform, adding that "this public opposition is well founded." In fact, the CMA statement said, the "legislation not only will fail to bring about authentic reform, but will make the current challenges faced by patients, providers, and the American people even worse."

~ Via Catholic World News.

Please contact your members of Congress to tell them:

“Do not support any health care reform bill that does not include language to block government funding of abortion!”

Here’s how to reach them:

REPRESENTATIVES: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

SENATORS: https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Related Information:

Obama's new trillion dollar 'health care' plan proposal posted; contains massive abortion funding

Obama Unveils Health Care Plan, Violates Pledge by Keeping Abortion Funding

2010-02-22T11:48:00.000-06:00

cross-posted from A Catholic View

Barry and the Dems are determined to force Obamacare down our throats.

President Barack Obama has proposed changes he thinks should be included in the changes made to the Senate health care bill as Democrats move ahead with their plan to railroad the bill thorough Congress via reconciliation. However, Obama does not propose any changes to the massive abortion funding.

The current Senate bill contains massive abortion funding that could force taxpayers to fund hundreds of thousands of abortions and it has other pro-abortion problems.

But the new Obama health care proposal, unveiled today in advance of the White House health care summit, leaves intact that Senate language funding abortions.

It opens the door for Rep. Bart Stupak, whose amendment stopped abortion funding in the House version of the bill that will be tossed aside, to gather a group of 10-12 pro-life Democrats who voted for the House bill to oppose the Senate version.

The Obama plan also violates his pledge to Congress and the American people that his version of health care reform would not force taxpayers to fund abortions. He keeps lying about this, He keeps denying the massive abortion funding that is included.

In a September nationally-televised speech to Congress, Obama sought to clear up projections from pro-life advocates that his health care plan would fund abortions.

"One more misunderstanding I want to clear up -- under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions," Obama claimed.

Under the Senate health care bill that will be the main bill Obama and Democrats push through Congress, there is no ban on abortion funding. Wile some states can opt out of funding abortions under the plan, taxpayers in other states will be forced to pay for them.

story here

Obama Pro-Abortion Health Care Reconciliation Bill Expected Monday, Then Summit

2010-02-19T12:48:00.001-06:00

cross-posted from A Catholic View

No matter how many people say they DON'T want it. Barry and the Dems are going to try to ram Obamacare through.

Call your Senators today!

www.senate.gov

Democrats in Washington are continuing to push for the controversial reconciliation strategy to railroad the pro-abortion government-run health care bill through Congress. And Republicans continue blasting the upcoming health care summit as a charade and "infomercial" for the bill.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama is reportedly writing a revised health care bill that can be attached to a budget bill and receive approval in the Senate on a majority vote.

The idea behind the Obama bill, or a corrections measure that allows the House to adopt the pro-abortion Senate bill, is to rely on the reconciliation process to get around the Republican filibuster and make it so only 51 votes are needed to approve the bill.

As LifeNews.com reported, Obama officials said the bill may be ready by the weekend and now they have updated their prediction by saying it will be posted on the Internet on Monday morning.

"It will be a reconciliation bill," the new York Times quoted a top Democratic staffer as saying. "If Republicans don't come with any substantial offers, this is what we would do."

story here

Democrats May Lack Reconciliation Votes to Push Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill

2010-02-17T11:16:00.001-06:00

Congressional Democrats are looking at the reconciliation process as a means of railroading the pro-abortion health care bill through Congress. However, a look at the members of the party who may not support reconciliation finds Democrats can't lost any more than two of 11 lawmakers who are on the fence.

The White House is convening a health care summit next week but Republicans say they don't expect pro-abortion President Barack Obama and Democrats to start over on the pro-abortion health care bill.

Instead, political observers believe Democrats will try to use the reconciliation idea to have the House approve the Senate bill and a second bill approved by both chambers that makes changes to it.

That second bill, under terms of the process, would only need a 51-member majority vote instead of 60 to overcome a filibuster in the Senate. That means 50 votes and pro-abortion Vice President Joe Biden breaking the tie.

A new article in Salon finds Senate Leader Harry Reid will need to put pressure on 11 Democrats to make sure they stick with the reconciliation process.

story here

Senate Democrats: Reconciliation Still Possible Even With Health Care Summit

2010-02-16T13:43:00.002-06:00

Senate Democrats are confirming comments last week from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a top aide and saying that the reconciliation idea to railroad the pro-abortion government-run health care bill through the Senate is on the table even with the upcoming White House health care summit.

