In a press release last week, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced that it will not support total repeal of last year's health care reform bill. Instead, according to a letter it sent to members of the House of Representatives, it will seek action by Congress to amend the law to ensure access to quality, affordable, life-giving health care for all; to retain requirements that effectively protect conscience rights and that prohibit use of federal funds for elective abortion or for insurance plans that include them. Finally it will seek to protect immigrants' access to health care and to remove current barriers to access. Last year while the health care bill was pending, the bishops urged defeat of it because of their belief that limits on abortion funding did not go far enough. (See prior posting.)
In a long letter to all members of Congress (text included in press release), the bishops also outlined their other legislative priorities for the new Congress. These include protecting the unborn; supporting traditional marriage; seeking budget, tax and entitlement policies that protect the poor and vulnerable; funding for private schools; empowering faith-based groups; assuring equal access to the Internet; immigration reform; and various international initiatives to end conflicts, protect religious freedom and provide aid.
