Monday, October 12, 2009

"We oppose funding for abortion. Abortion is not healthcare. "

Organizations Representing Over 30 Million People Voice Opposition to Healthcare that Funds Abortion, Violates Conscience, Rations Care, or Limits Freedom

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 /Christian Newswire/ -- Some of the nation's largest multiracial, multiethnic, and multigenerational faith- based and policy organizations, representing more than 30 million people, went on record to voice opposition to any healthcare bill that funds abortion, violates conscience, rations care, or limits freedom.

Representing the unified position of the organizations signing on to the statement of principles, Mathew Staver commented: "We believe social justice includes healthcare reform that lowers the cost, increases quality, and expands choice at the greatest convenience, without moving private health decisions from the doctor's office to Washington bureaucrats. Individual liberties trump government-imposed obligations. We believe that individuals, communities, and doctors in the free market make better health decisions than government mandates. We believe in incentives, not coercion."

Staver continued, "We oppose funding for abortion. Abortion is not healthcare. We support the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. Life, no matter how young, is not expendable and, no matter how ill or aged, is not to be weighed on a cost-benefit scale. We support conscience laws protecting hospitals and healthcare providers from coerced participation in abortion. We oppose government policies pressuring people to forgo or limit treatment because of age or illness. We oppose rationed healthcare due to age, illness or based on a government agency's determination of 'quality' or 'value' of life. President Obama said, 'under our plan no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place.' But Congress has voted 30 times against amendments that would ban abortion funding. Every proposed bill funds abortion, including the so-called Baucus bill from the Senate Finance Committee. This is unacceptable. We will not support any bill that funds abortion."

Staver continued, "We support health insurance that is affordable and portable. We support legal reform to stop frivolous lawsuits that drive up healthcare costs, while affording the injured appropriate compensation. We support portability, allowing people to take their healthcare with them so it is not tied to employment. We support options to purchase health insurance across state lines. We support competition; coverage of pre-existing conditions; wellness care and prevention incentives; tax relief that provides a dollar- for-dollar deduction for every dollar spent on premiums or other medical or prescription costs; and a dollar-for-dollar tax deduction with no limit from gross income for every dollar contributed to nonprofit organizations providing healthcare for free or at reduced cost to the needy."

Staver concluded, "We support freedom and the dignity of the individual. We oppose federalization of the healthcare industry that would create a maze of bureaucracy which will impede and delay critical care and decrease the quality of healthcare. We oppose a single-payer, government-run insurance program or the so-called public option. It is time to start over with a truly nonpartisan approach to healthcare."

The following is a list of some of the organizations supporting these principles:

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez 
President 
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference

Tim Clinton 
President 
American Association of Christian Counselors

Dr. Che Ahn 
President 
Harvest International Ministry

Bishop Harry Jackson 
Chairman & Founder 
High Impact Leadership Coalition

Lou Engle 
Co-Founder 
The Call to Action

Hon. Kenneth Blackwell 
The Conservative Action Project

Tim Wildmon 
President 
American Family Association

Tim Phillips 
President 
Americans for Prosperity

Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson 
Founder & President 
Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (BOND) Action Inc.

Steve Strang 
President & CEO 
Charisma Magazine/Strang Communications

Steven Erterlt 
Editor and CEO 
Lifenews.com

Deacon Keith Fournier 
Editor-in-Chief 
Catholic Online

Mat Staver 
Founder & Chairman 
Liberty Counsel 
Dean 
Liberty University School of Law

Wendy Wright 
President 
Concerned Women for America

Julie Clinton 
Founder & President 
Extraordinary Women

Dr. Richard Land 
President 
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission 
Southern Baptist Convention

Tony Perkins 
President 
Family Research Council Action

Phyllis Schlafly 
President 
Eagle Forum

Dr. Cindy Jacobs 
Co-Founder 
Generals International

Ron Luce 
President & Founder 
Teen Mania

Gary Bauer 
President 
American Values

Deryl Edwards 
President 
Liberty Alliance Action

Johnnie Moore 
Director of Spiritual Programs, Campus Pastor 
Liberty University

Johnny Hunter 
Director & Founder 
Life Education and Resource Network (LEARN)

Rick Joyner 
Founder 
MorningStar Ministries 
The Oak Initiative

Rev. Rob Schenck 
President 
National Clergy Council

David Barton 
Founder and President 
Wallbuilders

Rick Tyler 
Founding Director 
Renewing American Leadership

Tim Echols 
Founder & President 
TeenPact

Rev. Lou Sheldon 
Founder & Chairman 
Traditional Values Coalition

Andrea Lafferty 
Executive Director 
Traditional Values Coalition

Rick Scarborough 
Founder & President 
Vision America

Dick Bott 
President & CEO 
Bott Radio Network

Rich Bott 
Exec. VP & COO 
Bott Radio Network