Catholics must promote life
Let's look at health care reform as Catholic Christians, who are called to promote a culture of life. The issues of abortion, protection of the elderly, terminally ill and permanently disabled, and finally, protection of conscience then come to the forefront.
Unless abortion is explicitly excluded, it will be included. When President Obama called it a "fabrication" that his plan would cover abortion, he was either being deceitful or was simply not aware of what the 1,036 page bill contains.
Both bills grant coverage only to children "from the time of birth." This would deny any surgery or procedure performed on a baby still in the womb. Recently in Texas, there was a heartwarming story about a baby at 25 weeks' gestation who had lifesaving surgery and then was returned to the womb to be born healthy at a later date. For more information on how abortion would be subsidized by taxpayers, go to www.factcheck.org
Care for the elderly, terminally ill, and permanently disabled would likely suffer. The bill establishes a Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research. At first glance this seems to be a good idea. However, they would be used to deny treatment that these government-run organizations deem too costly. If cost is the only factor, the elderly, sick and disabled will find themselves with very limited, if any, options.
Amendments prohibit discrimination against physicians and health care professionals who refuse to provide abortions, but they allow exceptions for "cases of emergency," which is not defined and then would be stretched to fit many situations. This would put doctors in situations where they would be forced to perform abortions against their will or suffer lengthy, expensive legal battles.
As Catholic Christians, we have a duty to promote a culture of life. Clearly, we will support health care reform if it increases quality of and access to health care for ALL Americans, the unborn, elderly, terminally ill, disabled, poor and you.
Maria Goldstein
Rolling Meadows