Catholic Charities In the News
Health care reform a matter of life and dignity
September 19, 2009 - The Clarion Herald
Guest Column by Nick Albares of Catholic Charities’ Office of Justice & Peace
During the Congressional recess, the health care reform debate amplified throughout the United States. Yet the Catholic Church remains a solid and committed advocate for true health care reform that respects the life and dignity of every person – no matter if that person is born or unborn, a citizen or a recent immigrant, old or young, with a “pre-existing condition” or in good health.
I began advocating for health care reform in February 2009 at the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering. This conference, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and a host of other major Catholic organizations, brings together hundreds of Catholic leaders to work on critical issues of importance that affect the most vulnerable in the U.S. and internationally. Health care reform was one of four issues we advocated for in meetings with senators and Congressional representatives.
For decades, Catholic bishops have called for comprehensive health care reform leading to accessible and affordable health care for all people. In 1993, the bishops declared that “every person has the right to adequate health care. … The existing patterns of health care in the United States do not meet the minimal standard of social justice and the common good.”Our Catholic faith affirms that every person is made in the image and likeness of God and is due dignity.
In July, Bishop William Murphy, chair of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, said “the Catholic bishops of the United States have been and continue to be consistent advocates for comprehensive health care reform that leads to health care for all, including the weakest and most vulnerable.”
Our shepherds in the Archdiocese of New Orleans have also written in support of health care reform that respects the life and dignity of all. Archbishops Aymond and Hughes proclaimed in an Aug. 19 letter that “government has a responsibility to ensure access to basic health care for all.” Moreover, they note that “strident and shrill rhetoric” is not helpful as we work to ensure that health care reform proposals respect the life and dignity of all people – no matter their stage in life.
Currently, we have concerns over provisions in certain proposals that could result in federal funding for abortion, if the bills are not amended. In all health care reform efforts, we call on legislation to be “abortion-neutral.” Current law in the U.S. does not allow federal funds to directly fund abortion (except in cases of rape, incest or threat to the mother’s health). We must work to see this long-standing principle remain in place.
Here in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, all of our Congressional leaders – Senators Landrieu and Vitter and Congressmen Cao, Melancon, and Scalise – have publicly stated that they do not support direct federal funding of abortion. This is a positive sign, and we must continue to work to see that they honor these public statements when making decisions on health care reform legislation. We must also work to see that our representatives affirm that “reform efforts must begin with the principle that decent health care is not a privilege, but a right and a requirement to protect the life and dignity of every person.”
We are called to promote the comprehensive message that we strongly support health care access for all that respects the life and dignity of each and every human person.
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