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President Obama's crusade to enact health-care reform legislation is nearing its climactic battle in the US Senate. How should Catholic Americans look upon this legislative struggle?
The US bishops have consistently voiced their support for health-care reform, while insisting that the legislation must include some language ensuring against public support for abortion. In the House of Representatives their lobbying had its desired effect, and the "Stupak Amendment" gave the bishops a bill they could support. In the Senate a pro-life amendment was rejected. Still the US bishops' conference has clung to the bare hope that some acceptable language might be inserted, somewhere during the remaining steps of the legislative process.
As a matter of practical politics, I think the bishops' hopes are unrealistic. The Senate vote against the pro-life language was decisive. If the Senate passes a bill without a pro-life amendment, a joint committee will iron out the differences between that legislation and the version passed by the House. That reconciliation process will be dominated by the Democratic majority leadership, which is wholeheartedly committed to abortion coverage. Thus if a health-care reform bill is passed in this Congressional session, it will almost certainly include subsidies for abortion.
But just for the sake of the argument, let's assume that the final legislation includes a solid pro-life amendment. Should Catholics then give their legislation their wholehearted support?
Absolutely not, for four reasons.
Continue reading this article here: http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/articles.cfm?id=411
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