Jill Stanek - Obamacare's biggest hurdle: The Manhattan Declaration

On Nov. 20, the historic Manhattan Declaration was unveiled, just what my distraught spirit had been yearning. I became its 218,525th signer.

The Manhattan Declaration is a momentous 4,700-word manifesto authored by Chuck Colson, Dr. Robert George, and Dr. Timothy George, with input from many Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical leaders. Colson calls it "one of the most important [documents] in my lifetime."

The Manhattan Declaration draws a line in the sand on the 3 paramount issues of our time: the sanctity of human life, the sanctity of marriage as the holy and conjugal union of husband and wife, and the rights of religious liberty and conscience....

Manhattan Declaration drafters are inviting all like-minded believers to sign on, but the potential ramifications for doing so are sobering.

As Dr. James Dobson explained on his Nov. 23 Focus on the Family radio program, insofar as his signing of the Manhattan Declaration pertained to passage of socialized health care with publicly funded abortion:

I don't say this glibly at all. ... Shirley and I will not be able to comply. That is absolutely untenable to us, because it would make us participants in the killing of babies, and we can't and we won't do that. Now I don't know where all of this is leading or what the implications of it are, but if we have to pay ruinous fines, or have to go to prison, or even if we have to leave this beloved country and spend the rest of our lives in exile, that's what we are prepared to do.

This must be the mettle of Manhattan Declaration signers....

Continue reading Jill's column this week, "Obamacare's biggest hurdle: The Manhattan Declaration," at WorldNetDaily.com. 

Bipartisan Lawmakers Sponsor Stupak Amdt to Cut Abortion Funds in Senate Bill

cross-posted from A Catholic View

Sen. Ben Nelson, a pro-life Democrat from Nebraska, confirmed today that he is working on an amendment to the Senate version of the government-run health care bill that would remove abortion funding from it. He said the amendment would be similar to language adopted in the House.

Nelson is joined by Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, for a bipartisan amendment they hope will attract more of their colleagues.

During the House debate on the health care bill, lawmakers adopted the Stupak amendment on a strongly bipartisan vote.

That amendment removed the abortion funding found in the government-run public option and the affordability credits -- both of which are contained in the bill Senate leader Harry Reid proposed.

story here

Democrat Ben Nelson Sponsoring Stupak Amdt to Cut Abortion Funds in Senate Bill

Sen. Ben Nelson, a pro-life Democrat from Nebraska, confirmed today that he is working on an amendment to the Senate version of the government-run health care bill that would remove abortion funding from it. He said the amendment would be similar to language adopted in the House.

During the House debate on the health care bill, lawmakers adopted, on a strongly bipartisan vote, the Stupak amendment.

That amendment removed the abortion funding found in the government-run public option and the affordability credits -- both of which are contained in the bill Senate leader Harry Reid proposed.

Nelson said today he plans to offer an amendment that is virtually identical to the Stupak amendment in the House, saying the only difference is in what is changed in the differently-worded bills but adding that the thrust is the same.

"I'm working on an abortion amendment," Nelson told reporters, according to Politico. "It's as identical to Stupak as it can be."

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Vatican Daily Reminds Obama that the U.S. is increasingly Pro-life

It looks like the L’Osservatore Romano (LOR) is finally catching on to Barack Obama's deceptive ways...

Via CNA:

L’Osservatore Romano (LOR) published an article last week reminding U.S. President Barack Obama that the number of Americans who oppose abortion continues to be on the rise. This was recently demonstrated by the nearly 200,000 signatures to the "Manhattan Declaration," a document drafted by various Christian leaders in defense of life, marriage, the family and religious freedom.

LOR said: "The political and spiritual weight of the Manhattan Declaration is thus evident" as "this is a crucial moment for the Obama administration since the president's credibility is at risk over promises made during the campaign season, considering the not-so-encouraging results of the latest polls on the president's popularity."

In recent days "the spotlight is on health care reform," which is currently being debated in the Senate, with a bill that is "quite different from the one approved only weeks ago by the House of Representatives." That bill prohibited the use of federal funds for abortion and established conscience protections through the Stupak amendment, which was lauded by the U.S. bishops.

LOR pointed out that the difference in between the two bills cannot be considered an accident. “In fact it was Obama himself, in a recent interview, who said that the Stupak Amendment introduced unbalanced language in the health care reform and that "women's choices" should not be restricted.

Thus, LOR argued, Obama is moving between two contrary positions: that of keeping his campaign promises "not to use federal funds for abortion and that the right to conscientious objection be respected," and that of "influential pro-choice groups who demand an ultimate liberalization of abortion practices."

After noting that the Manhattan Declaration clearly defends life and opposes abortion, LOR explained that "polls in recent months show that the number of those who are pro-life continues to rise and is now larger than the number of Americans” who think unrestricted abortions should be allowed during the course of pregnancy.

Read the rest of the story here.

Health Care Reform and Personhood (American Life League video)

On November 30, Katie Walker, American Life League Communications Director, appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Meeting" to discuss the deadly provisions listed in the current health care reform bills. As Katie mentions, pro-lifers are concerned about upholding the dignity of the human person. This isn't just about abortion -- there are many human life issues in these bills, which concern us: abortion, euthanasia, rationed health care, no conscience protections for health care issues.. Bottom line: The personhood of every human being from their biological beginnning  has to be the foundation of any discussion on human health care reform.

Democrat Bob Casey Will Work to Remove Abortion Funding From Senate Bill

Casey calls himself "pro-life", but he not only endorsed the most pro-abort president in history, but he campaigned for him and delivered a speech for him at the convention last year. So I'll believe this when I see it :)

As one of just two Democrats in the Senate who call themselves pro-life, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania is in a position to become the leader within his party on efforts to remove abortion funding from the health care bill. On Tuesday, Casey said he would do just that.

Casey confirmed he will work to try to remove the massive abortion funding in the bill that comes through the insurance plans offered in the proposed health insurance exchange via the public option and affordability credits.

The House bill includes an amendment by Rep. Bart Stupak that removed the abortion funding and Casey told Congressional Quarterly he will push for something similar, but would not say he would oppose the Senate health care bill if abortion funding remains.

Casey said there is "work to be done" on the issue of abortion funding, adding, There's an obvious difference on where the House came down and where the Senate is."

story here

Top Catholic Cardinal Says 'No Way' Catholic Members of Congress Can Support Senate Health Care Bill That Funds Abortion

A top Roman Catholic cardinal told CNSNews.com that there is “no way” Catholic members of Congress can support the Senate health care reform bill as long as it includes a provision that allows tax dollars to go to insurance plans that cover abortion.

At the National Press Club on Nov. 20, CNSNews.com asked Cardinal Justin Rigali, the archbishop of Philadelphia: “The Senate health care bill that Majority Leader Reid released this week permits tax dollars to go to insurance plans which cover abortion. And my question is: Would it be a mortal sin for a Catholic member of Congress to vote for this bill knowing that this provision is in it?”

story here