The House of Representatives is ready to debate health care reform legislation on the House floor.  The Senate will take up their bill later this month.

The Catholic Church teaches that health care is a basic human right, and the bishops of the United States have advocated for comprehensive health care reform for decades.  This is based on Catholic teaching that health care is essential for human life and dignity, and on the Church’s experience in providing health care and assisting those without coverage.  Based on Church teaching, the bishops are advocating for legislation that provides affordable access to health care for low-income individuals and families, and for legal immigrants.  The legislation must also contain long-standing and widely-supported federal restrictions on abortion funding and mandates, and protections for rights of conscience.

The U.S. Bishops conference has concluded that all current committee-approved bills are seriously deficient on issues of abortion and conscience, and do not provide adequate access to health care for immigrants and the poor.

Our nation is at a crossroads.  Policies adopted in health care reform will have an impact for good or ill for years to come.  None of the present bills retains long-standing current policies against abortion funding or abortion coverage mandates, and none fully protects conscience rights in health care.  The bills will have to change or the bishops have pledged to oppose them.