The New York Times reported yesterday that a Dec. 17 statement (full text) by the Catholic Health Association, which represents hundreds of Catholic hospitals across the country, apparently signals a split with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on the abortion language in the U.S. Senate's version of the health reform bill. (See prior posting.) The statement, issued before the final language of the bill was released, said that the hospital group was "increasingly confident that Senator Casey's language can achieve the objective of no federal funding for abortion." Scholars say the difference reflects differing views on whether "remote cooperation" was permissible in order to achieve a moral imperative of health insurance for millions of more Americans.
UPDATE: Catholic Health Association has told CNS 12/28 that the New York Times is wrong. There is not a split between CHS and the Bishops.
