Approach to health care reform speaks volumes about our values
By Archbishop John C. Nienstedt
Thursday, 27 August 2009
This summer has been marked by persistent and, at times, even contradictory reports on the work being done by both houses of Congress regarding the sweeping “health care reform” legislation that President Obama wants to sign into law as early as September.
That They May All
Be One
Archbishop John C. Nienstedt
No one doubts the wisdom of addressing this complex issue. Reform is needed. But the underlying question remains: What kind of health care reform do we want?
Archbishop Nienstedt's Calendar
» Tuesday-Thursday, July 27-29: Participating in an episcopal ongoing formation leadership session conducted by the Catholic Leadership Institute in Charlotte, N.C.
» Sunday, Aug. 1:10:30 a.m., St. Paul, Macalester College: Closing Mass for Steubenville North 2010.
» Tuesday, Aug. 3: 8:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Scheduling meeting with staff.
1:30 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archbishop’s Council meeting.
» Wednesday, Aug. 4: 2 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Catholic Services Appeal study committee.
» Friday, Aug. 6: 10 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archbishop Harry Flynn’s 50th anniversary fundraising committee meeting.
» Saturday, Aug. 7: 5 p.m., Lino Lakes, Church of St. Joseph: Sunday liturgy.
» Sunday, Aug. 8: 10:30 a.m., Maplewood, Church of St. Jerome: Sunday liturgy and luncheon celebrating the parish’s 70th anniversary.
» Monday, Aug. 9: 6 p.m., West St. Paul, Church of St. Joseph: Dinner with rectory residents.
» Tuesday, Aug. 10: 7:30 a.m., St. Paul, The St. Paul Seminary: Mass and breakfast meeting with the St. Paul’s Outreach board of directors for the School of the New Evangelization.
» Thursday, Aug. 12: 9 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Meeting of the Caleb Club.
Given the vast range of ethical and moral issues involved, this
legislation will manifest in a clear and even remarkable way what
values we will hold or fail to uphold as a nation. In a very real way,
this legislation will define our national character.
Bishop William Murphy, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee for
Domestic Justice and Human Development, sent a letter in July to the
members of Congress offering as a guide four ethical principles that
any health care reform should reflect:
1. A truly universal health care policy imbued with respect for human life and dignity.
2. Access for all with a special concern for the poor and inclusion of legal immigrants.
3. Pursuing the common good while preserving pluralism, including freedom of conscience and variety of options.
4. Restraining costs and applying them equitably across the spectrum of payers.
Under the first point, Bishop Murphy went on to explain that the church
is strongly opposed to the inclusion of abortion as part of a national
health care plan.
He stated: “No health care reform plan should compel us or others to
pay for the destruction of life, whether through government funding or
mandatory coverage of abortion.”
The actual situation, however, has become far more complex since it now
appears that pro-abortion advocates hope to achieve their aims without
mentioning the word “abortion.”
Thus, a bill proposed by Sen. Ted Kennedy grants authority to a
“Medical Advisory Council,” appointed by the secretary of the Health
and Human Services, to decide what procedures are funded.
This council would specify what services will or will not be included in the government’s insurance plans.
At present, the secretary of Health and Human Services is Kathleen
Sebelius, allegedly a practicing Catholic, but an aggressively
pro-choice politician. It is hard to imagine that her selection of
candidates for membership on that council would be willing to restrict
access to abortion services.
Of course, none of this should come as a surprise to anyone. Speaking
to the Planned Parenthood organization during the presidential
campaign, then Sen. Obama made clear his thinking on this matter, which
was backed up by his voting record in the Senate.
He stated: “In my mind, reproductive care is essential care, basic
care, so it is at the center, the heart of the plan that I propose.”
(In this context, “reproductive care” is a euphemism for “abortion.”)
Until now, federal agencies or programs (as well as state or local
governments receiving federal funds) are forbidden under the Weldon
amendment, approved by Congress each year since 2004, to discriminate
against individual or institutional health care providers or insurers
who decline to provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for
abortion.
The new health care program, as now proposed, would change all that.
That is why an explicit statement in the bill is needed which asserts
that government insurance would not cover abortion services.
In addition to Bishop Murphy’s four points, I would add a fifth. I
believe that it should also be explicitly stated that euthanasia,
either actively prescribed or passively encouraged, should not be
permitted.
This is a serious matter for senior citizens. The Senate Committee on
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions recently defeated an amendment
that would have prevented the denial of health care benefits to
patients on the basis of age, expected length of life, or of the
patient’s present or predicted disability or quality of life.
Without such assurances, the same “Medical Advisory Council” could
determine that those who are over a certain age limit are not worthy of
further medical treatment and thus none would be provided.
Far-reaching implications
As you can see, this legislation has far-reaching moral implications
for us as a people and as a nation. What it permits and what it
disallows speaks volumes about the values that we hold dear and are
willing to fight to defend.
I urge you to inform yourself about this critical piece of legislation. (Go online to the USCCB Web site: www.usccb.org/healthcare).
Then, call your senators and representatives to express your opinion.
For the Senate, call (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your senator;
call (202) 225-3121 to speak with your representative.
If you do not know the name of either, give the operator your zip code and you will be connected to the correct office.
This is, in my mind, one of the most important issues of our lifetime. Please let your thoughts be known.
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