Catholic bishops see 'fundamental failure' on abortion in Senate bill

[ccharles000]

The Senate's health bill suffers from a "fundamental failure" on the issue of abortion, representatives of America's Catholic bishops said Monday.

Representatives of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said the healthcare bill being debated by the Senate falls short on barring federal funding for abortion, providing coverage for immigrants, and providing affordable care to all Americans.

"If in fact this legislation were to be substantially improved in these three areas," said John Carr, the executive director of the group's Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development, "the members of the Senate will have a letter from the bishops' conference saying that the bill is an urgent national priority."

Carr said the abortion provision is a "fundamental failure" in the Senate bill, and the group urged the Senate to adopt language similar to the more expansive ban on abortion funding offered in the House by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.).

But although concerns about abortion top the bishops' concerns, the group said the Senate bill falls short on the other criteria.

"Congress has failed to write the right prescription" when it comes to allowing immigrants to buy coverage in the new health exchange, said Kevin Appleby, the director of USCCB's Office of Migration and Refugee Policy.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/69165-catholic-bishops-see-fundamental-failure-on-abortion-in-senate-health-bill

[Better Today]

1. Duh, and who cares what the Catholic church thinks. Enough of giving them space and bandwidth.

[glinda]

2. They are all for immigrants because that is now their base. Who invited the Church into

our Government proceedings? Be gone!

[HawkerHurricane]

3. No Representation without Taxation.

Groups that don't pay taxes don't get a say in how they are spent, your holyfullness.