They say there is no need to abandon the controversial idea even though Obama is engaging in a publicity campaign to try to find more support for the bill, which contains massive abortion funding.

The nationally televised summit is set for next Thursday, February 25, but pro-abortion Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, tells Roll Call there is no reason to cast aside the reconciliation idea.

“I think it should be constantly pursued,” he said when asked if Democrats should put aside the plan.

“I think the Republicans are pretty committed to the notion that obstructing everything that President Obama would like to accomplish is very key to their base and their political success,” Whitehouse added. “I don't see them departing from that strategy.”

story here

Pelosi Aide: Health Care Summit a Trick, Strategy on Pro-Abortion Bill Decided

2010-02-11T09:42:00.000-06:00

cross-posted from A Catholic View

The Republicans have nothing to gain by participating in this stunt.

President Barack Obama has proposed a bipartisan health care summit for later this month that Republican detractors bill as a publicity stunt designed to generate more support for the flailing pro-abortion health care bill. Now, an aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi essentially admitted that's the case.

In comments reported by Congress Daily, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s top health care aide Wendell Primus admitted top Democrats have already decided on the strategy to pass the Senate's government-run health care bill that funds abortions and has other pro-abortion problems.

Primus explained that the Senate will use the controversial reconciliation strategy that will have the House approve the Senate bill and both the House and Senate okaying changes to the bill that the Senate will sign off on by preventing Republicans from filibustering.

“The trick in all of this is that the president would have to sign the Senate bill first, then the reconciliation bill second, and the reconciliation bill would trump the Senate bill,” Primus said at the National Health Policy Conference hosted by Academy Health and Health Affairs.

“There's a certain skill, there's a trick, but I think we'll get it done,” he said.

story here

Barack Obama: It's all about him, not about us

2010-02-08T15:37:00.000-06:00

Barack Obama continues to display his incessant narcissim and desire for control, even in the face of the tragic circumstances that this country and many of its citizens find themselves in, as a result of his actions and those of other politicians.

In the video clip below, Barack Obama tells the tale of a lady who wanted to be buried in an Obama t-Shirt. The crowd laughs, but Obama is dead serious. This story is about him, not about the poor woman who was without health care.

My family has been without health care (and we desperately need coverage) for some time now, but there is no way I would ever wear an Obama t-shirt! Barack Obama is the hero of the culture of death -- he and his phony "health care" plan supports abortion, euthanasia, and he wants to bankrupt this country with it . It is not health care -- it's death care! Health care is all about him, not about the people who need it. He is obsessed with obtaining power and control over everything -- even over the lives of the people in this country.

Obama Plans Televised Health Care Summit to Persuade Republicans to Back Bill

2010-02-08T11:39:00.000-06:00

cross-posted from A Catholic View

Unbelieveable...it couldn't be more clear that Americans do NOT want government-run healthcare, but Barry keeps pushing it. Personally, I don't think Republicans have anything to gain by participating in this charade.

President Barack Obama is planning a televised health care summit later this month in an effort to salvage the pro-abortion government-run health care bill. The plan is an effort to revive his sagging polling numbers and that of the legislation that has seen just one Republican support it in Congress.

White House officials say the February 25 meeting is not an attempt to start over on the health care bill but is ostensibly a lobbying and public relations effort.

“I want to come back [after the Presidents Day congressional recess] and have a large meeting — Republicans and Democrats — to go through, systematically, all the best ideas that are out there and move it forward,” Obama told CBS anchor Katie Couric in a Sunday interview.

Obama claimed he wants to "look at the Republican ideas that are out there.”

story here

Democrats Outline Two-Step Method: New Approach to Pro-Abortion Health Care

2010-01-29T11:53:00.000-06:00

They are determined to ram this immoral and unjust legislation down our throats!

In response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address Wednesday night, top Democrats today outlined a new two-step approach to approving a government-run health care bill. The hope to approve smaller bills that are more popular and then move to the massive pro-abortion bill.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid promised today that Congress will approve a health care bill while Speaker Nancy Pelosi outlined the two-step plan.

Pelosi said Congress "must take whatever time it takes" but explained how the House and Senate would likely tackle smaller bills to promote parts of the government-run health care bill.

