How Catholic Lawmakers Voted on Abortion Coverage in the Heathcare Bills
While some Catholic lawmakers worked to ensure Healthcare reform protects the existing federal regulations prohibiting the federal funding of abortion others fought to advance the interests of pro-abortion groups removing these restrictions as well as existing conscience right protections for healthcare workers.
In Evangelium vitae, Pope John Paul II writes, “in the case of an intrinsically unjust law, such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia, it is therefore never licit to obey it, or to "take part in a propaganda campaign in favour of such a law, or vote for it...abortion and euthanasia are thus crimes which no human law can claim to legitimize. There is no obligation in conscience to obey such laws; instead there is a grave and clear obligation to oppose them by conscientious objection.”
Despite this teaching and the several communications by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) to all members of Congress asking for a healthcare bill that prohibits the federal funding of abortion or mandates abortion coverage, pro-abortion rights Catholic politicians have stayed the course and supported abortion coverage in the healthcare bills.
Catholic Senators Vote to Pass Reid Healthcare Bill Allowing Federal Funding for Abortions view results
On the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception 16 Catholic Senators Vote to Kill Pro-Life Amendment view results
Eighteen Catholic Senators Vote to Advance Abortion Funding Senate Bill - Eight Oppose - view results
76 Catholic Reps. Support Stupak Amendment Restricitng Abortion Funding - 61 Catholics Opposed Restrictions. view results
Letters from bishops:
December 22 Letter to the Senate
December 14 Cardinal DiNardo Letter to the Senate
December 14 Letter to Senator Robert Menendez
December 7 Joint Letter to the Senate
November 20 Joint Letter to the Senate (En Español)
U.S. Bishops to Congress: Fix abortion we will vigorously oppose
Bishops Reject Current Health Care Bills - Send Letter to US Senators
Archbishop Chaput column in Colorado Catholic Register - August 12
Cardinal Rigali Letter to House of Representatives Urging Abortion-Neutral Health Care Reform - August 11
Cardinal Rigali Letter to House Energy & Commerce Committee Urging Abortion-Neutral Health Care Reform - July 29
U.S. Bishops Urge Congress to Observe Respect for Life, Access for All in Health Care Legislation - July 21
On Health Care Reform, Letter to Congress, Bishop William F. Murphy - July 17
Statement of Bishop William Murphy to Senate Committee on Finance
Joint Letter to the Senate - March 26Fact Sheet: Making Health Care Reform “Abortion Neutral”: What is the Legal Status Quo on Abortion? July 2009