US Catholic Bishiops Unveil Health Care Reform Website; Oppose Abortion Coverage

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has created a new website on Health Care Reform. Zenit yesterday reported that the site includes letters from bishops to Congress, videos, statistics, FAQ's , and links to legislators. While the bishops view health care as a basic right, they raise concerns that it not become a vehicle for promoting abortion rights or reversing the present ban on federal funding of abortions. A letter on the website from Philadelphia's Cardinal Justin Rigali raises questions regarding the House bill, arguing that its provisions for individuals to pay an additional premium for plans that cover abortions has merely created a "legal fiction."