The bills themselves could come packed with abortion funding if language similar to the Hyde or Stupak Amendment is not included.

Read the rest of the story here.

US bishops: Enact genuine health reform, oppose current language on abortion, conscience protection

2010-01-27T16:48:00.001-06:00

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is urging members of Congress to “come together and recommit themselves to enact genuine health care reform that will protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all.”

“The health care debate, with all its political and ideological conflict, seems to have lost its central moral focus and policy priority, which is to ensure that affordable, quality, life-giving care is available to all,” the bishops write. “Now is not the time to abandon this task, but rather to set aside partisan divisions and special interest pressures to find ways to enact genuine reform.”

“The U.S. Catholic bishops continue to urge the House and Senate to adopt legislation that ensures access to quality, affordable, life giving health care for all; retains longstanding requirements that federal funds not be used for elective abortions or plans that include them, and effectively protects conscience rights; and, protects the access to health care that immigrants currently have and removes current barriers to access.”
The bishops reiterated their serious concerns about the health care legislation that has been passed by the House and Senate.

Disappointingly, the Senate-passed bill in particular does not meet our moral criteria on life and conscience. Specifically, it violates the longstanding federal policy against the use of federal funds for elective abortions and health plans that include such abortions -- a policy upheld in all health programs covered by the Hyde Amendment as well as in the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and now in the House-passed “Affordable Health Care for America Act.” We believe legislation that fails to comply with this policy and precedent is not true health care reform and should be opposed until this fundamental problem is remedied.

The bill passed by the House (and to a lesser extent the Senate-passed bill) recognizes the need to protect conscience rights on abortion. However, provisions in both bills pose a threat to conscience that is not limited to abortion. That threat needs to be removed before any final bill is passed.

The January 26 letter was written by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities; Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; and Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake City, chairman of the Committee on Migration.

Letter to Congress (USCCB)

~ Via CWN.

Rep. Pence: Abortion language helped cripple Senate health care bill

2010-01-26T09:38:00.002-06:00

Following Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) statement that she didn’t think it's possible to pass the Senate version of the health care bill in the House, Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said that the pro-abortion language in the bill played a “critical role” in its demise.

During an interview with Cybercast News at last Friday’s March for Life in Washington D.C., Rep. Pence credited “the pro-life Republicans and Democrats who took a stand in the House of Representatives on the traditional language that was encompassed first in the Hyde Amendment and then in the Stupak-Pitts Amendment,” noting that their work contributed immensely to the current situation of health care reform.

Unlike the House version of the health care bill, which included Hyde amendment restrictions on the federal funding of abortion in the Stupak-Pitts amendment, the Senate version mandated all federally funded health insurance policies to have one option that included abortion.

The Senate bill also included what Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius called an “accounting procedure” that earmarked a portion of every premium in the health care exchange for a fund that would pay for abortions.

story here

Tell your Senators and Congressman where you stand on health care reform.

2010-01-21T14:43:00.000-06:00

Take the Health Care Reform Survey below and send your answers directly to your Senators and Congressman for FREE. Congress is considering many plans for reform.

Where do you stand? Voice your opinion NOW!

Survey can be found HERE

Pelosi: House Doesn't Have Votes for Pro-Abortion Senate Health Care Bill

2010-01-21T12:39:00.003-06:00

Excellent news

Two days after voters in the liberal state of Massachusetts sent a message to Congress that even they don't want the pro-abortion health care bill, the House and Senate bills appear unlikely to go anywhere. Though no official decision has been made, Democrats and Obama officials are looking at starting over.

The Senate had approved a bill that would force taxpayers to finance abortions and that measure was expected to be the basis of a merged bill.

That was before Republican Senate candidate Scott Brown defeated pro-abortion stalwart Martha Coakley in a special election in Massachusetts.

Now, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi concedes the bill is apparently dead.

"I don't see the votes for it at this time," Pelosi told reporters during her weekly press conference. "The members have been very clear." Duh! You finally realize this? Did you not hear all the town halls this past summer and the polls since then? We DON'T want socialized healthcare!

story here

A Prayer for the Conversion of a Wayward Nation

2010-01-21T12:10:00.010-06:00

In January 2008, one of our Agnesian sisters asked me to write a prayer to be read aloud outside a Planned Parenthood office here in Hays, Kansas. As I did last year, I offer this prayer to my countrymen for the conversion of its all-too-worldly people. Feel free to pass it on. And may God have mercy on our souls. --JFB

Almighty God,

We pause here to remember the uncounted victims of a misguided society: women, confused and frightened, who were led to believe problems would be solved by ending their pregnancies; the unborn children who died as a result; couples whose wonderful potential to foster new life has been stifled. Enlighten those who pervert the healing arts, that they might see the destruction they have wrought. Edify those who reduce unborn children to mere abstractions. Lead our citizens, courts and governments to understand that everyone has a right to live, regardless of age, ability, health or social circumstance.

Bless our youngsters, that they might appreciate their bodies, value chastity and understand the true purpose of sexuality.

Allay the fears of new parents. Encourage them, that they might treasure the lives they've brought into the world, trust in your providence and embrace the call to parenthood. May they understand that children are unrepeatable gifts, no matter the circumstances of their conception.

Grant that society will once again respect marriage as the insoluble union which brings forth the family and recognize the family as the very foundation upon which society itself rests. Dispel the selfishness that regards fertility as a malady and pregnancy as a disease, that couples might cherish procreation as a blessing and bring ever more life into the world.

Console those parents who once chose abortion and now regret their decision; may their grief turn to action and their suffering to resolve in testament to the Truth.

Strengthen with love all who seek You, that we might embrace our calling to be light amid the darkness and, so, transform America, that she might truly become a nation under You, oh Lord, with liberty and justice for all.

Saint Gianna Molla, who gave up her life that her unborn daughter might live, pray for us!

Saint Maximilian Kolbe, martyr of an earlier holocaust, pray for us!

Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle!

Amen.

Democrats May Look to House to OK Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill if Brown Wins

2010-01-19T10:00:00.003-06:00

Republican Senate candidate Scott Brown is leading in polls and if they hold up on Tuesday in the Massachusetts special election, he would become the 41st vote against the pro-abortion health care bill in the Senate. That is confounding efforts by President Barack Obama and Democrats to get the bill passed.

Brown faces pro-abortion Democrat Martha Coakley in a race to replace the late pro-abortion Sen. Ted Kennedy.

The outcome of the election has a significant bearing on the health care-abortion debate because the Senate approved its bill on a narrow 60-40 margin. Should Brown win, he has already promised to support the filibuster against the measure.

Democrats and Obama have been finalizing a compromise version of the legislation that would still require 60 votes in the Senate and a Brown win would drop the margin to 59-41 -- enough to defeat the bill.

story here

ObamaCare: iDon't Spoof of Droid Commercial--iLove

2010-01-18T15:36:00.000-06:00

Come to Washington to tell Congress: NO abortion in health care!

2010-01-15T22:12:00.000-06:00

On Friday, January 22, 2010, join hundreds of thousands of pro-life Americans in Washington, D.C. taking a stand against the abortion mandate in proposed health care reform.

Knights of Columbus rally members to oppose federal funding of abortion

2010-01-13T01:56:00.002-06:00

Following the U.S. Bishops' announcement of their grassroots campaign to encourage the faithful to speak out against federal funding of abortion, the Knights of Columbus is calling upon its members to become active in voicing Catholic concerns as well.

“Knights and their families are strongly urged to contact their Senators and Congressmen during the recess, and ask that they support the House language authored by Representative (and brother Knight) Bart Stupak (D-MI), which retains the long-standing policy against federal funding of abortion,” reads an official statement from the Knights of Columbus.

Read the full story here.

Sister Mary Ann Walsh: Politics of health care 'reform' can make you sick

2010-01-11T23:13:00.000-06:00

Sister Mary Ann Walsh, the director of media relations for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, wrote this guest editorial in the Washington Post:

By Sister Mary Ann Walsh
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Catholic bishops have urged the government to reform our ailing health care system for decades. To do this, the House and Senate have now passed bills with this aim, bills that must be reconciled into one final bill. But the present state of affairs is enough to make you sick. The gamesmanship in Congress relates more to politics than health and has created serious problems. Despite the bishops' desire for health care reform, the proposed bills could turn the bishops from allies into opponents. So far, health care reform it is not.

Sr. Walsh specifies five problems with the bills:

1) Paying for abortion
2) Conscience rights
3) Basic fairness issues
4) Risk to overall health
5) Affordability

Read the entire article here.

H/T:ConcordPastor

More Information:

LifeNews.Com: Catholic Bishops Rep: Health Care Reform Bill Pro-abortion on Funding, Conscience by Steven Ertelt

Related Information:

Sister Mary Walsh: Keeping Catholic hospitals true to their identity

Sister Mary Walsh: Keeping Catholic hospitals true to their identity

2010-01-11T22:50:00.000-06:00

Sister Mary Walsh, a representative of the nation's bishops, shared the following on the USCCB Media Blog on January 8:

A friend just got a job in a Catholic hospital. She loves the work, and I hear with delight about the employee training program and the mission of top-flight care in a Catholic setting.

She is a receptionist, and hospital leaders know values must be conveyed by all the staff, from the first person you meet to the professional staff who hold lives in their hands.

Values that emphasize the sacredness of every person, rich or poor, coming into life or leaving it, are paramount in Catholic hospitals and right now the U.S. bishops are working hard to make sure these values will still exist under health care reform.

Catholic health care encompasses more than 600 facilities; the ministry costs about $6.7 billion annually. Yet, although Catholic hospitals are a major force, their unique nature could be threatened if the health care reform bills dismiss concerns of the bishops.

The U.S. bishops do not want an expansion of abortion and urge that the policy of the Hyde Amendment be preserved. The Hyde Amendment, first passed in 1976, precludes federal money from being used to pay for elective abortions or plans which provide coverage for them. This already is policy for several major federal health programs. The underlying principle: health care reform should not force anybody to pay for another’s abortion.

The bishops want conscience protection for institutions and individuals. Among other things, they would like to see the language of the Weldon Amendment incorporated into health care reform. Weldon, passed in 2004, prevents government bodies from discriminating against hospitals and other health care providers that do not perform, refer for or pay for abortions. Health care facilities and personnel have the right to provide care according to a value system that respects each human life. Language from the Weldon Amendment is now in the House health care reform bill and needs to be retained in final legislation.

Read the rest here.

Pro-lifers prepare to push ahead

2010-01-11T20:20:00.001-06:00

So far this year, healthcare reform dominates the news as it did in 2009. And while pro-lilfers have had their share of victories, one leader in that movement encourages them to remain attentive to the battle against abortion.

Charmaine Yoest of Americans United for Life tells OneNewsNow the pro-life community definitely has a challenge ahead and members need to stay alert and engaged.

She adds, however, that pro-life advocates "have to avoid feeling discouraged because we've had such remarkable victories. Just the very fact that we've managed to push the vote on healthcare reform into the New Year was a remarkable achievement," she says.

If the Senate version of healthcare reform is passed, Yoest notes it would be the greatest advancement for abortion in society since Roe vs. Wade.

"The challenge for us all is that in terms of what it is right now, there still isn't a final bill -- and that's what people have to stay focused on," she comments. "We have a House version and we have a Senate version, and they have to be reconciled. So the fight right now is over what that final bill is going to look like."

Pro-abortion factions have said they will bypass the conference committee in which House and Senate representatives hammer out a compromise and develop their own version to submit to both houses.

U.S. bishops reactivate nationwide campaign against federal abortion funding

2010-01-11T19:17:00.000-06:00

After 40 years of silence after Vatican II, it's nice to see some of our bishops starting to wake up and defend the faith.

With House and Senate leaders meeting behind closed doors to forge a health care overhaul bill, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has reactivated its grassroots campaign to encourage Catholics nationwide to tell lawmakers they oppose federal funding of abortion.

Bulletin inserts, a prayer campaign and pulpit announcements are all part of the effort to help ensure that the final version of the health care reform bill sent to President Obama will include Hyde amendment protections explicitly preventing the use of federal money in promoting, performing, or paying for abortions.

The bulletin insert, distributed to over 19,000 parishes, notes that the House health care bill, passed on November 7, 2009, “reaffirms the essential, longstanding and widely supported policy against using federal funds for elective abortions and includes positive measures on affordability and immigrants.”

However, the insert stresses, the Senate version of the bill “requires federal funds to help subsidize and promote health plans that cover elective abortions. All purchasers of such plans will be required to pay for other people’s abortions through a separate payment solely to pay for abortion.”

“Outside the abortion context, neither bill has adequate conscience protection for health care providers, plans or employers,” it adds.

story here